Burn your life down & prophets prey

Critical analysis on two short films Communication takes several media in conveying a message including films, songs, and even poems. On the other hand, humans have an insatiable need for entertainment, and films are often used in meeting this need while passing a message. When it comes to movies, many categories then determine the genre of the movie. For instance, a message could be passed through a simulated film or a documentary. While there are major differences when giving a message using the two methods, the similarity is that the message is eventually conveyed. Using a comparative analysis method, this paper seeks to offer a critical of review of two short films- Burn Your Life Down, and Prophet’s Prey to be precise.
The first similarity between the two films is the suspense that makes watching either film interesting. The Burn Your Life Down film is a film that entails real acting, unlike the Prophet’s Prey, which comprises acting and reporting. In the former, Beau returns to the cabin that serves as the residence and starts drinking. At this point, it is not easy to tell the reason for his evident stress. Similarly, the Prophet’s Prey starts with the narrator explaining how he went to Utah just for viewing purposes. However, the narrator explains that he was shocked to see young girls in the company of a father-like man (Whitney n. p.; Abele p. 5). Evidently, the two films have been set to entice the viewer to follow the stories since suspense has been enjoined.
Another similarity evident in both films is the portrayal of the lead characters as suffering from obsessions. While Beau is in an emotional meltdown occasioned presumably by the break up with his girlfriend, the prophet shown in the other film is obsessed with religion. Additionally, both films show individuals who have been imprisoned by harmful beliefs. For Beau, life seems meaningless after the breakup, which was communicated through a letter. Without the lady with whom he has spent time in the past, Beau feels, only death will end his miseries. Similarly, the false prophet goes to an extent of marrying girls as young as nine years (Berg n. p.).
In terms of differences, one film ends in defeat and frustration while the other in success. Beau struggles with thoughts where he hallucinates about being killed. In the end, he pulls the gun on himself, and the film ends. Conversely, the other film concludes with the culprit being arrested, sentenced and starts serving a life incarceration sentence (Whitney n. p.). A closer analysis of the strengths of these films, the Burn Your Life Down, effectively passes a message on the likely culmination of depression. Additionally, the directors set the film in a dark room perhaps to correlate with the perception Beau had on his life. As for Prophet’s Prey, the directors ensured no depiction of abuse of the young children occurred, as it would be both traumatizing and unethical.
Notwithstanding the said strengths, both films have a couple of weaknesses. Though the darkness in the Beau’s cabin is likely related to the storyline, it makes it somewhat hard to watch the film. In addition, the film does not explicitly distinguish the hallucinations the character is undergoing with the simulated activities. Concerning Prophet’s Prey, there exist fewer depictions. However, many still images that make watching the film somewhat dull. Furthermore, the film does not actively bring out the harm suffered by the underage girls. While the narrators explain the tyranny caused by the psychotic religious leader, there is no depiction to accompany this ordeal.
Work cited
Abele, Robert. Prophets Prey Takes Chilling Look At Polygamous Sect Leader Warren
Jeffs. Los Angeles Times. N. p., 2015. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.
Berg, Amy. Prophets Prey. 2015. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.
Whitney, Tyson. Burn Your Life Down. Logan Film Festival, 2014. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.