Reflective Encounters

“A rustle in the dark, paired with an overwhelming sense of unease sets the scene for Marcos Sánchez's unique take on animated horror. The design style is reminiscent of the graphic novels of artists such as Adam Allsuch Boardman (particularly his use of negative space), and the line weight and sensibilities of Adrian Tomine, combined with an almost hyper-realistic level of cartoon motion, creating a stunningly creepy film. Something in the Garden sits somewhere between sci-fi and sophisticated creature feature, managing to somehow be simultaneously unsettling and soothing.

Sánchez's attention to detail, lavish use of hand-rendered transitions, well-paced rhythmic character movement, and the heavy use of frameless black allows the cinema itself to become one with the screen – aiding with the sensation that we are being enveloped.  The effortless feeling of movement through space lingers here, hypnotically drawing the viewer into an eerie climax as everything and everyone is swallowed by the shapeshifting creature that dwells somewhere in the darkness of the garden. The certainty and inevitability of the progression of time (as represented here) perfectly demonstrates how animation's metamorphic qualities can eloquently create an atmosphere of disquiet that is haunting and utterly captivating.”

— Laura-Beth Cowley