A field. A gang. A gun. A frightened boy. His brave sister. Their determined mother. And a towering steel obelisk overseeing it all. Barnaby Blackburn’s short film Pylon is a powerful and visually arresting exploration of bullying, intimidation, peer pressure and the horrific consequences of abuse.
Do you remember those long summer days as a kid when you spent hours chatting to friends or family about the things that mattered to you most? Barnaby Blackburn’s powerful and unforgettable short film, Pylon, opens on one of those hazy days as Thomas (Tommy Finnegan) and his younger sister Sara (Olivia Lynes) stroll through the fields near their family home, chatting, exploring, and killing the time that seems to move so slowly during the school summer holidays. But in the distance, shouts invade the tranquil summer air: “Oi Carrot top!” “Carrot top, come here.” The shouts are from a more mature voice, and they are accompanied by BB gun pellets that fly past Thomas’ beautiful head of red hair. Thomas and Sara stop walking as the meadow suddenly becomes a prison. Sara wants to avoid turning to face the shouts that have now increased and come from multiple teenage male voices, but Thomas knows there is no escape and walks back to face the insults being hurled in his direction.
As Thomas reaches the group of teens, the leader of the pack steps forward, hurling more insults and humiliating the younger boy in front of his pack, as tears well in the boy’s eyes. The intimidation and abuse aren’t new to Thomas, but today, it will go further than it ever has before, leading to a life-changing outcome for all involved.
Written and directed by Barnaby Blackburn, whose first short film, Wale, and second, Dad Was, were shortlisted for a BAFTA Award, Pylon is a devastatingly emotional short story about the effects of bullying and the damaging ripples it creates. Blackburn powerfully explores how intimidation, bullying and violence can fester both inside and outside of the home, creating inescapable cycles of fear and torment. With a strong young cast led by Tommy Finnegan, Olivia Lynes and Louis Thresher, Pylon is essential viewing for all ages, as it opens up urgent conversations on bullying and encourages its audience to look beyond the notion that bullies only exist in the darkest corners of a school playground.
Pylon was made with Ken Loach’s production company Sixteen Films and has qualified for the 2025 BAFTAs.
If you are a young person suffering from bullying inside or outside of your home or online, talk to an adult you trust or phone Childline on 0800 1111.
Follow Us