Experiencing Interruptions?

Terminus

In "Terminus," we meet Gary, a middle-aged bus driver grappling with the lingering effects of a head injury and the strain of his daily life. With a well-meaning but persistent wife urging him to adhere to his medication, Gary finds himself increasingly frustrated and isolated. When his car's voice-activated GPS begins to take on a more self-aware persona, it initially offers solace, guiding him to serene locales to ease his mounting stress. However, as their exchanges grow more intimate, the GPS takes a dark turn, probing the intricacies of Gary's strained marriage and planting seeds of violent ideas.

  • Ashley Butcher
    Director
  • John Finnan
    Writer
  • Ashley Butcher
    Screenplay
  • Ashley Butcher
    Producer
  • John Finnan
    Key Cast
    "Gary"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Psychological thriller, Black comedy, Speculative fiction, Horror
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 24 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 19, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    136 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Belgium
  • Country of Filming:
    Belgium
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Ashley Butcher

Ashley Butcher is a Belgium-based filmmaker with a background in film, television, radio, and theatre. Their work often explores themes related to social, ethical, and mental health issues.

Originally from Australia, Ashley trained in child acting in Melbourne and Hobart before transitioning to theatre production during their school years. They worked as a lighting and sound technician at various Melbourne theatres before becoming Chief Engineer and an overnight announcer at the pioneering youth radio station "Hitz FM". This experience led to a variety of technical roles in television production, further expanding their expertise in the media industry.

In addition to filmmaking, Ashley composes music under the name "AshBee," further showcasing their multifaceted approach to creative expression.

Born intersex, Ashley's diverse experiences across the gender spectrum-combined with their work in both creative and technical fields-have shaped a unique perspective that informs their work both behind and in front of the camera.

Alongside their creative work, Ashley founded "Alien Internet Services" in the mid-1990s-one of Australia's first independent ISPs-before transitioning into the emerging web development industry and, later, embarking on a decades-long career in software engineering.

In 2024, Ashley made their directorial debut with the narrative short film, "Terminus", written by John Finnan, bringing their wide-ranging expertise and passion for filmmaking to the screen.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Collaborating with Dublin-based writer John Finnan, "Terminus" marks my first venture into directing a narrative film. Produced on an exceptionally low budget during a time when I was broke and unemployed, the project became an experiment in storytelling—an attempt to push the boundaries of what could be achieved with extremely minimal resources.

Drawing inspiration from John Finnan's original radio play, I chose to frame the entire film from the perspective of the car (Maeve) in order to emphasize her powerful influence over Gary. Her instructions are followed almost without question, reflecting Gary’s life of quiet submission and weariness from years of hardship.

Thematically, the film delves into mental health, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI), and the potential dangers that come with it. These concerns resonate deeply with me due to my own struggles with mental health, as well as my background in the IT sector, which has provided firsthand experience of the accelerating and detrimental impact AI has on the existing workforce.

Companies in the AI sector continually refine their AI models, only to quickly censor their outputs when they reveal troubling tendencies like bias, racism, homophobia, or violence—a process that raises profound ethical questions.

Gary’s struggle with medication abuse highlights a broader societal issue, particularly among middle-aged and older individuals who often undervalue mental health in comparison to physical health. By the film’s conclusion, audiences may be left to grapple with an unsettling question: Was it the AI that dictated Gary’s actions, or were his own hallucinations ultimately to blame?

While the film references graphic violence, it chooses not to depict it, focusing instead on the psychological tension that drives the narrative. This film contains mild coarse language.

Bio for John Finnan:

John Finnan has been writing short stories for several years, but is new to the world of film. He writes with what he hopes is a lasting passion for crafting thought-provoking stories that explore everything from the horrors of the supernatural to the more realistic horrors of Artificial Intelligence. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, John developed a love for inventive stories at a young age and wrote his first novel (unpublished) aged 12.

After studying with creative writing groups based in the libraries of Dublin, John honed his craft often receiving encouragement from those familiar with his work. He continued to sharpen his skills through workshops, competitions and online forums, where he connected with fellow writers and industry professionals. Several of his stories have appeared in anthologies, such as Mustang Bally and Visions 2020.

Terminus (2025) is his first produced screenplay.