“Treevenge” is an absurdist short film from 2008 written and directed by Jason Eisener. The film is about the vengeful trees that fight back against the cruelty of humans. In only about 16 minutes of running time, “Treevenge” manages to take the audience on a crazy and bloody journey.
The film begins with idyllic scenes of a Christmas tree farm where unsuspecting trees stand peacefully in rows. But suddenly the story takes a dark turn when the trees realise that they are cut down every year at Christmas and brought into homes as decorations. From now on, the trees decide to rise up against their tormentors and take revenge.
“Treevenge” deliberately plays with the absurdity and irony of the situation. The idea of trees coming alive and taking revenge on humans may seem absurd at first glance, but the film fully embraces the premise. It shows how the trees, armed with axes and saws, attack the humans and engage in bloody battles.
One of the mad ideas of the film is the portrayal of the trees as menacing and human-like beings. The trees have faces that are full of anger and hatred, and they move in an uncanny way. This surreal depiction adds to the absurdity of the story and creates an eerie atmosphere.
Another absurd idea is the reversal of the traditional hierarchy. In “Treevenge”, it is the trees that terrorise the humans and consider them prey. The humans become victims who have to fight for their lives. This role reversal turns the relationship between humans and nature on its head and challenges the viewer to question their perspective.
“Treevenge is not a film for the faint-hearted. It is bloody, brutal and shocking. However, the violence is staged with an exaggerated presentation that is meant to make the viewer see the action more as black humour.
You can watch the full short movie “Treevenge” for free on the official YouTube channel from Jason Eisener.
