Experiencing Interruptions?

Bound

Bound is a gripping exploration of coercive control, gaslighting, and the insidious nature of abuse hidden under the guise of love. Helen, a brilliant yet insecure young woman, is drawn to Matt, a man who appears to be her savior. Their romance begins as a dream but gradually transforms into a nightmare, as Matt’s manipulation and Helen’s fear of losing him push her to the brink. As Helen wrestles with her sense of reality, Bound unravels the messy, painful truths about love, control, and self-worth, with a tragic ending which is all to common bound is a tragic story familiar to too many.

  • Karis Merie
    Director
  • Jane Larkin
    Director
  • Karis Merie
    Writer
  • Karis Merie
    Producer
  • Karis Merie
    Key Cast
    "Helen"
  • Eve Grace
    Key Cast
    "Millie"
  • Layton Le Petit
    Key Cast
    "Matt"
  • Chanstar Anderson
    Editor
  • Elma Morris
    Composer
  • Alexander Purcell
    Director of Photography
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 14, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Karis Merie, Jane Larkin

Karis Merie is a filmmaker dedicated to telling impactful, human-centred stories that challenge societal norms and amplify voices often left unheard. With a background in public health, humanitarian advocacy, and gender research, Karis brings a unique perspective to her work, creating films that resonate deeply and foster meaningful dialogue.

Bound is a deeply personal and universally relevant short film exploring the complexities of coercive control and emotional abuse. Inspired by real-life experiences and shaped by her commitment to representing underrepresented voices, driven by the belief that Bound was a story that needed to be told.

Karis’s approach to filmmaking is informed by her years working with marginalised populations, from refugees and trafficked children to survivors of violence. Her work in the humanitarian sector, coupled with her academic foundation including a Master of Public Health from the University of Sydney Medical School honed her ability to craft narratives that confront difficult truths while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit.

As a writer and producer of Bound, Karis led a team of mostly women and individuals living with disabilities, emphasising inclusivity and authenticity in every aspect of the film’s creation. Her passion for creating female-driven stories and fostering representation both on and off-screen has made Bound not just a film, but a call to action, challenging audiences to reflect, empathise, and recognise the quiet strength it takes to reclaim one’s identity.

Karis’s filmmaking journey is rooted in her mission to use storytelling as a force for good, creating narratives that not only entertain but also educate, inspire, and provoke conversation. Through Bound and her ongoing work, she continues to explore the intricacies of identity, relationships, and human resilience, ensuring that every project serves as a platform for connection and change.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Bound was born from lived experience. I understand firsthand how insidious coercive control can be, how it creeps into the mind, distorting reality, making you doubt yourself until you no longer recognise the person you once were. This film is not just a story; it’s a truth that too many women have lived.

As a society we struggled to understand emotional abuse. Often there are no bruises, no broken bones, just the slow erosion of identity, the silent suffering behind closed doors. Society too often dismisses women like Helen, reducing their pain to instability, paranoia, or hysteria. Bound exists to challenge that narrative, to expose the devastating impact of coercive control and gaslighting in a way that is impossible to ignore.

While making this film, I worked closely with domestic and family violence services to ensure that Bound not only tells an authentic story but also serves the community. It was crucial to me that survivors felt seen, that those who have been silenced found a voice in Helen’s journey. This film was made by women, for women, and with the support of women who have lived through this reality.

But Bound is not just about abuse it’s about the quiet, powerful moment when a woman reclaims herself, even if the world refuses to believe her. It’s about the challenges and strength it takes to walk away, even when you don’t know who you are without him.

My hope is that Bound will start the conversations we’re too afraid to have. That it will force people to look closer, to listen harder, and to finally understand that emotional abuse is just as real, just as dangerous, and just as deserving of attention as any other form of violence. Because for too long, people have been screaming into the void, begging to be believed.

This film is for them.