In a chilling cinematic display, Form IV student Will Achtmeyer ’26 recently unveiled his Halloween-themed video to the Belmont Hill community during the annual Boo Chapel, leaving students and teachers alike captivated and haunted by the mysterious narrative.
Inspired by a mundane moment in the library, Achtmeyer ’26 said that his motivation for the project first was sparked by a simple sound outside the door, which, even though he knew it was nothing, prompted the thought: “What if it was something?”
The video, a short horror film, revolves around the protagonist, Randy, and takes a dark turn that leaves viewers in suspense. Achtmeyer ’26 explained that the ambiguous ending was intentionally crafted to leave the audience guessing. The narrative loops back to the inciting incident, where Randy hears a bump in the library bathroom, triggering his mental deterioration and eventually leading to a fatal encounter. The open-ended conclusion challenges its viewers to reflect on whether they would acknowledge or ignore an ominous situation in their own lives.
When asked about directorial influences, Achtmeyer ’26 pointed to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, particularly drawing inspiration from its portrayal of mental deterioration. The homage extended to the font used in the video’s title, reminiscent of the iconic text displayed in The Shining. However, Achtmeyer ’26 admitted that while he was consciously inspired by Kubrick, other influences may have seeped in during the creative process. Achtmeyer ’26 identified his “trademark” in the video as the liminal shots of the school, capturing blank moments that added a chilling atmosphere to the narrative.
Acknowledging the learning curve of the filming experience, he expressed a desire for better preparation and planning for future productions, highlighting the need for pre-production organization to streamline the process and minimize improvisation during filming. In a gracious nod to collaborators, Achtmeyer ’26 would like to thank Mr. DiResta and Mr. Duarte for supplying the cameras, Jayden Chen ’26 for his filming contributions, and the dedicated actors who brought the chilling tale to life.
