Do you believe that horror movies should only be seen on the big screen? What if we told you there are alternative platforms that can help you satiate your genre thirst? Sometimes all it takes is a short film to terrify audiences: flicks that don’t require a large budget or a long run time.
We have directors going into the horror genre’s frightening zones, backed by passion and innovation, and treating us to some big horrifying shocks. So, in today’s video, we’re going to look at 12 of these incredible short films that you must see!
Zygote (2017)
In an isolated mining base somewhere in the Arctic Circle, a gigantic, mutated creature kills 96 out of a 98-member crew. The two remaining survivors, Quinn and Barklay, try their best to hide from it, but with basic amenities like food and water becoming scarce, the duo decides to risk venturing to the Building Alpha. The plan is to get access to the stockpiles of food and supplies there and hole up until they get rescued. However, as soon as they leave, they are instantly hunted by the monster, with only a few guns and diminishing ammunition to protect themselves.
There’s a reason that Neill Blomkamp’s Zygote still holds a current IMDb rating of 7.3. This 2017 sci-fi horror is a clear demonstration of what can be accomplished with a visionary and skillful director, especially one who is not afraid of experimenting and keeps pushing his limits. The highlight of the movie has to be the screeching monster on display; the creature design was absolutely incredible. It looked more like it was made up of the body parts of its victims, with Blomkamp’s imagination on point.
One also gets to see Dakota Fanning in the lead and she puts up quite a show. The fear and trepidation in her eyes make you completely glued to the screen throughout the running time of 23 minutes. This mind-blowing work of art boasts some outstanding production values with a terrifically good claustrophobic setting. There is simply no place to hide as the creature apparently has biometric access to all the doors. Doesn’t just the thought of it makes you feel uneasy? It sure did to us!
Definitely recommend this and if you happen to be a fan of John Carpenter’s The Thing or Ridley Scott’s Alien, you are in for a treat!
MICHAEL vs JASON: Evil Emerges (2019)
Luke Pedder’s short was literally made with no budget; in fact, the only sum that the makers had to function with was what they had with them at the time. The story revolves around epic combat between two of the most iconic killers – Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees. Jason is seemingly resurrected in the forest and, upon hearing the voice of his mother, picks up his mask, wears it, and starts looking for his next victim.
In the meantime, Michael who is now being held for a no-trial execution is escorted by a team of three police enforcers and brought right before his executioner. Just when his mask is returned to him, Michael retorts in his usual bloody manner. However, it’s a rather shocking sight for Michael Myers when he witnesses Jason Voorhees taking credit for his kill. What follows next is the battle of the battles between two immortal forces like never before, and both won’t stop till they terminate the other.
Mind you, this 2019 short was made strictly for fans who wanted to see two of horror’s biggest icons battle it out, and to be honest here, it was nothing short of a treat. In fact, the sheer brutality throughout the 29-minute running time is thanks to John and Joshua Pedder as Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees.
This short flick owes it to the two silent characters, who irrefutably bring out the best in each other. It goes without saying that the duo delivers both quality and quantity, and do a fantastic job. There are fists, feet, machetes,s, and knives flying all over the place in abundance. Even the special effects featured are right on point.
Just don’t make the mistake of taking this short film seriously, treat it the way it is – a fan film and it’s well worth a watch and of course, your time. Also, the fact that it promises a sequel just makes the whole experience so much better!
The Ballerina (2021)
This film begins with a ballerina gracefully practicing in an empty studio late at night. As she glides across the floor, so does her reflection. In fact, it duplicates every move of hers like it should until it falters. Initially thinking that she saw something, the ballerina pauses and checks her reflection. Not being able to see anything out of the ordinary, she gets back to practice. However, her reflection falters yet again and the woman witnesses it this time. Frightened, she backs away but soon fear turns into fascination, with the ballerina and her reflection showing each other their moves. All goes well till the reflection becomes annoyed at its evident lack of skill.
