"Pram Snatcher"

27 October 2023

12 mins 30s

Mum and gun.

Located between Perth and Dundee on the A90, The Horn Milk Bar is hard to miss. The diner has a fibreglass cow on the roof, which has no doubt caused many drivers to lose concentration. It also attracts directors like Theo James Krekis because of its retro decor and road movie vibe.

He squeezes every ounce from the location in 'Pram Snatcher', a sweet and sweary short film that reminds DAVID of Pumpkin and Honey Bunny from 'Pulp Fiction'. Jeanie Crystal and Michael Socha play Megadeth Girl and Transit Man, a couple on the wrong side of the law with a baby on the way. This makes the decision whether or not to rob the place even more complicated.

Performance-wise, Crystal and Socha are well matched, with the former's feral, Northern swagger contrasted by the latter's good-hearted incompetence and desire to keep mother and baby safe. A gun's all well and good, Transit Man argues, but a rest is even better.

The back-and-forth between the two is rivalled only by their interactions with restaurant's staff and customers. Whether it's a brief chat about potty training or a heart-to-heart interrupted by a escaping customer ("Can you not see we're trying to have a tender fucking moment?"), this is a strong calling card for writer/director Krekis.

UK

Short Film