In historic riverside London, three old friends are putting on a show to celebrate the area’s maritime past. But their pirate dance stirs the terrifying ghost of Captain Kidd from the murky depths of the Thames. Mistaking their revelry for a parody of his cruel execution, Kidd's spirit seeks revenge on the dancers. Can the trio find a way to break his ancient curse before they too are forced to perform a final, fatal jig?

Cosplaying pirates unwittingly summon the vengeful ghost of Captain Kidd.

Is it just the wind, or is someone—or something—calling from the water?

Low budget meets high creativity in this short film, pairing raw, human defiance with the uncanny imagery of generative AI.

DIRECTOR: ANDERS LARSSON

SOUND DESIGNER: MIa KAAsaLAINEN

CAST: gilly hanna, mary cox, bruce currie from Grand Gesture dance theatre

Location

Set along the eerie banks of the Thames in Wapping, where the barrier between the past and the present is as thin as the river mist.

Execution Dock, Wapping, London

John Rocque's map (1746) showing Execution Dock in Wapping. Public domain.