SYNOPSIS: It’s the summer of 1973, and eight year-old Bobby Burke’s father has been MIA in Vietnam for three years. Bobby believes in the power of his magic charm bracelet – called the Safekeeper – to bring his dad back home, but he’s dismayed that his mother, who has begun dating a new man, appears to be moving on with her life. Now, to make matters worse, Bobby has come upon a demonic creature known as The Tolltaker living in a nearby storm drain, who seems intent on snatching the Safekeeper from Bobby’s wrist and keeping his father from him forever.

Director Steve Janas bring the viewer a chilling tale based on the book “The Tolltaker.” This indie short (20 minutes) is both live action and animation. It harbors a sense of dread that is not easy to shake off. There is a fine line between bittersweet moments, paranoia, and out and out terror. The production is a period piece (set in the early 1970s) and is incredibly well done. Check it out HERE.