Indie Film of the Day: Double R3’s ‘Death Lay Here’
Double R3 is the filmmaking name of Richard Schertzer, a Washington D.C. native born in 1997. Schertzer has worked across multiple roles as writer, director, cinematographer, editor, composer, and producer. His early interest in film began with short, choppy experiments that later developed into structured projects. He graduated from Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York.
Double R3’s short film Death Lay Here follows a young man named Charlie Berry who comes across a box with a hidden secret. The project was completed in 2018 over two days, with Schertzer also scoring the film. It earned seven nominations at the Top Indie Film Awards and won Best Male Cinematographer for Joseph Hughes and Best Editing at the Barcelona Planet Film Festival. A young man named Charlie Berry comes across a box with a hidden secret. Death Lay Here was made in two days, with R3 also scoring the film. The short has been nominated for seven categories in Top Indie Film Awards and won Best Male Cinematographer (Joseph Hughes) and Best Editing at the Barcelona Planet Film Festival. We’re delighted to be able to share this great indie short with you here: You can also check out Double R3’s previous projects here: Chapel: Tale of The Book, The Little Chapel, Sweet Dreams, and Nature. Here’s what festival judges are saying: “Death Lay Here by Richard Schertzer is a short from a very young and gifted director who showed us his own low-budget approach to an esoteric horror movie whose script reminds us of H.P. Lovecraft horror/mystery structures.” “Death Lay Here is a film that continuously throws surprise after surprise at the audience.” — Follow Double R3 on Facebook, IMDb, and Twitter and learn all about his forthcoming projects.
Background on Double R3 / Richard Schertzer
Schertzer’s multi-hyphenate credits reflect a hands-on approach that spans every stage of production. His D.C. roots and 1997 birth year place him in a generation that came of age with accessible digital tools and festival circuits hungry for fresh voices. That foundation continues to shape his output across both narrative and critical work.
Death Lay Here Production and Release
The two-day shoot and self-composed score kept costs low while preserving atmosphere. The finished short has since moved past festival screenings and now sits on rental and streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video and the Pushplay VIP network. The shift from limited festival runs to wider availability marks a clear step forward from its 2018 premiere.
Later Filmography and Career Expansion
Schertzer directed and wrote eight shorts between 2016 and 2022. The list includes Piano in 2019, Distance in 2020, and Ms. Davis’ Close Friend in 2022. Each project builds on the same low-budget discipline that defined Death Lay Here, showing steady refinement in pacing and visual economy.
Current Distribution and Accessibility
Viewers can rent Death Lay Here on Amazon Prime Video or access it through the Pushplay VIP film network. These platforms keep the short reachable long after its festival run, giving new audiences a direct path to the film without waiting for rare screenings.
Dual Role as Critic and Filmmaker
Alongside directing, Schertzer has written film criticism for outlets including The Knockturnal and PopHorror. His reviews run through 2024 and 2025, creating a feedback loop where his own production experience informs his analysis and vice versa.
Festival Legacy and Ongoing Recognition
Death Lay Here received an Outstanding Achievement Award for its trailer at the Cult Critic Movie Awards. The film also earned additional nominations at the Barcelona Planet Film Festival in acting and trailer categories. These honors extend the project’s reach beyond its original seven-category nod at the Top Indie Film Awards.
Schertzer’s path shows a consistent pattern: tight resources, quick production, and continued output across both film and criticism. Death Lay Here remains the clearest early example of that approach, now available for anyone to watch without a festival badge.
