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.
Killing Small Animals
Directed by Marcus Svanberg
Written by Marcus Svanberg & Matilde Skold
2020, Sweden
A woman living in a secluded home with a husband she seems barely connected to develops a gruesome habit.
This short film’s title may not be the most imaginative but don’t let that throw you off.
Killing Small Animals is an intensely disturbing piece of work that is presented with extremely little dialogue.
Special marks go to cinematographer Johan Palm for delivering tremendous atmosphere over a brief running time.
Watch this one as a double-feature with Matthew Garrett’s Beating Hearts.
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
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.
Engineers
Directed by Tyler A. Williams
Written by Tyler A. Williams & Dean Tardioli
2016, Canada
This short’s abandoned factory setting helps deliver the atmosphere as Tyler A. Williams gives viewers an enigmatic but compelling glimpse into a post-apocalyptic world, channeling a bit of the classic Frankenstein story along the way.
Fremde
Directed by Tim Dunschede
Written by Marc Vogel
2018, Germany
In a post-apocalyptic world, a family makes a home in an isolated bunker in the forest.
After nursing a wounded stranger back to health, their world is disrupted by the arrival of a band of marauders.
Director Dunschede delivers a slow-burn viewing experience with great atmosphere and very solid acting throughout.
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.
Service
Written & Directed by Jerry Pyle
2014, USA
Auteur Pyle-maker of the horror short classic Burn (2011) and the enjoyable piece of black comedy mayhem Trust (2015)-delivers this violent story of a young woman with an off-the-beaten-path job who experiences a really, really bad day at work.
We want more short horror from the talented Pyle.
Setaceous
Written & Directed by Tel Benjamin
2017, Australia
A late-night car alarm turns out to be much more than an annoyance to the residents of a suburban neighborhood in this well-made piece of automotive terror from short form veteran Benjamin.
The filmmaker next made the futuristic short film The Obscure (2018).
The Horizon Project
Directed by Scott Belyea
Written by Zack Mosley
2013, Canada
Uninfected survivors of a devastating pandemic are thrown into a nightmare scenario while being transported to a safe haven in this extremely relevant short film.
Director Belyea also made the apocalyptic short film Children of the Dark (2011).
The Horizon Project makes a great double-feature with Ashlea Wessel’s Tick.