I watch horror movies because I love digging into someone’s psyche, seeing what scares them, and coming back relatively unscathed. Fear is a uniquely subjective thing, and being witness to someone’s big bad boogie man is incredibly satisfying to me. The thing is, at times I’m stuck watching some pretty mediocre movies just waiting for that one moment when the creator finally reveals themselves to me. That’s why I enjoy watching short films, I’m able to get in, see how messed up someone is and be on my way before things get too complicated. No need to worry about plot holes, character arcs, or unnecessary twists to pad the script – just pure horror. So today we’ve rounded up 10 short films that waste no time in scaring the crap out of you and getting you on your way.
The short film Lights Out has sparked such interest that it’s been picked up to be made into a feature film. Whether or not a full length movie can retain the terror of the the original is a question for another day. For now, Lights Out stands as a smartly edited film that justifies a fear of the dark.
Have you ever looked at your partner and thought they could probably do without all that mushy skin? This crazy lady did just that and He Took His Skin Off For Me deals with the serious repercussions of devotion taken passed the brink of insanity.
Watching Pictured gave me a similar vibe to watching Lights Out, which makes sense since both come from the same warped mind of David F. Sandberg. What makes up for the sense of familiarity is a creepier concept that delivers a better ending than his previous work.
The Endless is a clever short film by Matt Bloom. It’s incredibly well done, and dotted with great performances that really carry the original concept to the surprising finale. I don’t want to give away too much so just see it for yourself.
Don’t let the cute look fool you. Alma is a nightmare factory dressed in adorable Pixar padding. Watch it at your own peril, but don’t come writing to us when you start getting night terrors. Actually, we might like that. Enjoy.
They could have named this “Never Swim Again” and I would have just nodded and kept watching. One Last Dive wastes no time in putting you in a tense situation and then trying its hardest to terrify you.
Most of us have been there. You’re walking home on a quiet night, down a lonely street just hoping to get home without being noticed. Suddenly, up ahead you see something that you rather not deal with so you cross to the other side of the street. But what happens when it crosses with you?
This is the type of film that’s going to keep people away from Australia. Waterborne takes a familiar horror concept and throws in its own twist from down under. While special effects do a good job of keeping up with the action, they’re probably the weakest point of an otherwise well made film. But don’t let that stop you from checking
Living alone can feel courageous at times. It takes a certain amount of bravery to lay in your bed with the lights out in a big empty apartment. Luckily, The Thing in the Apartment is here to strip what little courage you had and replace it with unadulterated terror. You’re welcome.
Breathe has unique premise that is really best experienced as unspoiled as possible. But I will say this, as one of the shorter films on this list, Breathe is the one I’d like to see stretched out into a full length film. If only to see how far the concept can go.
