From.Beyond
Directed by Fredrik S. Hana
Written by Fredrik S. Hana & Jamie Turville
2022, Norway
Director Hana made the classic Lovecraftian horror short Autumn Harvest (2014) then stumbled with the horror/comedy misfire Sister Hell (2015).
There is no such stumble here as Hana presents fragments of documentary footage detailing the impact of the discovery of alien life forms on Earth.
From.Beyond is ambitious and, as one would expect from Hana, audacious.
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.
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
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).
Highway
Written & Directed by Vanessa Gazy
2016, Australia
A young hitchhiker gets warnings about calamitous future events over the radio in this accomplished, Twilight Zone-esque short.
The filmmakers create a great sense of atmosphere throughout.
Auteur Gazy also made the short films Foal (2015) and Shiloh (2018) and is the creator of the television series Eden (2021).
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.
https://vimeo.com/99939379
Blattaria
Written & Directed by Thomas Pantalacci
2016, Belgium/France
A man suffering from extreme depression resorts to taking a black-market drug that has extreme physical side-effects in this impressive short.
The well-shot Blattaria has a strong David Cronenberg influence.
Arzok
Written & Directed by Ian SBF
2019, Brazil
A primitive cave-dwelling man ventures out into the world and makes some startling discoveries.
Fans of Rod Serling will appreciate this well-made excursion into the realm of mind-bending sci-fi horror.
The Job
Directed by Nick Blatt
Written by Erik VanBezooijin
2016, USA
At the recommendation of a friend, a former champion cyclist takes odd, high-paying employment that raises potentially dangerous questions in this assured debut short film from Nick Blatt that features very solid acting.
They Will All Die in Space
Written & Directed by Javier Chillon
2015, Spain
Moving into the darker side of science fiction after his comedic short Decapoda Shock (2011), auteur Chillon delivers a great piece of space horror with a grim tone reminiscent of many American science fiction feature films of the early 1970s.
Some viewers might be initially thrown off by Chillon’s decision to shoot in black & white but it is ultimately a very effective choice.