ICE MAN

Ice Man
Written & Directed by Daniel Byers
2019, USA

A survivor known as “Ice Man” battles a band of cannibals in a snowy, post-apocalyptic world.

Auteur Byers creates a very memorable short, successfully channeling Richard Matheson’s classic novel I Am Legend along the way.

Byers had previously made the period zombie short Bloodyback (2016) and is currently in post-production on the feature film Banishment.

P.O.W.

P.O.W.
Directed by Doug Cook & Eric Covello
Written by Doug Cook & Mark Prosia
2015, Canada

With town residents occupied by an event honoring military veterans, two thieves break into a home in search of some easy loot.

Once inside, their plan goes sideways and the robbers are thrown into a grim and very dangerous situation.

This one makes a great double-feature with Jonathan van Tulleken’s Off Season.

The filmmaking duo of Cook & Covello has been quiet since P.O.W..  Let’s hope they have more cinematic work in the pipeline.

NARROW

Narrow
Written & Directed by Anna Chazelle
2020, USA

Auteur Chazelle stars as a survivor in a post-apocalyptic world being pursued by a creature that presents itself in different guises.

Narrow makes the most of its clearly limited budget and, also doing its job as an industry calling-card, has landed Chazelle her first feature directing job on an Elmore Leonard adaptation.

EPOCH

Epoch
Written & Directed by Rich Lee
2018, USA

A woman travels through a ravaged, post-apocalyptic America, stopping to gather supplies.

Her encounter with two survivors leads to some unexpected revelations.

Epoch‘s production design and art direction are spectacular and its visual effects team does a tremendous job creating the film’s devastated road-trip backdrop, which is one of the most impressive you will ever see in a short film.

OTHER SIDE OF THE BOX

Other Side of the Box
Directed by Caleb J. Phillips
Written by Caleb J. Phillips & Nick Tag
2018, USA

A couple is given a mysterious gift by an estranged friend.  Once opened, the box reveals bizarre, potentially deadly contents.

Excellent, award-winning stuff from the Phillips/Tag creative duo, highlighted by Laura Jansen’s superb cinematography.

Other Side of the Box makes a great double-feature with Heath C. Michaels’ The World Over.

 

CROP

Crop
Written & Directed by Kyle Ginzburg
2016, USA

Set against the backdrop of the black-market organ trade, auteur Ginzburg delivers an offbeat take on a familiar horror character in this slick short that fans of Tony Scott’s The Hunger (1983) and Larry Fessenden’s Habit (1995) will especially appreciate.

 

 

ALICE JACOBS IS DEAD

 

Alice Jacobs is Dead
Written & Directed by Alex Horwitz
2009, USA

A scientist works at creating a cure for a devastating disease, concealing a dangerous secret along the way.

This take on the potential end of civilization focuses on the relationship between its two lead characters, with just enough of the outside world on view to effectively provide Alice Jacobs is Dead with its grim backdrop.

The performance by veteran actor Adrienne Barbeau is excellent.

PREY

Prey
Written & Directed by Bill Whirity
2019, USA

A first date quickly spirals into madness but, as is the case with many horror short films, all may not be as it seems.

Prey is slick, memorable work from Whirity, who also made the horror shorts Semblance (2014) and Below (2015).

THE WORLD OVER

The World Over
Written & Directed by Heath C. Michaels
2018, USA

A young couple finds a mysterious key in their home followed by a hidden keyhole.

They use the key and discover an increasingly disturbing parallel world that’s not quite a mirror image of their own.

Great stuff from creator Michaels in his highly accomplished short film debut.