The Elaborate End of Robert Ebb (2012) User Reviews

Amusing Black Comedy

[Theo Robertson · 7/10 · 28 February 2014]

A security guard called Robert works at a film studio and decides to play a practical joke on a colleague

I've watched a number of French films and off the top of my head I don't recall seeing a French horror film with the exception of MARTYRS which seemed a conscious reaction to torture porn so I don't think the Gallic mentality lends itself to horror unlike Britain and Spain . Instead most French cinema concentrates around characters sitting around dinner tables having deep profound conversations about absolutely nothing in particular

Strange then that this short horror comedy seems to be an Anglo-Franco production . When I say strange it seems it's made for an Anglo-Saxon audience but everything and everyone in the end credits is French . The cars aren't present day ones so I'm guessing it's supposed to be set in 1950s America with its drive in movie theatres . It is noticeable that some of the vocal delivery is a little flat which instinctively leads me to believe the film has been dubbed in to English . It's rather one note with a little bit of suspension of disbelief needed with a lot of coincidence but it is an amusing black comedy dripping with very dark humour and is very enjoyable

A fun spin on the rubbery monster movie

[bob the moo · 30 March 2014]

I have been watching Doctor Who from the original series recently and just the other day watched the serial with the rubbery Silurians as the creatures. It felt very dated and rubbery although still worked but it was a nice coincidence that shortly afterwards I watched this film which gives a rather fun spin on the b-movie creature feature. Security guard Robert is at work and bored when he dresses in a big rubbery monster costume he finds. Scaring his colleague witless, he has a good chuckle but finds he cannot get himself out of the costume. Venturing out of the movie studio he finds a community less than willing to help him out.

The joke may well be a simple one but it is still a good one – although if you are in a less charitable mood then you do have to concede that the film only goes where you know it will from the moment Robert puts on the outfit. The manner of doing it is funny though and the sight of him trapped inside the costume bellowing in frustration is never not funny. The narrative arch requires coincidence and chance, however this to me was part of the joke since even the title concedes it is "elaborate" in nature. The design of the short helps a lot; it is a French film but done with English people and made to feel like the US of the 1950's, so the diner, the drive-in and other such things are nicely recreated. The monster outfit itself is really impressive as a thing – convincing as the sort of thing you would see in such a b-movie and yet still comical.

It may well only be one joke and it may well be a fairly obvious one, but it's how ya tell them and this short tells it very well.

a not inspired joke

[Kirpianuscus · 2 December 2019]

The basic virtue - all is familiar. From the B - movies rubbery monster to the drive - in and violent reaction of community , inspired by news. The good point - the end . Dramatic, sentimental and useful for a simple, good crafted short film inspiring nostalgia.