Experiencing Interruptions?

CLOCKING OUT

A woman wants to finally call it a day after a terribly long day at work. On her way home, a man who appears to be a police officer points out a supposed problem with her car…

  • Joshua Mueller
    Director
  • Joshua Mueller
    Writer
  • Tristan Matzkeit
    Writer
  • Joshua Mueller
    Producer
  • Julia Haase
    Key Cast
    "Leana Lang"
  • Harald Etheber
    Key Cast
    "Johannes Johannsson"
  • Tim Eriksson
    Key Cast
    "Top Shop employe"
  • Brian J. Rassmann
    Director of Photography
    THE BOY & THE WOLF
  • Jaimoe Kaiser
    Assistant Camera
    THE BOY & THE WOLF
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    CLOCKING OUT
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 58 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 20, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    3,500 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Germany
  • Language:
    German
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, SONY
  • Aspect Ratio:
    21:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Joshua Mueller

My name is Joshua Mueller, a director and cinematographer from Frankfurt, Germany. My short film CLOCKING OUT is a tense neo-noir psychothriller created as a proof of concept for a future feature.
Set over one night, it follows a woman caught in a dangerous game of fear and mistrust. Shot with a minimal, intimate approach, the film draws tonal inspiration from Nightcrawler, Victoria, and Prisoners.

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Director Statement

Clocking Out is a slow-burning thriller that tightens the tension until it’s almost suffocating.
I wanted viewers to feel the same subtle psychological pressure as the protagonist — that sense that something is wrong long before you can explain why.
The film is deliberately minimal: few locations, small cast, unease created through silence, glances, and where the camera chooses to stay. Visually, it leans into a stripped-down noir style with harsh light and deep shadows.
This short also serves as a proof of concept for a feature exploring themes of trust, surveillance, and shifting power.
Uncomfortable, tense — exactly as intended.
— Joshua Mueller