My first thought when watching Brooke H. Cellars’ short Violet Butterfield: Makeup Artist for the Dead, is this must be a tricky gig.
Shot with a hazy 70s feel, we meet Violet, as she is tending to her latest subject, waxing lyrical about their now improved appearance.
Right from the outset, the performance by Michelle Malentina as our titular Violet, is high camp in all the best ways. In a perfect world, we could drop her into something like Beetlejuice and she’d be right at home.
Whilst carrying out her usual drill she gets an unexpected visitor in need of some emergency surgery which only Violet can deliver.
The production value here is top notch, with a real commitment to this retro aesthetic which works fantastically with the narrative. Despite its otherness, Violet Butterfield actually becomes quite endearing and will certainly gain plenty of fans in the queer community with its messages.
Violet Butterfield is just screaming out for a feature adaptation.
Violet Butterfield: Makeup Artist for the Dead screens as part of the Overlook Film Festival 2023.
Bloody Flicks 