Never ignore a woman’s intuition because doing so can result in serious consequences, as seen in filmmaker Sarah Young’s short film Not Him. Set in a small New York apartment, a young woman finds herself in an increasingly toxic relationship with her husband and must decide whether or not to stand up for herself. Domestic violence can hide in plain sight and Not Him highlights this all-too-prevalent situation through an empathetic lens.

Michelle (Tori Ernst) has noticed that her husband John (Charlie McElveen) has been acting differently lately. One night, she wakes up in a cold sweat after she has a nightmare that her husband became possessed. However, we soon discover that her night terrors and her reality aren’t that different. Michelle is convinced that there is an imposter who body-snatched her once-affectionate and caring husband. The man she sees in front of her now is a volatile and abusive menace who likes to watch Michelle suffer. It isn’t until their mutual friends, Kim (Katharine Chin) and Joe (Ryan Nicholas Cooper), come over for an impromptu dinner party that Michelle works up the courage to finally leave him, once and for all.

There is a Jordan Peele similarity to Not Him, be it the uneasy tension or surreal disposition. Writer/director Sarah Young knows how to craft these “pins and needles” moments with finesse. She keeps the audience on their toes right up to the very end. Aiding in the film’s suspenseful tone is the strong, surreal music by composer Luke Lotardo. Reminiscent of Philip Glass, there is a familiarity to the sound that grounds Michelle’s situation, reminding the audience just how prevalent domestic violence is. The film’s third act suffers from the absence of a concrete resolution, the cliffhanger feels more incomplete than an intentional “choose your own adventure” ending. However, as it stands today, Not Him would make a great spec film to aid in a subsequent feature development.

For those who are sensitive to the topic of domestic violence, Not Him can be a triggering watch. Never feeling exploitive or without an empathetic touch, Not Him explores the underbelly of the often secretive trauma that can occur within toxic relationships. Sarah Young stares this difficult topic in the face and the result is an empowering, albeit slightly unfulfilling, story about conviction and self-preservation.