What’s particularly striking about an effective short film is its ability to quickly captivate an audience. Lebmig’s Department Store, a short horror film written and directed by Marc Morales, pulls you into a terrifyingly chaotic world from the opening sequence.
How’s the story?
A radio news announcer provides a brief report of something strange occurring at Lebmig’s Department Store. Next we see a bloodied, traumatized woman (Maria played by Taylor Shaye) enter a small room and frantically close the door behind her and lock it. Breathing heavily, momentarily relieved she’s away from the danger, she quickly discovers she’s not alone in the room.
Another woman (Tori played by Paulina Fricke), holding a bloodied aluminum bat, engages Maria in conversation. Tori, in contrast to Maria, is inexplicably perky and appears unaffected by the chaos. What transpires is a tension-filled dialogue dance of words. Each woman is trying to extract information from the other. Maria is attempting to find out the root cause of the violence. While Tori seems more interested in Maria’s specific role.
The small room’s claustrophobic feel and flickering overhead light intensified the drama. All the while, a constant threat loomed outside the door. In many ways, the blocking and constant verbal exchanges were reminiscent of a stage production. Not surprisingly, writer and director Mark Morales has a background in theater.
Final thoughts
Lebmig’s Department Store was the Best Horror Film winner at the 2025 Poconos Horror Fest. Marc Morales’ ability to craft a compelling story set in a single room showcases his skills as a writer. In addition, both actors delivered emotionally charged performances. The prospect of adapting this short film into a feature-length production is intriguing.
Be on the lookout for Lebmig’s Department Store at a film festival near you.
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