Aaron Fradkin hits us right at the fear spots with this twisted look at perfection. The whole idea of your reflection capable of not only taking on a life of its own but also having intentions of out-performing you is categorically creepy. Boasting a simple story about something that all of us inherently fear is what precisely worked wonders here. All it needed was six minutes, we repeat six minutes, to have the effects of the narrative work on us.
Valeska Miller was brilliant here and to see her seeking to perfect her routine backed by Amanda MacLeod’s choreography, Sam Evenson’s visual effects and the background music ‘Agosto’ by Nicolas Jarr gave the viewers all the more reasons to absolutely dig this horror short. The attention to detail, especially the fact that everything looked so well done, starting from the lighting to the simple background, just proved how all films don’t really need fancy technology or props to succeed. Wondering where to watch? Just head over to YouTube, type the title and you are welcome!
Stucco (2019)
The agoraphobic J is trying to move ahead in life but failing miserably. One day, while hanging a piece of wall art in her new home, she accidentally knocks a hole in her wall revealing what might be a new space altogether. Her mind races as to think about what could possibly be on the other side of the wall. J continues to unravel the mystery herself with wounds of old relationships keeping her trapped inside her very house.
Janina Gavankar and Russo Schelling’s 2019 horror short, which also stars Gavankar in the lead role, takes a rather simple idea and runs along with it to an extent where it continuously makes the viewer wonder. Of course, the movie isn’t for everyone; it features certain sexual connotations and at times happens to be quite graphical in nature. But at the end of the day, that’s what picked it up.
Containing a running time of 17 minutes, Stucco is extremely well crafted and marks a rather promising debut for Janina Gavankar. This part drama and part body horror explore the human mind through some rather warped and uncanny perspectives. For instance, the queer throne of flesh with beckoning hands acted more like a metaphor for her own fears and it would not be wrong to say that the whole scene was inevitably one of the high points.
Also, thanks to the looming camera movements, it gets the job done and delivers quite an unforgettable experience. Give this short a positive shot for the amazingly satisfying climax on display. Of course, it is bizarre but in the most enticing manner!
“Shhh” (2012)
Co-directors Freddy Chavez Olmos and Shervin Shoghian created a 2012 fantasy horror short that is based on the lucid dreams of famed director Guillermo del Toro during his childhood. Shhh, centers around a young boy also called Guillermo, who makes use of his imagination – a terrible-looking hair-eating monster dwelling in the bathroom, to deal with his bully. Exhausted from being scared and tormented, the little boy ultimately decides to take matters into his own hands. This is precisely when the viewers get to realize that the creature who was mostly considered to be imaginary all this while was in fact, a lot more than just that.
The whole concept of fiction becoming reality added with just the right dose of revenge inevitably happens to be one of the high points here. The presence of Guillermo del Toro is quite evident, especially in the sketches of the Pale Man. Shhh shows that a short film on YouTube is more than capable of terrifying its audience- why else would it end up winning the best director award at the Tottering Biped Festival in Burlington, Ontario?
The creature on display will leave a lasting impression on you and it would not be wrong to say that the monster here works wonders for fans of the traditional creature features or say fantasy flicks. In addition to this, the narration by Mike Tate simply takes things notches higher than its contemporaries. Full credits to David Cameron for his rhyming lines to make this creepy tale work its charm. We highly recommend that you take out just 8 minutes from your busy schedule and give Shh a definite watch!
The Purge: 2024 (2017)
Writer and director Ashton Gleckman’s 2017 horror short features everything from music to drama to action. The short begins with the famous Purge siren signaling – “This is your emergency broadcast system announcing the commencement of the Annual Purge sanctioned by the US government. Weapons of class 4 and lower have been authorized for use during The Purge. All other weapons are restricted. Government officials of ranking 10 have been granted immunity from The Purge and shall not be harmed. Commencing at the siren; any and all crime including murder will be legal for 12 continuous hours.”
The audience gets to see the last few hours of the annual Purge unfolding with a group of misfits circling around their white-collar target. However, he winds up putting on quite an unexpected show!
