I’ve been watching a bunch of shorts on the criterion channel, trying to gain inspiration for my Sight & Sound final and have only become more disillusioned with the short film format. Then I was reminded of this one, and I remembered that short films can be pretty good.

'Next Floor' has as its central conceit a gag worthy of the Marx Brothers at their best, extended for 10 or so minutes. Denis Villeneuve is awesome as a concrete fist to the face, but can (at least to me) be less than engaging when there is no surprise left-hook awaiting. Thus, the sustained weirdness of 'Enemy' works because it is only and exactly what it is, but opened up with space inside to dream. 'Next Floor' is an excellent allegory for humanity's feverish consumption of all of life imperiling their own home and survival, but does not stray beyond allegory.

Denis Villeneuve, you fucken genius.

Is it a coincidence that this short film came out in 2008?

This is a gross depiction of the downward spiral of higher class gluttony, causing absolute wreckage as they fall into darkness. The servant will serve his master. Infinitely.

Nothing will change for the ones at the top floors, but everything will change for those at the bottom.

Next Floor is a short film from director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Enemy), which depicts a group of well dressed diners gorging themselves on an endless buffet of different kinds of meat, until the floor gives way and they all fall down to the "next floor" and then continue their feast until the same thing happens again and again. The sound effects, featuring a chorus of licking, chewing, slurping, tearing flesh and gristle, gum smacking, and flatware scraping porcelain, are outstanding, and pretty much the only sounds heard, alternately inspiring pangs of hunger and repulsion in the audience. The message rings clear, showing how the inescapable, addictive pull of greed and gluttony can and does lead to ambivalence about one's own downfall, and considering the economic climate of 2008 it could certainly extend to things beyond the food chain.

Watch here

Denis Villeneuve really needs to make a film about each of the 7 Deadly Sins because he has already NAILED Gluttony with "Next Floor," Lust with "Enemy" and Wrath with "Prisoners."

A really great short film - precise in its theme and delivery and it’s shot beautifully. This one really lingers in the mind long after watching it.

I think this was supposed to make me feel bad that I'm rich, but it just made me hungry. Such is the life of a sociopath!

Pretty 😤 and gritty

Denis Villeneuve direct the Hannibal movie challenge.

The idea on its head could almost be from a screwball comedy. However, this short is shot with such a sinister edge and creeps under your skin. It captures a veracious, animalistic need to consume everything and how infectious that becomes.

I’m going vegan.

Yeesh...

Denis Villeneuve could film himself beating me up and I’d call it poetic cinema.

Might be the best Canadian short film I've ever seen (not that I've seen many, mind you). Brilliant cinematography keeps you glued to the screen despite the grotesque subject matter.