A macabre organ score, a yellow raincoat à la It, a splash of colorful lights, and Dutch angles—these elements set the tone for the cartoonish horror atmosphere in which Um Mal Necessário unfolds. Using the old Faustian premise of a deal with the devil, the film is structured as a series of comedic vignettes. It’s surprising that director and screenwriter Lucas Martins manages to pack so many situations into just 14 minutes.
The tone evokes the early shorts of Guillermo del Toro, especially his 1987 film Geometría, with a similar premise. Also present are the aforementioned colorful lights, in the style of the most surreal giallos. Even the protagonist’s apartment—an ordinary man who simply wants a little more success in life—is bathed in red.
The characterization of Mephistopheles, a platinum-haired mix of James Dean and Marlon Brando, is also amusing. There’s even a tentacled monster that calls to mind In the Mouth of Madness or The Haunted.
In truth, the main problem with the film is its timing. Some jokes would benefit from a few frames less, while certain pauses linger far too long.
This means Um Mal Necessário never quite reaches the manic energy it seems to aim for; rather, it feels more like a lighter Sam Raimi film. What remains are the absurd situations—a western duel that erupts, a TV character shooting at the protagonist, a murderous taxi driver. Creative, yes, though not as exhilarating as it sounds on paper.
But it’s hard not to finish the short with a good impression of Lucas Martins. He certainly has the ideas; he just needs to “loosen up” a bit more.
