Animus
Directed by Delaney Bishop
Written by Ron Osborn
2023, USA
A brilliant physicist suspected of murder is convinced that her string of abusive partners are connected in this thought-provoking piece of science fiction-horror.
TERROIR
Terroir
Directed by Rory Wood
Written by Benjamin Luk
2023, Canada
A student visits a winemaker who employs bizarre methods as part of his process in this creepy exercise in short-form terror.
Director Wood also made the outstanding horror shorts Within and Last Night (both 2021).
THE MICROSCOPE
The Microscope
Directed by Elliot Vick & Reuben Vick
Written by Elliot Vick
2022, England
A scientist examines a set of vintage slides under the titular device, encountering something disturbing and ultimately dangerous.
There are a handful of great horror short films that truly deliver without the need for dialogue.
The Microscope is one such short.
THE CROSSING
The Crossing
Written & Directed by Arseny Syuhin
2016, Russia
An emotionally distressed woman encounters a bizarre, dangerous entity in an underground tunnel in this polished horror short that features a John Carpenter-style electronic music score.
The Crossing was the last in a series of genre short films auteur Syuhin made before directing the solid science fiction-horror feature Superdeep (2020).
CHINA LAKE
China Lake
Directed by Robert Harmon
Written by Robert Harmon & Beth Tate
1983, USA
Charles Napier stars as Donnelly-a twisted motorcycle cop who dispenses his own brand of justice in the desert.
Made by Harmon as an industry calling card, this accomplished short led to his hiring as the director of the rural terror classic The Hitcher (1986).
China Lake’s story was later developed into the successful TV movie The China Lake Murders (1990), starring Tom Skerritt with Michael Parks taking the Donnelly role.
TEETHING
Teething
Written & Directed by Glen Matthews
2020, Canada
A janitor working at an orphanage finds himself in the middle of a grisly situation during his after-hours shift in this accomplished short.
Satisfying on its own, Teething would also work as the opening of a feature film that would be very welcome.
ACID
Acid
Written & Directed by Just Philippot
2018, France
French filmmaker Philippot brings death from above as a family tries to survive an environmental disaster in this very well-made apocalyptic short.
Philippot made his feature film debut with the insect attack movie The Swarm (2020) and a feature-length version of Acid premiered in 2023.
MAW
Maw
Written & Directed by Jasper Vrancken
2018, Belgium
A care facility worker named Richard is obsessed with the mouths of animals. Richard connects with a mysterious figure who may be able to satisfy his strange fixation in a disturbing way.
This twisted, well-made short will appeal to admirers of dark, offbeat auteurs like David Cronenberg, Nacho Cerda and Julia Ducournau.
NIGHT CRAWL
Night Crawl
Written & Directed by Gregory Schultz
2019, USA
Two inmates try to tunnel their way out of prison and discover an underground cave in this grim, well-made horror short.
Auteur Schultz has stated that he places a high priority on production design and his detailed work in that area really pays off here.
ELLA
Ella
Directed by Dan Gitsham
Written by Dan Gitsham & James Driver
2011, England
A desperate father armed with a shotgun takes center stage in this great, twisted take on the Little Red Riding Hood story.
Ella benefits from a very good lead performance by veteran actor Anthony Head.
Director Gitsham went on to make the horror shorts And the Baby Screamed (2018), Bill (2019) and The Thing That Ate the Birds (2021).