BUTTERSCOTCH played at the LA Shorts International Film Festival in July 2025. I had the opportunity to see an early look – here’s my spoiler-free take:
Director Erik J. Waldman’s short film is a poignant look at loss, grief, and the butterscotch candies. At first glance, it plays like BUFFY THE VAMPIRE S6, and it quickly turns into something much darker as the lead actors (Arthur White and Jiya Simon) debate the afterlife.
When the short film delves into the dialogue about grief, the afterlife, and selfish acts, audiences are in for a sweet treat. Yet, at times, BUTTERSCOTCH veers too heavily into Tim Burton-esque macabre. I enjoyed the quiet moments more than the debates.
From a technical perspective, BUTTERSCOTCH is candy-coded with minimalist sound design, music, and camera work. This is favorable since audiences shouldn’t be able to tell it’s a low-budget film, as it has the polish of content you would see on any streaming service.
Final Thought: Seek out BUTTERSCOTCH for its unique and thoughtful perspective on loss that should stick with viewers, much like the golden candy it’s named after.
You can follow the journey of this short film on Instagram here.
