By Juan Markos
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 10/08/2025
As Indigenous Peoples Day, previously recognized as Columbus Day, approaches, it’s worth highlighting the short film “Feast,” directed by Aron Rudner-Stokell. This film presents an ironic take on the Thanksgiving holiday by drawing an analogy between Indigenous Peoples and vampires. The plot details a reunion of a group of old friends set on the day before Thanksgiving. While the group eagerly awaits the arrival of one friend and her new boyfriend, who is described as weird and controlling, they engage in banter about the couple’s behavior.
Upon arriving late and claiming they have already eaten, the couple is shown to their room while the rest of the group continues to discuss the situation at hand. The film stars Harriet Bridgwater, Melina Farahani, Isabela Quilodrán, aniel Torres, and Allan Williams. The screenplay is penned by Stephen Prather, who I had the opportunity to interview at the Silicon Beach Film Festival.
Prather shared that “Feast” metaphorically explores the impact of European settlers on Indigenous communities, likening their arrival to inviting vampires into one’s home a parallel he draws between the historical context of Americans and Europeans. Prather, who grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, near the Cherokee Nation, has long aspired to craft a horror story that reflects these themes and experiences.
