OUT OF BODY: Lestonja Diaz Takes Control In Joseph Le’s Chilling, Award-Winning Supernatural Horror Short

Stunt professional and action director Joseph Le (Everything Everywhere All At Once, “Ashoka”) remains a bookmark in who to watch going into the new year for me. In the time I’ve consumed his shortfilm work, he’s proven to be adept at telling stories beyond what’s up my alley, and his latest shortfilm project, Out Of Body, is proof of that fact.

Lily seeks sexual liberation during an intimate date. But when she’s targeted by a malevolent vagrant’s spirit, her night turns into a battle for control over her own body, entwining desire, fear, and the supernatural.

I’ve seen my share of long and shortform horror enough to know that these types of projects are about more than hype, gore, spectacle and jump scares. Le ekes out a little bit of these too, but with a crucial caveat in this instance with a message pertinent to things like consent and boundaries. It’s a strong and substantive presentation from a director with a terrific eye for the lens.

Le crowdfunded the film through Seed&Spark, directing from a script by Ryan Kim casting Lestonja Diaz, Curtis Lum, and Alexya Garcia. He’s taken it to festivals and has since launched the award-winning short online over at the Team Red Pro channel which you can view below. Mind your viewing surroundings, and enjoy!