Dad's Dead (2002 TV Short) User Reviews

Very cleverly directed, written and animated

[bob the moo · 9 February 2003]

Our narrator looks fondly back at his childhood in Liverpool and the antics of his best friend Johnno. Well known for being a showman and a keen one for joking and the like, Johnno starts to change for the worse after he announced that his father has died.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this film. I had seen it was an animation on the website and had assumed it would be an arty thing made by a newly graduated student - don't know why I assumed that, but I did. Happily this film was much better than that and when it finished it was very powerful despite the odd flaw. The plot is disturbing with the speed with which things go from childhood memory to something much darker. The reasons for the change are layered into the fabric well and only the end is a little unclear.

The animation is well used and very clever. A lot of the film is real action with animation used effectively at different points - in it's own right or to animate the digitally shot action. In some cases this is funny, in others it lets us see the monster inside each character and in others it is surprisingly violent and indicative of a mind that is being lost and surrounded by evil thoughts. I'm not a big animation fan but it worked very well here.

I struggled to place the voice the whole way through and was surprised to see it was Ian Hart. However he does really well with the voice over and really brought his character to life. The support cast are good and the lad who played Johnno really did a good job to bring the menace out of him.

Overall this took me by surprise. It is well written so as to allow the plot to build quickly and with force and was very cleverly directed. The animation is a mix of styles and is very cleverly used to portray different things - from a Betty Boop style vision on an ice-cream van to a `Peter and Jane' book to illustrate nice thoughts. The combination of all these things make it well worth a look.

What a filthy and unpleasant mess

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 15 February 2008]

This is a film that has lovely and very inventive animation. Other than that, there was absolutely nothing I liked about the film. The 3 points it earns are only for the animation, as the rest of the film is just ugly and throughly unpleasant--a hateful and nihilistic mess. It looks as if someone decided to make a film just to offend and make people mad or ill--and had no other purpose.

The story, such as it is, seems more an excuse to splice in images of people giving the British equivalent of the middle finger, showing lots of hard-core obscenities on the walls and maggots feasting on rotting food among other such repellent images. In many ways, this film is like The Sex Pistols of film-dom--just meant to be loud, nasty and offensive. And, naturally, some idiots thought this was art and nominated it for a BAFTA award. By this standard, I think I could make an animation of someone defecating and probably get a nomination. What a waste.

Very British, but not very good

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 21 April 2016]

"Dad's Dead" is a 6.5-minute short film that got writer and director Chris Shepherd one of his two BAFTA nominations. It is a mix of live action and animation, but I cannot say I enjoyed it too much. It attempts to be crass, but it all seems just for the sake of it. The story is forgettable and none of the actors are really memorable. The BAFTA got it wrong this time, but at least they did not gave it the win. I personally cannot say I am surprised that Shepherd did not manage a successful full feature film career as his work here offers little of value. It is not a complete failure by any means, mostly thanks to narrator Ian Hart, a prolific and successful actor in his own right, but all in in all this is just not a memorable work. i give it a thumbs down.

A truly unique film

[rlong_9 · 9/10 · 22 May 2003]

I watched Dad's Dead at this year's ICA's One Dot Zero festival and thought it was amazing. It was billed as a `uk hybrid masterpiece', at first I thought it was overblown title but after watching realised it's totally unique. It was mind-blowing. It blends the art house with a hard-hitting story in a way I've never seen before.

Ian Hart narrates with real tension. It deals with his memories of his best friend Johnno, who is a socio-path. Johnno torments and attacks anything he doesn't understand. Traits which we are all capable of. It's a difficult film to explain, it feels like the viewer is being attacked and forced to take part in terrible events. A bit like Man Bites Dog. My favourite bit is the Peter and Jane book sequence which reminds me of being a kid. There was a lot of sadness there too, especially with the blind man section which is really disturbing.

The best thing is the title which gives you totally the wrong idea of what it's all about. Don't want to give it away! It's a work of intelligence, which is well worth watching.

A sad attempt of artistic work

[phantom_pixie · 1/10 · 5 April 2010]

Probably the worst crap I've seen in many years.

