Id of the Soulless
2011, 20 minutes
a surrealist psychological horror film from one man’s perspective – a man consumed by guilt and on the verge of insanity.
Leslie Clay is a journalist suffering from chronic insomnia and the early stages of paranoid schizophrenia. His psychiatrist, Doctor Felner, recommends Leslie jot all of his experiences, thoughts, feelings, fears, hopes etc. into a journal, something familiar which will allow him the opportunity for self-reflection. Leslie begins to experience strange dreams and disturbing audible and visual hallaucinations, which become more recurrent and disturbing as the narrative progresses - for example a strange, deformed crawling man appearing before him whilst he sleeps. Leslie burdens the death of his son two years prior on his conscience, which we sense by his journal entries and the symbolism of his visions is the essence of his suffering. As it becomes harder to cope, Leslie develops dependence to the medication Zyprexa, consuming semi lethal doses daily, resulting in severe side-effects which worsen his condition.