The legacy of Oz continues with this short film from Daniel Alexander that pays homage to the dark Disney film Return to Oz.

Emily Gale left Kansas to start a new life but when her mother passed away, she returned and began to have visions of a mysterious place she’d never seen. Despite seeing a psychiatrist she can confide to about her dreams, she can’t seem to figure things out. That is, until she discovers a book that had been written by her grandmother, Dorothy. Having never met her, Emily decides to meet her, and this meeting is destined to change her life forever.

Daniel Alexander has crafted an amazing short film that not only pays homage to Return to Oz but in ways, can serve as a legacy sequel to both that and the original 1939 classic. Using Dorothy’s granddaughter as the main character, learning about the world of Oz and beginning her quest is quite a concept well done with some of the classic characters seen in a new light. There are some great emotional elements but there are also some very haunting scenes as well that mark the essence of Oz.

The cast in the film is great in this. Keep an eye out for Chloë Culligan Crump as Emily, the granddaughter of Dorothy Gale who finds herself involved with a journey she never knew about. We see Emily practically go through the wringer as she is plagued with visions of herself in a world, she never has experienced. Her psychiatrist, played by an excellent Laura Bailey, gives off an intriguing vibe that Emily should try to figure out what her dreams are about.

It is when she finally meets her grandmother Dorothy, played by a terrific Karen Swan, that things really amp up the haunt factor. We see an elderly Dorothy in a wheelchair as Emily finds a book that once belonged to Dorothy and shows her, which leads to the classic character warning her to, as the title indicates, “stay away from Oz”. There are some great references and easter eggs that Oz fans of old will decipher and see. How this all plays out is only the beginning of a new adventure.

Gale: Stay Away from Oz is intriguing, haunting, and emotional all wrapped up in a really well made short film that could be the beginning of a new generation for fans of the classic tale. As this is the beginning, a feature film is currently in development to bring this new take to life.

WFG RATING: A

Chilling presents a Daniel Alexander Films production. Director: Daniel Alexander. Producers: Daniel Alexander and Tenisha White. Writer: Daniel Alexander; based on “The Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum and “Return to Oz”, written by Walter Murch and Gil Dennis. Cinematography: Daniel Alexander and Terence Wilkins. Editing: Daniel Alexander.

Cast: Chloë Culligan Crump, Karen Swan, Laura Bailey, Clara Emanuel, Denny Hodge, Jason Nightfall.

The film will premiere on Chilling on September 18.