A fan film like this, one that’s so well written and edited, boasts people both in front and behind the camera who knew exactly what they were doing. We have characters like the Pig Man, The Nun, The Priest, Bunny Man, Zombie Man and the Kiss Me Girl all wearing a mask and loaded with their choice of weapons in a setting that’s very likely to give you the feel of a post-apocalyptic world. The story is kept very simple but it’s the twist in the end that completely steals the show. Alex Raaen’s cinematography is absolutely commendable here and goes well with the fact that there isn’t too much dialogue. There is this built-up tension throughout the 14-minute running time, providing a predominantly haunting atmosphere. Please do not hesitate from giving The Purge: 2024 a shot. We agree that it’s not ground-breaking but it’s definitely worth a watch.
Curve (2016)
An injured young woman wakes up to find herself in some kind of a concrete surface that’s nestled on the downward slope of a curve over a strange abyss. She literally clings on to her life using her bloodied hands and fingernails while dreadfully clawing onto the pitiless curve. This is precisely what the premise of writer-director Tim Egan’s 2016 horror short is all about, earning him 10 awards.
Curve is a living proof that it is possible to come up with new, ingenious concepts, and all it takes is a bare minimum of 10 good minutes to create a flat-out masterpiece. Laura Jane Turner absolutely steals the show with her mind-blowing performance, one that’s jampacked with such intensity.
As we see Turner losing her grip and sliding closer to the curve’s perilous juncture, the climax on display will kick you right in the gut. The brilliant photography and editing, also by Egan, deserve a special commendation for making the whole experience so terrifyingly real and visually effective. The simple idea of attacking our primal fear makes the viewers get sucked into every scene. Add to this the absence of a background score and no words spoken and the whole environment becomes even more sinister. You will find yourself literally holding your breath with tightly clenched sweaty palms.
Of course, you need to hunt this down on YouTube and give it a positive shot. Just remember to keep breathing!
Rakka (2017)
Neill Blomkamp’s American-Canadian military sci-fi film boasts of a running time of 22 minutes and is divided into three chapters – World, Amir & Nosh, and Siege. This is a tale of a dystopian future where an unknown alien group – known as the Klum has taken over Earth, transforming the planet in favor of its living conditions. The surviving humans live mostly underground or are scattered among the ruins, struggling to fight back using whatever they can against the Klum technology.
Brownie points to you if you happen to be a fan of alien flicks and also fancy Sigourney Weaver. Just give this short film a minute and you will be glued to your seat wondering why the movie was not made into a full feature-length or even a web series for that matter. Full credits to the CGI and VFX on display here, thanks to them the short just got better. The creature design is absolutely incredible and if you aren’t into reptiles – in this case, mutant lizards, there will be consequential nightmares to follow.
The world that Blomkamp manages to create in such a short time span is visually very impressive. His new take on such a well-worn subject matter shows him as a truly visionary director and at the same time manages to make Rakka absolutely unique. One of the high points has to be the foreboding introduction backed by stills and videos of what’s left of the planet, as well as Lorne Balfe’s background score. You have to experience this yourself and if the ending does not make you crave for the next part, we don’t know what else would? Head over to YouTube and give this a shot right away!
The Dollmaker (2017)
There’s a reason Al Lougher’s horror flick ended up becoming a recipient of 12 awards. The Dollmaker revolves around a young couple, Jenna and Rick, who are completely heartbroken after losing their four-year-old child. Reaching out for their last hope, they visit an old man who is regarded as The Dollmaker, specializing in making dolls of the deceased loved ones. But that’s not where the catch lies. The Dollmaker also promises to make reality the only thing that his customers crave the most. However, small miracles do come along with big consequences.
Written by Matias Caruso, Dollmaker is undeniably one of the best marionette-centered horror tales to have ever been on display. What it features is an exceedingly interesting plotline with an unthinkable twist in the end. The Dollmaker submerges you entirely through the length of the movie, which is just 9 minutes, but the effects will stick with you for quite some time.
