*. A decent horror short, probably of most interest because it was the basis for writer-director Natalie Erika James’s subsequent feature debut Relic (2020). But it’s an interesting enough movie in its own right.
*. The basic idea is that a woman visiting her father discovers that he is slipping into dementia. The old family home is “haunted” in a way that is all the more disturbing for feeling so domestic. The father knows something is not quite right. He is also turning into something strange: something scary and, at first blush, monstrous.
*. The main difference between this film and Relic is that the father’s dementia takes a weirdly expressive form. He’s a carpenter and has a commission to make chairs in his shop. What the daughter discovers, however, is that the chairs are becoming stranger.
*. What I found interesting about this is that the chairs are quite creative, like insect skeletons or the kind of furniture David Cronenberg might have dreamt up. I’d far rather buy one of them and keep it just as a conversation piece than have one of his normal chairs that seem to just be made to a standard pattern. I’ve had friends who turned out chairs like that. Nice, but nothing special. Those dementia chairs, however, are works of art.
*. There is a link that’s often made between madness and art, though I’ve never heard of dementia expressing itself in this way. The mother in Relic works on her own crafts (handmade candles), but they aren’t as visually arresting, or as important to the story as the chairs are here.
*. Most short films tend to come with a punchline, and often I wonder if they’re worth expanding on. The short and feature-length versions of Lights Out offer a good example. I like Relic, but watching Creswick made me think about whether James really added that much that was essential. In retrospect, much of it seems like standard horror padding. That said, even in ten minutes here there’s more to think about than in most full-length films. It may just be an impression, but while we have plenty of (overly) complicated plots these days, our movies seem to be about less and less.
Alex on Film 
Not a fan of those chairs, personally, but there you go. What’s better: this, or King John?
Well, I wouldn’t want to sit in one of those chairs. And they might not be safe for kids. But I think they look neat.
King John is 120 years older so hard to compare. They both have their noteworthy qualities.
King John is much more compact and well edited though, right?
Compact, definitely. I think the editing was done by time.
So we come to the golden question: who do you prefer out of Natalie Erika James or William Shakespeare?
Gotta go with Bill. But James still has lots of time to overtake him.
Will be an interesting battle for sure!
I think the chairs look funky.
They do! Sort of Cronenberg meets Dr. Seuss.
I saw something similar in an art gallery, chairs for a chess table, there’s a picture here
I’d have them!
They go well with that set. I remember seeing something similar about ten years ago at a local crafts fair where they were painted odd colours. Not sure how practical or comfortable they’d be, but also not sure if you’re meant to sit in them.
Well it’s a chess table set, I suppose they have to be comfy as it takes a fair old while to get though a game. I’d want a cushion though 🙂
It doesn’t take me long to lose a chess game. I’m terrible.
Not that good meself 😀
I reckon we could do an online chess tournament on the comment section of your blog, Alex. I’ll start.
King Pawn forward two spaces. Your move.
I believe that’s known as e4 in chess notation. And how do I know you’re not using an engine? Hm?
I would have to get my chess set out to do this right. And we’d have to set a time. I’ve got bins to do now!
Fine fine fine. Do your bins. Keep it civil. We’ll arrange a date. Prepare to be crushed, my friend.
Well, I already said I’m a terrible chess player . . .
So am I. I haven’t played in years. And even all those years ago, I didn’t really play. So this should be very interesting.
These look, as you say, more interesting than anything featured in Relic. Would be good to be able to buy this stuff online.
Yeah, in Relic the mother is making candles but they don’t get played up as much, and don’t look as weird anyway.
Are these chairs from the short, or are they yours?
Screen grab. I’m not that good at woodworking.