Mikes Film Talk

Writer/Director Mark Murtha gives us the 2026 short Trench of the Damned. It opens with an anachronistic moment, but, there are shivers galore to follow. Murtha, with personal favorite Thomas Angeletti as cinematographer/co-editor, show us just how effective horror should look. * Angeletti shares the snipping and trimming duties with Justin Jean.*

Trench of the Damned Story

Two “GI’s” are embedded in a trench. It is 1944. World War II is happening all around them. And, their Christmas Cease Fire is about to get much worse.

The Elephant in the Trench

This is, for us; at any rate, near the moment an elephant shambles into the scene. The anachronistic pachyderm in question, is a cigarette filter. A creation that did not start appearing until the 1950s. A former smoker, moi, who only stopped with outside intervention, noticed the filter immediately. (I’m also somewhat who was given C Rations in training, smokes for the GI’s were short; no filter.) *On a side note: The cigarette looked abnormally long. Almost like what England called, “Luxury Length.” Back when “100’s” first came on the market.*

The Film Works Though

The moment we meet what the soldiers are facing, in that trench, the adrenaline spikes. The “zombie” creature takes us right to Return to OZ.

*Long side note. The 1985 Dark Fantasy movie starred Fairuza Balk as Dorothy. In the story, she is chased by “Wheelers.” My daughter swore she was traumatised by these things. I finally saw them and agreed, they are indeed stress inducing. Murtha manages, in one almost offhand scene, to makes us 10 years old all over again. It must be said that Mark Murtha is also a Mike’s Film Talk favorite. If you’ve not seen it, head over to YouTube and check out the wheelers. I’ll wait.*

The Trench of the Damned Cast

Daniel Griesheimer is Burke.

Motti Ken is Kincaid.

Mark Murtha is Dr Wolff.

Sean Worthen is The Experiment.

Everyone gives their “A” game here and it moves this 12 minute film forward with ease.

Where Others Have Gone

Movies set in trenches are not unique, but they are pretty spaced out. Deathwatch (2002) is a firm favorite. Set in a trench in WW1, a group of British soldiers discover something much worse that the Hun. That 94 minute film, with a splendid cast; Jamie Bell, Kris Marshall and Andy Serkis are just three of a very talented group.

Trench of the Damned gets us right in the imagination. Murtha and company give a downright serious jolt with this one.

The Verdict

Anyone who reads my reviews will know that my guilty pleasure is all about Independent Cinema. Trench of the Damned easily earns a 4 out of 5 stars. That filter, yanked an entire star off the ranking. The film is on its Festival Run right now. I predict a slew of nominations and awards to accompany it.

As soon as it is ready to stream, we will let you know.