Today anyone can call themselves "artistic" just because they have put something together on their computer. This is one of those attempts. It was extra material on a DVD and something that I unfortunately watched. It's one of those things when you regret wasting time of your life watching it. When you find yourself looking for the stop or forward button on your remote then you know it's bad. You sit with the option of stopping it and do something better, like shine your shoes. Or you feel that since you started watching the thing you should finish it hoping it will get better.... My suggestion is to not watch it at all and you will not be disappointed.

Unfortunately, not everyone can be an artist or even remotely talented... and its so very true when it comes to this creator.

The guy who did it should really stick to his day job.

A mind-blowing journey into the darker side.....

[susiefiggis · 10/10 · 30 August 2003]

Saw Dad's Dead on Channel 4's Outside season and thought it was amazing. I've never seen a film which conveys what it's like to be a teenager so well. Ian Hart's troubled narrator really struck a chord with me. His character is attacked and forced to do terrible things against his will by a bully called Johnno. It was like my school days all over again. It gave me the creeps. Scary stuff! I've never seen a film quite like it before. Hope Channel 4 repeat it!

a mess

[movieman_kev · 3/10 · 15 November 2008]

Having some free time on my hands I decided to watch some short films on Atomfilms. "Dad's Dead" runs about 6 and a half minutes and is a tale of a boy and his childhood seemingly sociopath friend told in a blend of animation, real life, and photo stills. It seemed a wee bit artsy for my tastes and I found myself becoming uninterested in it before too long. If one can't hold the viewers attention for 6 mere minutes that, my friend, is a pretty big problem. But Kev, you say, it won so many awards. Aye, this is true, but I've never been to big on Awards that the industry gives out themselves. So that doesn't sway me on if something's good or not. This simply is not.

My Grade: D

A Short But Highly Effective Ride In Psychedelic Darkness

[Chrysanthepop · 17 March 2010]

Executed with style and skill, 'Dad's Dead' is an exceptionally written short film. Think of it as a roller-coaster ride into a dark mind. While the visuals are stunning thanks to the solid combination of live action and animation. The animated sequences also vary in style and this is fascinating to look at as the entire film feels like a hypnotic experience. It's positively astonishing how Chris Shepherd manages to say so much in such a small amount of time. Ian Hart narrates at a speedy tempo but he certainly grabs the viewer's attention and guides them like a successful hypnotherapist. The main theme, as the title suggests, is very dark but there is plenty of dark humour that brings a balance without being intrusive or taking away from the intensity of the atmosphere. 'Dad's Dead' is an exhilarating experience...albeit short lasting but very effective.

Don't waste your time, seriously.

[asjab-51250 · 1/10 · 1 July 2017]

One of the worst films I've ever seen. If you can even call it a film, more like cut and paste pics and a stupid narrator. Seriously, I've seen way better work from Youtubers and kids in preschool. This "film" is about a moron, and his even more moronic friend and all the stuff they get up to in a trashy area in Liverpool. This is the kind of work that make people laugh at the Englishmen when they try to be posh and better than others, because their country is filled with this filth. They are pathetic, and so is the creator of this work. Just go back to chugging your pint mate and leave real work for actual talent. Lucky you have good social welfare in England so that this crap can survive.

Dad's Dead

[jboothmillard · 4/10 · 20 January 2008]

Part of the special features on Danny Boyle's Sunshine, this shot film was pretty weird. Narrated by Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone's Ian Hart, it is a very surreal short story mixing live action with some amusing cartoons. The narrator looks back fondly at his Liverpool childhood and the antics of best friend Johnno (Chris Freeney). Well known for being a showman and keen on joking, Johnno starts to change for the worse when he announces his father/Dad (John Murphy) has died. Also starring Dallas Messias as Johnno's Mum. The animation as I said is amusing at times, I don't know if I would want to see something like this again, but not a bad film. It was nominated the BAFTA for Best Short Animation. Okay!

It's sad when we loose our most special thing - childhood

[willbekinsale-1 · 9/10 · 4 May 2004]

Another outstanding film from Bermuda Film Festival. Like the winner of Best Short - WASP. This film earned a honourable mention for it's powerful insight into what happens inside the mind of a sociopath. It was the most original and different film I think I've seen. Blending imagination with reality in a way I've never seen. It was like mixing fine art painting with a hard urban story. Saying that the technique didn't compromise the punk street feel of the film.

