Written and directed by Tari K. Robinson, ‘Skulker’ is a 2023 horror drama short, starring Liyah Chante Thompson, Isoken Obaseki and Kari Forero.

Liyah Chante Thompson plays Detective Madison Johnson who is on the hunt for a killer after a slew of dead bodies begin to turn up in her suburban town. As she settles in and starts to dig deep, Madison is perplexed to find no credible leads. But she is missing something that is right before her and as the reality of the horror sets in, Madison will soon find herself in a battle for her life. Will she win or will this horrific evil take over? 

Tari K. Robinson’s ‘Skulker’ meshes police procedural with some good old-fashioned monster kills to make a film that is the best of both worlds. The performances are exciting and the slow bait that the creature patiently formulates around the detective is fantastic. The detective knows in the back of her head that she is gradually sinking into a trap, but will she find out in time? Her first mistake will lead her down a slew of bad choices as she ends up in a violent and bloody battle for survival. Part of what makes the film work is its simmering escalation that ups the ante gradually until its violent conclusion. 

Liyah Chante Thompson as Detective Johnson is perfectly cast as she brings to life her charming and wide-eyed policewoman. There is an innocence to her character and her desire to go the extra mile will usher in her doom. Equally impressive is Isoken Obaseki as Detective Joanie Richards who brings out the devil may care attitude in her character with ease. Robinson’s script fleshes out the moral conundrum of the story well and the cinematographic choices complement the fantasy horror genre of the story very well with each shot of the film exuding extreme care. Equally impressive is the score, which combines the feel of terror with desperation flawlessly. All in all, the film displays technical mastery and is better than most comparable shorts. 

Scary, superb and packing a solid punch, Skulker is a film that one wishes should have been a feature instead. From the direction to the cinematography and from the script to the performances, everything comes together nicely in Tari K. Robinson’s ode to the horror genre. We cannot wait to see Tari K. Robinson tackle a horror feature next and we are reluctant to give this film any less than five out of five stars.