God of the Machine (2012) Online

"God of the Machine" is a short film unlike any I've seen. Krainock appears to be a master of the form, understanding that a single idea extrapolated into the length of a short film packs the most powerful punch. A very clever idea, backed with impeccable casting and impressive effects makes for an entertaining watch. "God of the Machine" breaks out of the usual cute indie coming-of-age mold and presents an existential concept: what if God and Satan were pals, locked in an eternal chess game for our souls? Ambitious and produced at the quality of a big-budget feature, GOTM is perplexing and engaging from start to finish. I can see why it's been selected for so many film festivals. Looking forward to much more from this filmmaker!

God of the Machine is a short that both competently and professionally deals with the themes of death, fate, and religion. When our protagonist survives what should have been his final moments, he comically and somewhat cruelly must outrun his fate as those around him conspire to finish him off. Don't be tempted to compare this short to Final Destination, as its story and final twist -- yes there IS a twist -- are more highbrow than a menial teen-aged horror movie, and the concepts laden throughout are deep, considering its twelve minute run time. In addition, the technical quality is up to par with contemporary filmmakers and it's even been featured in several film festivals (I saw it at the Los Angeles Shorts Festival). Part comedy, part thrill-ride, God of the Machine speeds by in the blink of an eye, so don't miss it!