The Art: Late Bloomer
The Artist: Craig Macneill
About the Work:
Sexual education is daunting for any kid, but director Craig Macneill takes it to an awkward extreme with his comedic short film Late Bloomer.
Inspired by Lovecraftian tales, Late Bloomer features a seventh grade student who finds himself in the midst of his sexual awakening as his teacher (wittily named Lovecraft herself) details the male and female sexual organs.
As the story – relayed via a dramatic voiceover that’s undoubtedly the highlight of the film – escalates, and the protagonist becomes aware that all is not as it seems in the classroom, the short film masterfully throws a mix of horror and humour at its viewers.
This uncomfortable, and yet highly entertaining blend is amplified by the narrator’s purple prose – ornate, almost pretentious language that creates a mesmerising melody. Lovecraft was no stranger to purple prose himself, but while he’s been criticised for his overuse of language, Late Bloomer should be celebrated for it. The film is self-aware, and its ludicrous vocabulary entertains more than most of its young cast members manage to.
The ending is cringeworthy, but suitably so. With Late Bloomer, Macneill has created not only a clever parody of eldritch horror stories, but also captured the feeling of curiosity and repulsion that these kinds of discoveries inspire at such an age.