The Wind (1980)
A raw, hand-held super-8 short by Jamie Nares that transforms elemental chaos into experimental horror poetry.
The Wind - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Wind
- Release Year: 1980
- Directed by: Jamie Nares
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Horror
- Runtime: 8m
- Original Language: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 1, 1980 (United States)
- Alternative Titles: Waiting for the Wind (US)
The Wind - Plot
"Nares creates a tornado-like catastrophe with a hand-held super-8 camera, a shooting ratio of three to one (about $100 worth of film stock), and remarkable timing…fine filmmaking control is uses to suggest the terror of a world completely beyond personal control…Nares opens up the possibility of metaphor, evoking forces both terrifying and exhilarating." Amy Taubin
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The Wind - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Jamie Nares
Main Cast
- Jamie Nares
The Wind - FAQs
What is The Wind (1980) about?
The Wind is an 8-minute experimental horror short by Jamie Nares that simulates a tornado-like catastrophe using a hand-held super-8 camera. Shot on roughly $100 worth of film stock, it uses precise filmmaking control to evoke the terror and strange exhilaration of forces completely beyond human control.
Who directed The Wind (1980)?
The Wind was directed by Jamie Nares, a British-born artist and filmmaker associated with the New York avant-garde scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Nares is known for blending visual art with experimental cinema, and this short film stands as a striking example of that approach.
How long is The Wind (1980)?
The Wind runs for just 8 minutes, making it a short film rather than a feature. Despite its brief runtime, it packs a remarkable amount of atmosphere and tension, using super-8 footage and sharp editorial timing to create a genuinely unsettling and visually powerful experience.
What makes The Wind (1980) unique as a horror film?
What sets The Wind apart is its stripped-down, almost guerrilla approach to horror. Nares shot the entire film on about $100 worth of super-8 stock with a hand-held camera, yet achieved a visceral, metaphor-rich result. It suggests catastrophe without relying on conventional genre tropes, turning raw footage into something genuinely unsettling.
Where can you watch The Wind (1980)?
You can watch The Wind on Amazon Video, where it is available to buy or rent. It's a rare opportunity to see this short experimental horror piece from 1980, and its brief 8-minute runtime makes it an easy but memorable watch for fans of avant-garde and experimental cinema.
What is the alternative title for The Wind (1980)?
The Wind is also known by the alternative title Waiting for the Wind in the United States. Both titles capture the film's central preoccupation with an elemental, uncontrollable natural force, though the original title's brevity feels more in keeping with the film's stark, minimalist aesthetic.
Is The Wind (1980) an experimental or mainstream horror film?
The Wind is firmly experimental rather than mainstream. It belongs to the tradition of avant-garde short filmmaking, prioritizing atmosphere, metaphor, and visual sensation over conventional narrative. Critics like Amy Taubin have praised it for opening up poetic possibilities while still delivering a genuine sense of dread and physical unease.
What films are similar to The Wind (1980)?
If The Wind appeals to you, films like Dust Devil (1992) and We Need to Do Something (2021) share its interest in elemental horror and claustrophobic dread. For something with a similarly raw, low-budget energy, Virus (1999) and Storm Cell (2008) also explore nature as an overwhelming, terrifying force.
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