DISC

TIFF REVIEW: BY DARREN ZAKUS 

September 4, 2025

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

DISC is one unforgettable short film of a hookup gone horribly sideways that explores snap judgements in modern dating, that with the strong direction of Blake Winston Rice and excellent performances of Jim Cummings and Victoria Ratermanis, delivers one nail biting, cringe worthy and brilliant short film.

One night hookups usually tend to have an awkward feeling to them the morning after as the two individuals involved try to remove themselves from the situation without hurting the feelings of the other. That is the concept that director Blake Winston Rice’s latest short film revolves around, using that idea as a jumping point as he alongside his co-writer leading lady Victoria Ratermanis (who is also the lead actress) spin a tension riddled story of what if you cannot escape this situation and have to in fact rely on the individual you are trying to disappear on. Never for a second failing to deliver an uncomfortable, at times hilarious, and rich narrative experience, Rice and his two leads, Jim Cummings and Ratermanis, ensure that DISC is one of the wildest short films you will experience this year.

It’s best to go into DISC not knowing what the instigating event of this story is, because where it goes is bonkers in the best way imaginable. But within all this craziness, Rice and Ratermanis keep the film grounded with its characters and the discussion around relationships and first impressions. While it is easy to make a snap judgment based on someone’s appearance, especially after making a decision you have come to regret, in all its chaos, DISC reminds viewers that there’s more to someone than just their appearance. Watching Carey try to help Alex with her predicament with his warmth, consideration and compassion, you can see the messaging of this short film come to the forefront, despite all the awkwardly cringey and gross moments that Carey, Alex and the audience have to endure to get there. But, it is this hardship that makes DISC the excellent short film that it is.

Enhancing the storytelling of DISC is the performances of Cummings and Ratermanis, both of whom are perfectly cast. Cummings possesses a loveable dotingness to him as he tries to impress Alex despite her rush to get out of his hotel room, bumbling around trying to make coffee and straighten up the place. With a tenderness despite being completely out of his depth, Cummings makes Carey the stand up guy that anyone would want by their side in life despite all his quirks as he tries to assist Alex… even if they don’t know it at first. Ratermanis, on the other hand, is great as Alex, evoking that feeling of “what have I just done” as she wakes up from her one night stand, to containing her character’s panic with what she has to ask Carey to help her with, despite wanting to get away from his as quickly as possible. But as the chaos builds, you can see the switch flick in Ratermanis’ performance as she sees the real Carey after her snap second judgement based on her self-conscious regret. As a pair, Cummings and Ratermanis are electrifying together and are the secret weapon of DISC that makes it an effective short film.

While the writing and performances of Cummings and Ratermanis need no help in communicating the tension and awkwardness of this story, the film’s technical aspects elevate this relentless tension to the next level. As Carey and Alex find themselves in this absurd situation, Nyk Allen’s quick and chaotic camera movements capture the panic faced by both Carey and Alex, while Mike O’Brien’s editing matches this chaos and ensures it’s a seamless train of madness as the story reaches its climax. Supporting the visuals is Kevin Garrett’s musical score that helps to build a deafening soundscape that helps the audience feel the overwhelming nature of the situation, ensuring that DISC is an unbridled audio and visual cacophony for the entirety of its runtime. All under Rice’s direction, this fourteen minute short film is a tour de force of filmmaking talent both in front of and behind the camera.

Immersing the audience in the panic faced by the short film’s two characters and delivering an enthralling fourteen minute experience, DISC fires on all cylinders to deliver an unforgettable hookup. From the brilliant lead performances of Jim Cummings and Victoria Ratermanis, the outstanding technical aspects of the film ranging from the sound design, cinematography and editing, and the masterful direction of Blake Winston Rice that brings it all together, DISC is a nerve wracking, at times very funny, and insightful short film that dives into the horrors of a one night stand gone sideways, resulting in an excellent short film.