Experiencing Interruptions?

Simmer

As the evening light fades, Jesse, a troubled man in his late 20s, hastens toward a cottage, burdened by a heavy secret. Approaching, his trembling hands fumble for a cigarette, betraying his inner unease.

Meanwhile, inside the cottage, Blair, a confident man in his late 30s, is immersed in culinary precision. The sudden buzz of the door disrupts the tranquil atmosphere, and Blair intuits an impending disturbance.

The once serene kitchen transforms into a tense battleground when Jesse, fuelled by the weight of confession, confronts Blair in an attempt to sever ties with a shadowy past. Unfazed, Blair, with the presence of a sharp kitchen knife, challenges Jesse to confront the ambiguous lines between right and wrong, adding layers to the already charged atmosphere.

In this thrilling exchange, Jesse's defiance acts as a catalyst, unravelling Blair's control and exposing the delicate balance between morality and personal agency. The kitchen, once a haven of creation, undergoes a metamorphosis, where shadows reveal their true nature, blurring the distinction between ally and adversary.

Simmer explores the gripping complexities of choice and transformation within the confines of a kitchen. Unbeknownst to Blair, the pots, once tended with care, now bubble over, unveiling the thrilling secrets that lurk beneath the surface and adding suspense to the narrative.

  • Darren Lee Murphy
    Director
  • Darren Lee Murphy
    Writer
  • Making Productions
    Producer
  • Oliver Mason
    Key Cast
    "Blair"
  • Daniel Wallentine
    Key Cast
    "Jesse"
  • Ronan O'Loughlin
    Director of Photography
  • Joseph Martin-Kelly
    Editor
  • Caitlin Donaldson
    Colourist
  • Joanna Karselis
    Music and Sound Design
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Thriller
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 33 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 12, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Mini Red
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Darren Lee Murphy

Darren Lee Murphy is an award-winning writer-director, producer, and certified Intimacy Coordinator based in London. A specialist in authentic LGBTQ+ storytelling and socially conscious filmmaking, he is the founder of Making Productions - a company championing bold new writing and diverse voices across film, television, and theatre.

His debut short film Blueberry Smoothie established him as a distinctive voice in independent cinema. An LGBTQ+ drama that world premiered across 14 international festivals, it won 17 awards including Best Director, Best Short Film, Best LGBT Film, and Best Short Screenplay at both the Los Angeles Film Awards and New York Film Awards, with international distribution across multiple territories.

Current productions include Loop of Desire, a sci-fi psychological thriller exploring AI therapy addiction and algorithmic manipulation - a 15-minute LGBTQ+ drama, in production June 2026 - and CMA, a short film he wrote exploring crystal meth addiction, directed by BAFTA Award-winner George Scott. His dark comedy short Glitched, co-written with Sharon Burrell (Hag Films), is currently on the festival circuit with multiple script accolades, and is in development as a high-end television series.

As a writer, his feature screenplay slate includes Happy Camper, a psychological queer thriller set in the Scottish Highlands; Matilda, a period ensemble dark-comedy/thriller due to begin production in Granada, Spain in November 2026; D.E.M.O.N.I.C., a high-concept 1990s espionage thriller; Sylvester, a queer character drama set in Kenya's Great Rift Valley; Land of Make Believe, a magical realist short exploring childhood grief through a deaf boy's eyes; and Earth, an ambitious sci-fi fantasy thriller co-written with Caleb Packham.

As a producer, Darren received an Olivier Award nomination for Best New Opera Production and has produced over 33 plays, operas, and musicals in the West End and beyond. A graduate of the Sundance Co//ab Directing Program, he holds an Intimacy Coordination certification from the National Film and Television School (NFTS) and is an active participant at Cannes, Berlinale, and BFI London Film Festival.

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