Buzz
A common flaw in many horror short films is the misconception that suspense only involves characters idly waiting around or aimlessly wandering, followed by a sudden loud sound. These films often waste time showing mundane scenes—empty rooms, random objects, and unnecessary details—all in an attempt to build atmosphere. It's a refreshing change when a director manages to draw you into a gripping horror narrative in less than five minutes.
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10. Phil-a-del-phi-a
This short takes a more fantastical approach than most horror films, but the director known as 'Broadway' grounds it in a way that makes it feel entirely plausible. In this eerie world, a loud sound causes people to disappear, taken by mysterious entities. The story follows two children, played by Chase Ramsey and J.J. Shurbert, navigating a desolate world where silence is survival. The film avoids overemphasizing the loneliness and despair, focusing instead on the gripping tension of their strange, almost hopeless situation.
The film's most chilling and tragic moment occurs when the older brother unintentionally causes a loud crash and disappears, leaving the audience to grasp something beyond human comprehension. The camera focuses on the younger brother’s face, allowing the weight of this loss to settle in. But in a world devoid of sentimentality, the boy simply collects whatever small items his brother left behind, packs them up, and continues his journey.
We later find the younger brother, now an elderly man, reflecting on his past. Although he has heard of other surviving communities, he refuses to join them. The only thing left to him is the fragile hope that someday those who vanished will return—though this hope seems increasingly faint as he grows older, with no sign of it happening.
9. Torture Porn
The term 'torture porn' is widely used as a criticism of horror films that focus on senseless violence, and the title of this short from director Brandon Christensen both exaggerates and misrepresents it. While the film contains a scene of extreme violence, it’s framed in a manner that departs from what audiences might expect when they think of ‘torture porn.’ No film that simply seeks to indulge in sadistic pleasure would have the twist this one does.
The story opens with an unnamed man waking up strapped to a table, surrounded by cameras. A figure in surgical attire enters and reads a statement, explaining that because the man had an affair with his wife, he has hired this surgeon to torture him to death. The torment begins between the captive’s toes. After enduring great pain, the man cries 'medulla.' It turns out that was the safe word, and the scene reveals this is part of an extreme sadomasochistic relationship. In the final moments, the couple watches the footage again, and it’s unclear who is truly enjoying it. Henry Dean and Drew Marvick give stellar performances that make this unnerving scenario feel painfully real.
8. Lot 254
If you believe that every jump scare in a horror film is an unforgivable sin against the genre, you might want to skip Toby Meakins' film. But if you do, you'll also miss out on a film with exceptional cinematography, sound design (except for the jump scares), a captivating storyline, and a solid performance by Adrian Schiller as a character who typically doesn’t get leading roles in films like this.
A camera enthusiast is adjusting a newly purchased 8mm film camera when he discovers an odd item inside: a small crucifix wedged into a tricky spot. It’s easy to remove, and he proceeds to test the camera. As he winds it and peers through the viewfinder, he begins to see glimpses of a strange, pale figure lurking in the room. When he gets a clear look at its face, a piercing shriek fills the air. Soon after, he feels an ominous presence behind him—something he unleashed when he removed the crucifix. It’s not pleased.
7. Lights Out
One of the most effective scenes involves an unnamed woman (Lotta Losten) walking toward her bedroom and switching off the hallway lights. As she glances behind her, she notices what appears to be a human-shaped shadow on the far wall. She turns the lights back on, but the shadow vanishes with no obvious source. After several attempts to find the origin of the shadow by turning the lights off and on, she finally sees that the shadow is gone—but now, standing near her, is a naked figure. It’s an intense and original scare that hits all the right notes.
Sadly, many viewers may feel that the quality of the short declines after this point. For those who often criticize horror characters for venturing into perilous situations alone, Losten’s character makes the questionable choice of taping over the light switch and heading to bed. She attempts to hide under the covers. After a tense wait, she peeks out to see a deranged woman with completely white eyes. Then, the lights go out.
After such an intriguing start, the reveal of the rather peculiar figure is somewhat underwhelming compared to what your imagination might have conjured, and the character’s motivation feels a bit flimsy. Despite this, the first half of the short is strong enough to outweigh the flaws in the latter half. Director David Sandberg certainly earned all the praise he received for this film—especially considering it’s now getting a feature film adaptation.
6. The Cabin
This entry stands out from the others as it’s illustrated (though not animated, as the images remain static). Despite John Lopez’s somewhat wooden narration, it delivers an eerie concept, masterfully executed by Devin Morse. It’s not outright terrifying, as no one faces immediate danger, but it has a deeply unsettling vibe.
