Self Portrait, directed by Samuel DeFrank, is a refreshing, albeit short, entry into the horror genre that tells the story of an aspiring model who is given the chance to be photographed by a famous artist at his cabin, not knowing the true, sinister nature of this photoshoot.
The film immediately starts on an eerie note, as the first thing we see is our model, Louise, unknowingly being filmed from a very long distance. She is then picked up by a chauffeur for the artist, who we learn is named “Mr. Beaumont”. Weirdly, one of the first things this chauffeur says is, “Did you talk to anyone about the shoot?” to which Louise responds, “No. I read the NDA”, foreshadowing that this is not a typical photoshoot, something which will be revealed later in the film.
We meet both Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont, with Mr. Beaumont being creepily introduced and revealed to be unable to speak or walk. From there, we follow Louise as Mrs. Beaumont gives her a range of unusual tasks, such as to bathe in a tub of black liquid that Mrs. Beaumont describes as “organic”. She then asks her to pick the camera that will be used for her photoshoot.
It is shown that on his wall, Mr. Beaumont has four pictures of a younger version of himself surrounding one empty frame. It is unknown what that picture will be, but the picture frame will play an important role in Louise’ story. Without spoiling the film’s climax, it becomes evident that Louise, her chosen camera, and the empty picture frame have a much closer relationship than it seems.
What immediately stands out the most about Self-Portrait is its cinematography. Every shot feels meticulously and purposefully picked out to create the sense that nothing is as it seems in this story. As mentioned earlier, its opening features an extremely long shot that zooms in on Louise, showing that even before her photoshoot, she is being watched without her knowledge. When we arrive at the cabin, there is an extensive use of long shots that highlight the space within the cabin. This creates a sense of emptiness within the cabin, which only furthers the unsettling atmosphere throughout the film.
What I found this film also does really well is its use of foreshadowing. There are many subtle hints for what’s to come for Louise throughout the film that may go unnoticed on the first watch, making it an easily rewatchable film. The biggest example of this is the shots of Mr. Beaumont’s self-portraits, which are the most direct hints at what will come for Louise at the end of the film.
It is important to note that there are only three main characters in the film: Louise, Mr. Beaumont, and Mrs. Beaumont, but the film manages to do a lot with the few characters it has. Specifically, the audience learns about the psyche of Louise through the relationship between her and Mrs. Beaumont. In the scene in which Mrs. Beaumont asks Louise to bathe in the “organic” black liquid, Louise is initially reluctant, as it is an unusual task, but Mrs. Beaumont can convince her by telling her a story of Cindy Crawford, a famous model who supposedly had to take the same bath. Louise’s reluctance is a sign that she is aware that the things Mrs. Beaumont is asking her to do are unusual, but it is also a sign of how far she is willing to go to be successful. Louise is willing to disregard the tasks and questions that Mrs. Beaumont had for her, no matter how strange they are, because at the end of the day, she is driven by one thing: success. Whether that drive will get her to the success she desires is up for the audience to see for themselves, but Self Portrait remains an enjoyable and gorgeously shot film that will leave you wanting more.
Self Portrait screens with a bunch of shorts and a feature at the New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, January 31, 2026 – Online for 24 Hours on this date and In-Person at 7M in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901! Get more info and buy tickets here.
Here is more info on the films that will be shown at this screenings.
An InterView – Yutong Cheng (Jersey City, New Jersey) This comedic animation follows a ghost who must pass a test similar to a job interview to decide if she can be reincarnated as a human. Through witty conversations, the film uses light humor to explore deep, existential questions. 2025; 4 min.
Dilemma – Trevan Jay Hiatt (New York, New York) Dilemma is a tense psychological thriller that delves into the consequences of a single, reckless decision. When high school friends find themselves trapped in a situation they can’t escape, panic sets in, and their once-close bond begins to fray. With each choice they make, the weight of their actions grows heavier, and the line between right and wrong blurs. 2025; 14 min.
12th House (Ilona Laboy and Israel Laboy (New York, New York). 12th House is a surreal meditation on grief, identity, and spiritual transformation. After losing her husband, a woman descends into a liminal dreamworld where memory fragments and archetypes guide her inward. Haunted by illusion and tethered to love, she confronts her shadow through symbolic rituals of self-loss and rebirth. Blending myth, psychology, and visual poetry, 12th House explores the sacred undoing required to become whole—and the alchemy of carrying love beyond death. 2025; 13 min.
Self-Portrait – Samuel DeFrank (West Hollywood, California). An aspiring young model visits a famous photographer's cabin and discovers she is part of a ritual that transforms her into a human camera, sucking the soul out of her body and restoring the youth of the photographer. 2025; 14 min.
Don’t Look in The Dark – Samuel Freeman (Montclair, New Jersey) When a couple's phones begin recording on their own during a camping trip, what they capture isn't just darkness. It's something that wants to be seen. 2025; 71 min.
The 44th Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between January 23-February 22, 2026. The Festival will be a hybrid one as we will be presenting it online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University. Most of the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VOD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person when both are offered. The in-person screenings will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$120; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program. For more info on the Film festival go here: FESTIVAL WEBSITE
