Chelsea Lupkin
Becoming a parent for the first time can be one of the most joyous adventures in life… and the scariest. A psychological horror about imminent fatherhood, Finnish director Juho Fossi terrifies in his gripping film Odotusaika (Expectancy). This 14-minute short is a chilling depiction of a father-to-be that explores all of the twisted ways that parenting can go wrong and what happens when we let our fears take control of our lives.
A slow-burn horror, Odotusaika is not for the faint of heart. When Alex (Heikki Ranta) is left alone for a weekend to renovate the new baby room, a freshly purchased baby monitor starts to play disturbing sounds that might allude to his future as a father. While the concept is simple, Fossi proves that great storytelling comes down to execution – and boy does it ever. A strong lead performance combined with a subtle supernatural hook, Odotusaika successfully taps into some of the most relatable fears of parenthood even when it skews into the most extreme. Surprising and shocking, this certainly isn’t a film you’ll soon forget.
“I wanted to make a horror drama that really feels like a gut-punch by the end. Something that could linger on your mind for days after seeing the film,” Fossi tells Short of the Week, as we discuss the motivation behind his production. Adding that he wanted “to create a powerful horror short that would connect with especially male audiences, those who have kids or have been thinking about becoming dads.”
While most baby-centric horror movies revolve around motherhood – who can forget Rosemary’s Baby, amirite? – Odotusaika is a unique depiction of a father-to-be and what generational trauma might lead to. The screenplay, written by both Fossi and Avi Heikkinen, explores a multitude of fears stemming from unanswerable questions and what if’s: “How can we be sure that our children grow into good human beings? Are we as parents responsible for our children’s bad choices and future actions?”
Odotusaika screened at Fantastic Fest, Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Telluride Horror Show, and Nightmares Film Festival. With an ending like that, it’s no surprise that it left audiences, especially potential parents, with nightmare fuel.