PureLombardi Rarely do we come across short films where a lone actor carries the whole flow of the picture successfully, but Timothy J. Cox accomplishes that coup with exceptional execution in What Jack Built.The film follows the titular engineer Jack as he devises and constructs a contraption unbeknownst to the audience. What follows is a purely visual experience, with most of the focus being on Jack gathering and building.Cox's performance --- as being the case with most of his other turns --- is astounding. He is one of the sole driving forces of this film, and delivers a character that is both oddly compelling and thoughtfully mysterious. Cox manages to portray the character convincingly, adding incredible amounts of nuance. Jack's origins and motives make room for interpretation, which gives a somewhat lasting memory to the character too.Director Matthew Mahler is the energy that punctuates the tour de force performance. He does this by using editing finesse as well as swift camera movements. Mahler also acts as the composer, crafting an exhilarating electronic score that suits the film's crazy-scientist-styled tone well. He also makes a smart directorial decision by muting out most of the sound that should be resonating, leaving the score to act as the backdrop rather than boring sounds of equipment clunking and machines roaring.This film is a well made and mysteriously invigorating…I would provide a genre but What Jack Built must be seen to be believed. If someone told me I was going to be entranced by a short film mostly consisting of a man building an unknown device, I would have called them mad. Yet, Cox and crew achieved something unique with undeniable skill. Watch this for a prime example of what can be achieved in a short with just one strong performance.

MidiHorrorReviews Synopsis- What is that thing Jack is building in his cellar? How could such a device be used? Perhaps it has something to do with that creature out in the woods...Review-Now I still don't know who Jack built it for, but I know what it was that he built! And I must say I just wanted more!!! With no dialogue, this film is driven with amazing acting by its one and only star Timothy J Cox (the amazing lead previously who played Tim in Dark Romance). Through his actions, facial expressions and body language alone, we are drawn into Jack's life and able to become anxious of what he is doing. I loved the score!! Its haunting grating tubular sounds mixing with a synthetic electro vibe, just sets the mood with sheer perfection. We feel the heightened fear and anxiety, we sense the fluidity of the movement on camera, and we fear the thing that is coming. The setting was awesome. Simple, effective and fit every aspect of the story in very little. The forest was gorgeous. Lush vegetation and the perfect location for this story to evolve. Natural beauty taking on a character of its own. I cannot fault this. I am eager to see this perhaps evolve further (or just their future films) and am loving the evolution of what they've created!