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Daniel J. Egbert | United States | 2018 | 22:52

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“TAUT, MYSTERIOUS, WELL EXECUTED.” Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver)

“Up and coming writer director Daniel J. Egbert shows great promise with his stylish short, THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK. Solid performances from an intriguing cast and just right pacing.” Randal Kleiser (Grease)

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Synopsis:
THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK.
A suspense thriller written and directed by Daniel J. Egbert

A setting sun lends its final light across a vast countryside. In the distance, in every direction, rolling hills are topped with seemingly endless power lines. They encircle a single road that runs directly through it. On the shoulder of this road, a brown, ’87 Caprice is broken down. At the front left tire stands, Clint. Clint has chiseled features with a receding hairline that boarders villainous and regal. He is motionless, maybe just careless, but either way it’s behavior Stella is all too familiar with. Stella is racially ambiguous. Her hair is a wonderful mess of curls so intricate it’s impossible to comprehend. She loathes Clint for being the useless bag of meat he is, and she makes this constantly clear.

Night has fallen and it consumes everything. There isn’t a city light for miles to aid the efforts of Clint, who tinkers away with his menial task of changing their flat. And Stella has had enough. She begins to resume control over him and over the situation. Clint can’t take her belittling him anymore, he finally stands up to her just as a passerby pulls off of the road, coming to a stop behind them. Clint and Stella cease their banter and look to who has arrived. They can’t see much of anything though due to the blinding lights the old Bronco has left on. The engine shuts off, a rusty tin door creaks open and slams shut and a brooding silhouette settles sturdy and motionless, standing in front of the truck. “Looks like you could use a hand,” the passerby mumbles, and Clint approaches.

What occurs next, and over the course of this single night, changes three lives forever.

Stella wakes up bound at the wrists and bloodied, terrified, confused, and without Clint. She meets, Jack. Jack is tall and thin but scrappy. He’s intense. The world hasn’t been kind to him and his eyes tell that story louder than his mouth ever could. He informs her quite succinctly of her current situation, “You’re going to die tonight, Stella. That’s how this ends. Now you know.” As Clint resurfaces from the other side of the car, he attacks Jack. Stella runs! Jack quickly over powers Clint, ties him up and pursues Stella on foot. Almost effortlessly, he catches her and she is dragged back to the car.

It becomes evident that Jack and Clint know each other, that they have unfinished business, and this entire predicament is due to Clint’s foolishness and uselessness once again. But in one final act of selflessness, Clint begs Jack to let her go from this, and reluctantly Jack obliges. Stella is set free while making it clear to her that Clint won’t be as lucky. When Jack returns to finish Clint, he cuts his restraints instead and the two quietly discuss how their plan went. Jack assures Clint that it was perfect, that he “died tonight.” Clint doesn’t seem as sure… because what Jack doesn’t know, is Clint’s plan isn’t complete yet. Jack now wants his half of their deal; Clint agrees and directs him towards it, “It’s in the trunk.” When Jack looks inside, his greedy little grin fades to disbelief. His disbelief transforms to disgust, and his disgust resolves into nothingness. Jack looks to Clint who stares menacingly, unwaveringly back. He gets in his truck, and Jack leaves as quickly as he arrived.

Clint’s posture has changed. He carries himself differently instantly; he’s a new man full of confidence and determination. He tracks down Stella, cuts her free and returns to their car. Stella is dumbfounded by what has occurred. She looks back at the scene: Jack is gone, Clint is alive, and the trunk is wide open. She follows him to their vehicle and attempts to piece this together. She doesn’t understand how Clint survived this. Jack is a man! Clint is the furthest thing from what a man should be… how could he have succeeded in staying alive? Maybe Clint isn’t what she thought he was. Maybe she isn’t as strong as she thinks she is. Maybe she has lost control over Clint’s existence.

“Why?”
“… Who’s useless now?”

Cast
Sean Michael Nugent
Murielle Hilaire
Doc King

Writer
Daniel J. Egbert

Producer
Daniel J. Egbert