Ens Rationis

Ten years ago, in a desperate moment, Vivian struck a pact with a mysterious stranger who promised her something no one else could. Tonight she abandons the love of her life to make a remote rendezvous and settle her debt.

  • Paul Christian Glenn
    Director
  • Paul Christian Glenn
    Writer
  • Patience Glenn
    Producer
  • Janell Patton Wolford
    Key Cast
    "Vivian"
  • Charles Schlussel
    Key Cast
    "Blank Man"
  • Lori Foreman
    Key Cast
    "Night Clerk"
  • John Murray
    Key Cast
    "Mark"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Supernatural, thriller, mystery, suspense
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 12, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 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
  • Omaha Film Festival
    Omaha, Nebraska
    United States
    March 7, 2019
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • The Scarefest Horror & Paranormal Film Festival & Convention
    Lexington, KY
    United States
    September 12, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Geek Short Film Festival
    Charlotte, NC
    United States
    November 2, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Northern Frights Festival
    North Bay, Ontario
    Canada
    October 19, 2019
    Canadian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase
    Fort Worth, TX
    United States
    July 26, 2019
    Official Selection
  • WideScreen Film & Music Video Festival
    Las Vegas, NV
    United States
    September 25, 2019
    Best Director (Nominated)
  • H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival
    Portland, OR
    United States
    October 4, 2019
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • ShortsTV
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: Internet, Free TV, Paid TV
Director Biography - Paul Christian Glenn

Paul Christian Glenn is a filmmaker based in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2019 he wrote and directed Ens Rationis, a short film inspired by the works of Rod Serling and John Carpenter. His current project, The Walls Alike and Madding, is a horror short inspired by the work of H.P. Lovecraft.

In addition to filmmaking, Glenn works full-time as a graphic designer and web developer.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Seven years ago my father was taken by a brief and brutal illness. Like most who grapple with devastating loss, my family spent the following months reminiscing, keeping him with us through shared memories told over and over again. It was during this difficult time that I first imagined the "blank man," a quiet monster with the power to steal what is most precious: the memories that define our lives.

Ens Rationis was born from this haunting image, and as the story took shape it evolved from a horror yarn into a melancholy meditation on the cost of love. We all strive to create deep connections and moments of beauty in our lives, even with the certain knowledge that one day they will all be taken away. What a remarkably human thing, love as an act of defiance.

Our production drew inspiration from the works of Rod Serling and John Carpenter, who frequently employed a sense of mounting dread with a splash of existential anxiety. Aesthetically, I tried to capture the look and feel of something I might've stumbled across on late-night cable in the 80s (when I should've been in bed).

It's my humble hope that the audience gets a visceral thrill from our story, and maybe a fleeting reflection on the joy of living every moment. We get to carry each one with us for the rest of our lives, until the monster comes.