The whole idea of this unconquerable human yearning to bring someone back from the dead and then seek a fleeting moment of relief has always been an appealing premise, and it goes without saying that it did wonders here. Right from the grief of the mother to the suffering husband, this is a film that is exquisitely crafted and very well acted, scene by scene. It has certain notions that many stories of the same genre have dealt with in the past – for example, the simple warning of never letting illusion overpower the sense of reality.
Thanks to Lougher’s work of direction and editing, the story is literally brought to life and we have an impeccable cast to give credit to. Perri Lauren as the grieving mother, Sean Meehan as the put-upon husband and Daniel Martin Berkey as The Dollmaker – all have done a stupendous job here and make the audience feel their commanding presence. Do watch this masterpiece on YouTube and prepare to have your mind blown away!
The Smiling Man (2015)
A little girl is occupied watching cartoons in her room upstairs completely oblivious to the fact that she is actually being watched by a constant, sinister threat lurking in the shadows. Soon, she finds herself face-to-face with pure evil, one who likes to address himself as The Smiling Man. A. J. Briones’s 2015 horror-thriller literally has no dialogue; in fact, it’s only six minutes long, but did any of this stop short from winning 16 awards? The answer is a straight no.
This short here is meant to scare its viewers. As if the whole idea of the unknown is not scary enough, here, we actually get to see our worst nightmare coming to life on the screen. The character of The Smiling Man will genuinely send shivers down your spine, and we have Strange Dave to credit for delivering us this extremely effective slice of what bad dreams are made of.
The sole fact that his character didn’t really resemble the average creepy clown made him look all the more menacing- more akin to a disturbing concoction of Pennywise and Gollum. The practical makeup effects on him are outstanding, giving him an unquestionably spooky and convincing aesthetic at all times. Furthermore, the background score by Vivien Villani alongside DP David Holechek’s mise-en-scene adds up to generating something satisfyingly different.
We highly recommend The Smiling Man. And for a better experience, do watch it when you are home alone to relish the outright eeriness of its premise.
Shutter (2015)
Ryan Kjolberg’s horror short revolves around a man coming to this sudden, creepy understanding that he is not the only person at his home, especially after his printer starts producing some rather unsettling and odd images of him taken in his very home.
Kjolberg, along with co-writer Michael Muchnij, takes a direct plunge at our deep-rooted fears of assuring us that we are alone in the house, yet not entirely alone. To top it off, we have images that are worth a thousand terrors. The exploration of an already familiar idea executed in a rather tricky manner works a little too well for the director, something that made Kjolberg the recipient of the Rising Star Award at the 2018 Asia Pacific International Filmmaker Festival.
Chris Roberts as the only lead featured here delivers quite a believable performance. Definitely recommend this horror short here, one that is little more than 4 minutes. Yet that is all it takes to make it work.
The Door in the Woods (2018)
With four children responsible for opening a mysterious door that has been locked for many years, their isolated rural, cult family soon gets terrorized by what lives inside it.
With a current IMDb rating of 7.4, this short horror film created by Joey Greene and Jasmine J. Johnson features a running time of 13 minutes. What starts as a game between the four kids soon becomes the key to the freedom of a savage beast and there are no points for guessing that the monster on display is the best part of the whole flick.
It’s quite tall, muscular, and has a large mouth, one that’s capable of ripping off its victim’s head to satiate its eternal hunger pangs. You also cannot disregard the symbol that’s engraved into its head, something that looks more like some ‘Egyptian Ankh with a smaller horizontal line through two circles.’
The Brute is terrifying to gaze at, but it is its razor-sharp teeth that make it even more petrifying. Its targets can range from men, and women to even little children and as long as it gets to bite into human flesh, it just doesn’t care. The Door in the Woods is a well-executed piece featuring many horrifying visuals; in fact, there’s plenty for every gore-hound out there. The mounting tension throughout the run time with the creature mercilessly massacring every villager is bang on point.
So, got a little bit of time to spare? Well, don’t hesitate from giving this little jewel a watch!