A nervous Mark is waiting at home, expecting a visitor and something much more important. Soon, there is a knock on his door, and as expected, James is at his doorstep carrying a suitcase. Mark opens the door to find James. Before he lets James into the house, he makes sure that James has brought the goods with him. James settles down in the house and opens the briefcase to display the goods. When James demands payment for the goods, Mark says that he does not have the money. James is not willing to make a deal without the cash, and Mark asks for more time. Where does their argument lead them? Do they finally make the deal?
‘Sphynx’ is a short film by Director Joshua Griffiths. ‘Sphynx’ tells the story of a deal between Mark and James that turns sour. Shot almost entirely inside an apartment, Joshua creates a charged atmosphere of intrigue, drama and suspense. The low-key lighting and the strong shadows set the mood of the situation right from the word go. Joshua builds his sequences in a non-linear structure, teasing the audience with what is to come, without revealing the specifics that dampen the suspense. The film also benefits markedly from the lengthy shots that control the pace of the film. When the story navigates through the intricate twists and turns of the plot, the edit pattern moves in pace with the story, in synchronization. The ‘deal gone sour’ opens up a pandora’s box and more secrets come tumbling out of the closet as they probe deeper.
‘Sphynx’ is an intriguing story of deception, greed and secrets. Do Mark and James settle their differences? Do they go through with their transaction? Do they find the answers to questions that have remained unanswered till now? And, what was really in the box? Does ‘Sphynx’ answer these questions?
