The sci-fi short film ZERO opens on a wrenching note: a man named John (Nigel O’Neill) in seclusion in his boarded-up country home instructs his young daughter, Alice (Bella Ramsey, Game Of Thrones), on strict rules she must live by in order to survive an imminent attack on the planet.

After an electromagnetic blast renders the planet’s technology useless, including John’s pacemaker, Alice must use all her training and discipline to adhere to her father’s rules in order to remain sequestered from the outside world.

But when a mysterious stranger demands to be let in, Alice’s resolve faces the ultimate test.

ZERO is the latest short from filmmaking siblings The Lynch Brothers (Keith and David). Like their previous outing - the sci-fi short TRIAL - ZERO introduces viewers to an intriguing alternate reality steeped in atmosphere and mystery.

The Lynch brothers have an almost preternatural skill at world building, though the majority of the action in ZERO takes place within the single setting of Alice’s decrepit farmhouse.

The specter of John’s presence can be felt throughout the house, the only company Alice has access too as the days begin to blur together.

The film is also shot using a muted and monochromatic color palette which effectively invokes a sense of claustrophobia and restlessness that permeate the film.

However, the film’s shiniest gem is its diminutive lead, Bella Ramsey. There is a reason Lyanna Mormont is a fan-favorite character from HBO’s Game of Thrones fantasy saga: the charismatic young actor who portrays her.

Ramsey is an undeniable talent. The camera adores her, and her charisma and onscreen presence draw you into the story as inexorably as light caught within the grip of a black hole.

With their distinct cinematic vision and penchant for creating alluring speculative worlds, ZERO is another filmmaking triumph for The Brothers Lynch.

ZERO is an original short presented exclusively by the YouTube sci-fi channel DUST and can be viewed in its entirety here…

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