Depression is a Beast

A performer accustomed to battling fictional evils on screen confronts her most terrifying adversary yet: a real-life struggle against major depressive disorder. Depression is a Beast is a captivating documentary short film highlighting the experience of doing battle with an enemy mind through a unique narrative approach. Director Courtney Dixon’s skillful eye extracts profound insights from actress Jenna Kanell, whom horror film fans might recognize from her roles in Renfield, The Bye Bye Man and the Terrifier franchise. Kanell is a versatile talent whose credits include acting, writing, directing and stunt work. As she candidly shares the details of her lifelong struggle with her mental health, she also explores how the intense emotions of horror movies gave her an outlet from her often debilitating teenage years and set her on a career path.

“Genetics Holds the Gun and Circumstance Pulls the Trigger”

“Genetics holds the gun and circumstance pulls the trigger,” Jenna explains, as she unwraps her experiences with depression and tracks how it is intrinsically tied to her career as a horror film actress. For Kanell, it all began with the bloody truth of a painful menstruation that kept teen-Jenna away from school and medicated monthly. During that time of isolation from her life the teenager discovered her love of the horror genre. It was a step away from the reality she was desperately hoping to forget and the world of spooks and gore gave her enough distraction to take her mind off of her pain. Delving into her personal experiences, Kanell meticulously examines various challenges she has faced over the years, as the demon of depression is always hiding in the shadows, waiting to attack. From relationship breakdowns to struggling to just get out of bed and go to work, her exploration sheds light on a disorder that is too often misunderstood. In her vulnerability, Kanell emerges as an empowering spokesperson for her illness, sharing insights into how she navigates and conquers those inner demons. Her illness doesn’t define her, but it does play an important role in her life’s work.

Combining Genres Effectively

Instead of following the traditional interview format, Dixon chose a more creative approach. She manages to extract Jenna’s thoughts and visualize them in a stunning, albeit horrifically entertaining, way. Helping to make the viewer feel connected to Jenna’s struggles is wholly due to the trust that’s been built up between filmmaker and star. Interspersing Jenna’s story with sharp and striking cutaways of the actress fighting off masked villains while a Poltergeist-like liquid static drips from a television, threatening to drown her, Dixon manages to weave familiar elements of horror many fans should recognize. These visual snapshots of terror play out like a graphic novel and they effectively tell the story of an actress who sees her craft as a sanctuary from the challenges she faces. Kanell’s demons exist beyond the confines of each frame—always present, always waiting for the next scene to unfold like a stalker deeply embedded in her mind. Unflinchingly raw and profoundly revealing, it’s Kanell’s honesty—her chest-ripping, soul-bearing, truth-telling—that’s most comparable to the genre she views as her salvation.

Beyond the jump scares and gruesome scenes lies a personal battle for the budding scream queen and with the keen eye of Director Courtney Dixon behind the camera, Depression is a Beast explores this theme in an informative and engaging way. It gives the viewers the same distraction from the hard truths of depression that young Jenna found in horror movies. It not only respects both the horror and documentary genres; it masterfully ties them together in a new form of storytelling.

Whether the viewer has experienced depression or not, this short film offers them a sense of connection to Jenna’s struggles and that is what makes it so effective in its approach. Depression can often make a person feel alone and separated from the rest of their peers, and this film reaches out beyond the screen to say, “I see you. Let’s fight this together.”

As part of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival lineup, this short film stands out as a must-watch, offering a poignant exploration into the struggles millions go through when battling with their mental health demons. If depression is the monster lurking in the corners of your mind, give Depression is a Beast a watch, and you just might get a short reprieve from your own horrors and find a path out of your pain.