A Night Alone With Mr. Pembroke

After a series of misfortunes, young Mr. Pembroke finds himself in isolation inside his box-shaped home in the early '70s. He is all alone, or at least he thinks he is. He's convinced someone is watching him, which is of course disregarded by our narrator. Is someone really there? Is our narrator to be trusted? Can Mr. Pembroke escape his own mind by the end of the night?

  • Marc Haas
    Director
    Le Carceri Uncanny
  • Peter Shand
    Key Cast
    "Mr. Pembroke"
    Le Carceri Uncanny
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 18, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Marc Haas

Marc graduated with a Master of Architecture degree from Kent State University in 2020, before transitioning into filmmaking.
He has since worked as a Screenwriter, Director, Director of Photography, Production Designer, and Editor for short films and music videos.

Marc's goal is to continue making films and hopes to one day direct a feature film.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

A Night Alone With Mr. Pembroke was filmed at Michael Graves' Hanselmann House in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and chosen for its 'cube' shape to represent the box that Mr. Pembroke is trapped inside.
The 4:3 aspect ratio further encloses our main character, until he attempts to escape, opening up the aspect ratio to 16:9.
While watching, I wanted the viewer to experience this feeling of claustrophobia, until the end when the image is wider and we get a breath of fresh air.

The use of color and glowing lights at the beginning convinces us that everything is okay. But once Mr. Pembroke suspects he's not alone and turns against the narrator, we see the image desaturate and become "dirty" with grain and swirly bokeh. This is the reality he lives in, no more smoke and mirrors.

A Night Alone With Mr. Pembroke is a short film with deeper themes of loss, perseverance, control, and freedom. But seen on the surface level as a recluse in the '70s controlled by their own thoughts, until someone from the outside attempts to break down their barriers.