Interview with Ali Cook of The Pearl Comb

Mixing horror genre tropes and the folk mythology of mermaids, Ali Cook crafts a fascinating melange of genres and references in The Pearl Comb. Narrating the appearance of a siren in the countryside of England, a man finds a miraculous cure in the pearl comb left by a mermaid. Throughout his background in comedy and the ability to create scenarios, Cook frames a period story about the folk backdrop and the myth of the creature. Listen to our full episode and read our review from this years Hollyshorts below!

The Pearl Comb, dir. Ali Cook

Half-British historical drama, half-folk mystery, The Pearl Comb transports you to 1893 Cornwall. World-building in a short is perhaps one of the most difficult feats to accomplish. Director/writer Ali Cook makes it look easy. He seamlessly crafts a world full of mystery and mythology centered around a fisherman's wife, Betty Lutey (Beatie Edney) who has miraculously cured someone of tuberculosis. 

The screenplay offers a story that explains the lore of this world in a way that is both engaging and easy to follow along. No scene is wasted; the short blends drama, fantasy and elements of horror to keep you intrigued. It is a short that lets scenes linger and intensity build without overstaying its welcome as we are introduced to the characters and their motives. 

The Pearl Comb is elevated by its exquisite craftsmanship. The costume design by Constance Woods, production design by Isabel Pirillo, and the entire makeup and VFX teams work together to realistically depict what life was like in the late 1800’s along the shoreline of Cornwall. Without these elements, no matter how good the writing is, the fantasy aspects of this short could have easily fallen flat. 

Although The Pearl Comb is a fictional tale, it is grounded in the true story of the Edinburgh Seven - the first women to study medicine in the UK. The Pearl Comb takes place in an era where women were silenced and told to stay in their lane. They were meant to stay at home and let the men pursue professions like medicine. This idea of societal structures is tackled head on in this short: a woman takes her power back by fighting the dated ideologies of a doctor sent to put her in her place. Although we have come a long way since this time period, it is unfortunate that some men in religion, society and government still seek to subjugate women. This short serves as a reminder of the strength and intellect of women in their fight to become and remain equal.

Review by: Brandon MacMurray