The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2025 - Issue 38

bitefilmreview Pearls H orror short film Pearls, directed by Alastair Train, follows Tony (Rory Murphy) and Linda (Helen Jessica Liggat), a couple caught in the heart- break of trying to start a family. Their longing collides with the harsh reality of Tony’s fertility struggles, a revelation that threatens their hopes and the fragile balance of their relationship. In desperation, Tony seeks out Marvin (Mark Wingett), a shadowy oyster dealer whose reputation is built on whispers of miraculous virility. What begins as a grasp at salvation soon unravels into something far stranger, as Marvin’s offerings carry consequences neither Tony nor Linda could have foreseen. The film weaves intimacy with myth, exploring how desire, masculinity, and vul- nerability intersect when science falters, and superstition tempts. Oysters and pearls become potent symbols of fertility and transformation, shimmering with promise yet edged with danger. As Tony and Linda’s journey unfolds, Pearls asks how far we are willing to go to rewrite fate, and what happens when nature resists. H olly S horts L ondon 2025 HollyShorts Films