Luna
Written & Directed by Antonio Perez
2013, USA
A mass murder at an isolated home in the country reveals dark secrets in this atmospheric, well-shot exercise in short form terror.
Tag: USA
ANIMUS
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.
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.
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.
THE HERD
The Herd
Directed by Colin A. Borden
Written by Andy Nellis
2016, USA
This brutal, well-made short offers a disturbing look at the post-apocalyptic food chain.
Director Borden has focused primarily on comedy in subsequent short film work, which is unfortunate for lovers of horror as the memorable The Herd packs a punch.
PLAY ME
Play Me
Written & Directed by Caleb J. Phillips
2023, USA
Guided only by a tape-recorded message from herself, a woman with no memory has to uncover the truth about the hooded, handcuffed man in the back seat of her car.
This is another very well-made mind-bender from auteur Phillips, who also made the horror short film classic Other Side of the Box (2018).
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
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).