The Nature of the Prey

Description:

This single-channel video by Susi Milne explores medieval and gothic imagery through a series of acted vignettes staged at Western Front, with closeup stills of classical paintings of saints and royalty, symbolic objects, and found footage from old Hollywood movies. Depictions of Dracula are intercut with ritualistic skits using spears and robes from the Knights of Phythias. Animated text punctuates the work with fragments of Milne’s poetry alongside excerpts from Shakespeare.

The soundtrack juxtaposes compositions by Bach with noise guitar by Gary Bourgeois and Gary Ouimet. The audio is distorted through acceleration and drag, distorting time to mirror the imagery’s oscillation between the medieval and the modern, sacred and absurd. 

The video features cameos by Darryl Deegan, Joss Hurting, Judi Norris, Joe Sarahan, Adam Thom, and Rayna Watson.

Video documentation is available upon request.