This simple narrative follows one rule: come in late, leave early. Featuring a single character in a single location with no dialogue, TETHER is a psychological thriller cross-bred with an escape drama and experimental dream sequence.

The filmmakers focused on setting a tone and vibe while still allowing enough space for the audience to formulate its own interpretation. From a craft standpoint, TETHER explores implicit violence, off-screen sound, and non-linear editing techniques. The short also includes an entirely original score by composer James Newberry.

Director Ty Richardson says, “We really focused on creating a piece that felt supernatural and truthful at the same time, taking cues from great cinema verité filmmakers and planning the shoot around several long takes.”