Johnno controls his best friend. Making him do things you just DONT do. We watch as the lies and cheats. Abusing an old man, shattering all of the boys hopes and dreams in the process. I found myself thinking about the film for days. Do people like this exist? If so, what are they up to? And why does society not deal with them? This one also hit the audience hard because of it's brutal ending and no doubt left them feeling at unease with the world.

He silently laughed while I cried inside

[TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews · 8/10 · 1 April 2010]

This is one of the two shorts(the other being the odd Mole Hills) on the DVD of Sunshine. It has a running time of 6 and a half minutes, and a one minute introduction by Danny Boyle. Yes, this is bleak and unpleasant, as well as rather twisted. I suppose if you've never known someone you can compare to Johnno, this may just repel you; however, calling it an attempt to do nothing but offend is a misunderstanding. People like him exist, and this is sadly a credible look at them. Yes, it's nasty, at times disgusting; there's a reason for that. It's a spot-light pointed straight at something extremely dark and brutal. This is a mix of live-action and animation, and it can be quite psychedelic(it communicates its message very clearly, though), and for how grim it is, it can be colorful, as well. The editing and cinematography are interesting, and this not being too long keeps the subject matter from getting you to turn it off before it's over(hopefully). While narration and visuals lock it into the specific region(London?) of Britain, they ultimately result in this being a distinct voice for telling a terribly universal(at least to suburban environments) tale. Acting and writing are marvelous. This is well-paced with nothing overstaying its welcome or being curt. The plot revolves around two youths and their activities. There is a lot of disturbing content, a bit of strong language and a little violence in this. I recommend this to any fan of the medium(who believe they can stomach it, and are willing to ponder what this has to say). 8/10

an unpleasant journey into the bordom of youth

[nujuv · 8/10 · 11 May 2009]

Reminded me very strongly of the worst aspect of childhood when I grew up in north London. Whatever school/whatever I found myself in I always found characters similar to Johnno-not as extreme-but that heart of mischevousness which could flip very quickly to viciousness.

I guess I am not alone in this. The film plays out a tale that is compusive viewing, though doubtlessly twisted.

The dialogue is deadpan and the animation pulls you in with its urban icons bluring in and around the characters.

Worth watching - others have panned this as too grim, but I am certain that you will know a real life johnno. More interesting are those that will recognise themselves in johnno...

Oddly bleak short film

[briancham1994 · 8/10 · 11 August 2020]

This short film made quite an impression on me when I first watched it. I thought it was odd and quite different from others. It goes through a lot of memories and establishes a rather bleak tone.

A total classic

[johnisapokemon · 27 June 2017]

I first came across Dad's Dead ten years ago when I was a student studying moving image. I was under the impression that animation was very much about cartoons. But watching Chris Shepherd's dark masterpiece made me realise that all animation doesn't have to be a formula. This dark coming of age story showed me that I could make projects that broke conventions and explore the darker side. This film inspired me to animate and eventually get a job in the industry. So I have a lot to be thankful for with this short film.

When I look at the comments I can see a lot of hate for this film. But I think this is because it does something the audience don't expect. Most films in this commercial age pander to the audience. The maxim being to give the viewers what they want. Which means that cinema is slowly dying. But Dad's Dead doesn't do this. It's almost saying 'bollocks' to the audience. Which I personally think is brilliant. Ignore the haters!!! It tells the story of a gullible young boy who hero worships his friend only to find that he's a sociopath. His friend Johnno is no friend at all and he leads our narrator (played by the brilliant Ian Hart) into the path of destruction.

Chris has now made a sequel to Dad's Dead called Johnno's Dead which has been doing really well at the festivals. He brings back the same cast to play the same roles ten years on. They should put both films on the same bill as Trainspotting 1 and 2 as they both explore the same ground. Its well worth checking out and if you can see them back to back you will be in for a treat as they are both classics.

9/10

disturbing

[Kirpianuscus · 31 October 2022]

One o disturbing films about changes o a young man, from childhood defined by shows and jokes to a terrible cruelty after a presumed lie.

A film about the monster from us, hidden, sleeping, free after the last link is broken because the death of father has new nuances at the end of film, with sparkles of fury and forms of revenge, behind a presumed terrible truth.

Short, admirable crafted and, scene by scene, just impressive.

One of films proposing a bucket of questions, pretending fair introspectation.

A story just working in impecable way and the voice of Ian Hart as perfect guide in this tunnel of hell. The conclusion remains profound personal for every viewer.