Normal Objects
A Short Film
A surreal parody-horror about household items and authoritarian control.
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Normal Objects is a surreal, parody-horror short film in which ordinary household items gain consciousness inside a house ruled by Priscilla the Pencil Sharpener, whose obsession with order and perfection turns authoritarian and violent. As she attempts to "refine" the objects, they are forced into fear, obedience, or resistance. Beneath the absurd humor, the film explores themes of fascism and authoritarian control, conformity versus individuality, dehumanization, and the danger of valuing order over empathy. By exaggerating power dynamics through everyday objects, Normal Objects critiques how fascist systems disguise cruelty as efficiency and how normalcy itself can become a tool of oppression when control goes unquestioned.
Directors
Paulina Wilwohl
Director
Alden Springswirth
Co-Director
Cast
Lucy Dubin
as Brenda the Broomstick
Mirabelle Megdal
as Priscilla the Pencil Sharpener
Grady Springswirth
as Patrick the Pencil
James Manella
as Pipernickel the Paperstack
Ethan Stoopler
as Stan the Sock
Joya Cornelious
as Georgia the Gift-Card
Dominic Esposito
as Tommy the Top-Hat
Aarav Bharjwhal
as Schram the Sweater
Madison Rounds
as Penny the Paperclip
Michael Catone
as Hedgar the Hydroflask
Aliyah Gutman
as Rogerita the Receipt
Addison Geisler
as Carly the Car
Screenplay
Written by
Paulina Wilwohl and Alden Springswirth
Original Story by Paulina Wilwohl and Alden Springswirth