CREEPER

Creeper
Directed by Melissa Scrivner-Love & David Love
Written by David Love
2022, USA

A mysterious stranger carrying some devastating secrets is taken into the home of a mother, her son and her abusive husband.

Creeper effectively employs a science fiction element that will remind viewers of bits from Rian Johnson’s Looper (2012), giving this short a unique feel.

STICKS

Sticks
Written & Directed by Noah Ishihara & CJ Beasley
2023, USA

A young man is injured while hiking with his girlfriend.  When she doesn’t return with help, he strikes out on his own to search for her and is confronted with disturbing revelations.

Sticks delivers some creepy backwoods ambience on its limited budget and this short establishes the Ishihara/Beasley creative duo as one to watch in the world of horror short films.

POCKET

Pocket
Written & Directed by Adante Watts
2023, USA

A young man desperately tries to escape from a seemingly endless parking structure while being pursued by a masked attacker in auteur Watts’ foray into the world of altered reality horror cinema.

As of this writing, Watts is currently at work on the horror short Reprieve.

 

LOCKSMITHS

Locksmiths
Written & Directed by James Kwon Lee
2015, USA

Two thieves posing as the titular repairmen make a grisly discovery on their latest job in this highly accomplished horror short film.

For further exploration of grim shorts centered around being in the wrong house at the wrong time, check out Kimo Stamboel & Timo Tjahjanto’s Dara, Jonathan van Tulleken’s Off Season, Jerry Pyle’s Service and Doug Cook & Eric Covello’s P.O.W.

James Kwon Lee also made the horror short Ashes (2016).

WHEN THE TIME COMES

When the Time Comes
Directed by Jondaniel Cornett & Jonathan Frey
Written by Jondaniel Cornett
2022, USA

Having previously made the horror short films Dodah (2019) and Skopein (2019), Jondaniel Cornett delivers what is by far his most accomplished work with When the Time Comes.

An extremely well-acted, emotional journey into a post-apocalyptic setting, When the Times Comes makes a great pairing with Aaron McCann & Stefan Androv Radanovich’s Perished, Ben Howling & Yolanda Ramke’s Cargo and Alex Horwitz’s Alice Jacobs is Dead.

HYSTERIC

Hysteric
Written & Directed by Rod Blackhurst
2022, USA

When their mother is stricken by a mysterious ailment that turns her homicidal, two young girls attempt to hide from the murderous matriarch.

Hysteric contains spectacular cinematography from Justin Derry and a palpable cold, rainy atmosphere.

Veteran filmmaker Blackhurst’s previous horror short Night Swim (2014) is currently getting the feature film treatment courtesy of Hollywood genre cinema heavyweights Jason Blum and James Wan.

As of this writing, Blackhurst is in post-production on the crime feature Blood for Dust.

NOVA

Nova
Written & Directed by David McAbee
2019, USA

A scientist infected by…..something…..desperately tries to record a warning before meeting her inevitable fate.

Compelling and enigmatic, Nova is highlighted by excellent special effects.

Auteur McAbee also directed the horror short films Night Terrors (2016) and Miseria (2022).

 

TRUE NORTH

True North
Written & Directed by Brian Mitchell & Ian Start
2021, USA

The death of his child and the disintegration of his marriage puts Elliot in a downward spiral.

After a disturbing, enigmatic call from his wife, Elliot travels to their remote cabin in the woods and comes face-to-face with another level of personal horror.

Ian Michaels turns in an excellent lead performance here.

Co-creator Mitchell also directed the horror cinema series History of Fright (2018).

 

PROGENY

Progeny
Directed by Justin Daering
Written by Kenda Greenwood & Justin Daering
2019, USA

A factory worker is forced into surrogate parenthood by his alien boss in this well-made, thought-provoking short.

Just as Ashlea Wessel does in her great short Tick, director Daering delivers a highly memorable look at an altered society in a brief amount of screen time.

While it works very well on its own, Progeny clearly lays the groundwork for a feature film.