Lucky Liam

We never learn what Liam (Joseph McGucken) has done to cause offence, but it’s easy to see how someone might become annoyed by him. He just doesn’t stop talking. Granted, in this situation, when Harry the Hammer (John Quinn) is leading him into the woods to kill him, that might not be such a bad move. He doesn’t have much to lose, and there’s a possibility that he’ll manage to say something that changes Harry’s plan, but he’s dealing with a professional who doesn’t seem the type to be easily persuaded.

After he’s finally succeeded in getting Liam to a suitable location – a small clearing where the ground is not entirely knotted with roots – Harry gives Liam a shovel and orders him to dig. One doesn’t get the impression that this is something Liam would be good at at the best of times, and there’s another complication. It’s not just an old microwave that has been dumped here. Just on the other side of one of the trees is a corpse. The man who insists he’s responsible for it (Tony Doyle) introduces himself to Harry as a fellow killer-for-hire.

Thomas Hefferon and Troels Jacob Hundtofte’s feisty little comedy punches well above its weight, as might be apparent from the fact that it made the longlist for the 2027 Oscars despite not having an issue at its heart, nor a particular topical hook. It’s just well crafted, brilliantly delivered, and lots of fun to watch. Harfun Li’s incisive editing pays dividends and the film has a lively energy that lifts the spirits despite its ostensibly dark subject matter.

This is the sort of thing that short film was made for. If you’re lucky you’ll get the chance to see it, and soon.

Reviewed on: 31 Oct 2026