A hiker, lost in the woods at night, stumbles upon a solitary cabin. Inside, he finds a bed and, exhausted, decides to rest. In the middle of the night, he awakens to see three portraits hanging on the far wall. The paintings are skillfully done, but the faces in them are menacing, their expressions full of malice. He tries to avoid looking at them and eventually falls back to sleep. In the morning, he realizes those weren’t portraits at all—they were windows.
5. Breathe
Lot 254Game of ThronesThe newcomer agrees to give it another shot, and as she appears, her face is right up against his. Unable to hold his breath any longer, she takes it from him. The other man then approaches the unfortunate newcomer from behind and suffocates him. His final breath gives the woman a physical form, and she shares a kiss with the murderer before fading away again. Clearly, future summoning sessions will involve more participants. As previously mentioned, this short doesn’t rely on jump scares.
4. Tuck Me In
Once on Reddit, a popular thread asked readers to share two-sentence horror stories. Many of them were variations on the theme, “We thought the noise in the house was a family member, but it turned out to be an intruder.” The most popular submission, attributed to Juan R. Ruiz, told the story of a man who, while looking under his son’s bed to reassure him there were no monsters, finds his son hiding under the bed instead, saying, "Daddy, there’s a monster in my bed."
Ignacio F. Rodo adapted this story into a widely viewed and brief horror video, featuring the father-and-son duo Mark and Luke Scharadan. The standout feature of this short is that it leaves viewers uncertain which of the two is the real son, never hinting at it directly. The lighting and shots don’t intentionally highlight the eerie atmosphere, making the horror’s impact more surprising and believable. There’s no closure or cheap jump scares here, only an unanswerable question that might leave parents nervous about putting their children to bed at night.
3. Tea Time
Few films are so intentionally grim and yet gain so much from it. Regina Mocey plays the silent lead, a woman who has clearly committed a terrible act before the story begins but goes about her day as though everything is normal. Over time, the once-pleasant background music grows disturbing and dissonant as she experiences disturbing hallucinations of her dead husband. It soon becomes clear that everything is far from normal—her husband is dead, his body lying in the bathtub, stabbed. As she retrieves tools and chemicals to dispose of the body, we notice the cat’s lifeless body tucked away under the sink.
There are many subtle details that elevate this short without relying on violence. The use of 8-millimeter film stock adds a gritty texture without making the film unwatchable. A quiet moment of food being poured into an already overflowing pet bowl adds a sense of unease and marks the beginning of the unfolding horror. The brief flashes of her husband attacking her are more disturbing than any prolonged shot could be, capturing just enough of his image to make him appear even worse. It’s unfortunate that the director hasn’t released any new shorts in the last six years.
2. Night Watchmen
This short film, directed by Brandon Christensen, relies on leaving just enough to the imagination of the audience. With its one-minute runtime, it's a tight experience. A police officer (Brian Blu) is searching for his missing partner who has gone radio silent. He discovers his partner's abandoned vehicle and hears something beyond a wire fence. There, he finds his injured partner (Kyle Von Elzey), entangled in the razor wire, with pieces of flesh and uniform stuck in the wire. What would drive the officer to crawl through such a dangerous trap? Well, the threat chasing him is closing in, and climbing through the razor wire may be his only escape.
What sets Night Watchmen apart is the glimmer of hope it gives its protagonist, offering him a slim chance at survival. This hope allows the audience to sympathize with him in a way they wouldn't if he were completely doomed. The horrific choices he faces to stay alive are more unbearable than most people could ever imagine. It's a concept reminiscent of the Saw films, but without being as exaggerated.
1. Stone
Although Doctor Who is often associated with a lighthearted, campy tone, there are notable exceptions that dive into horror. One of the most iconic is the ‘Weeping Angels’, terrifying statues that kill anyone who isn't watching them. They are reminiscent of a similar creature found in The SCP Foundation, which was released shortly before the infamous Doctor Who episode featuring the Weeping Angels.
John Swift dedicated three months to crafting a CGI tribute that, despite resembling footage from a first-person video game, is strikingly immersive. The pacing is impeccable, introducing elements with perfect timing. First, the narrow, confining brick corridors create a sense of tension, followed by the first appearance of a weeping angel. It's relatively easy to keep track of it. As the second angel arrives, the challenge intensifies, and the protagonist is forced to juggle their focus. Finally, backed into a corner, the protagonist’s flashlight flickers out, and the Angels' eyes begin to glow ominously.
DyE’s track 'Fantasy' captivates with its distinctiveness.
Some may argue that it doesn’t count, as this is an animated music video. Furthermore, it incorporates dark humor in subtle ways. However, Jeremie Perin succeeds in conveying a more coherent narrative than many short films, and evokes more emotion through animation than most live-action shorts could hope to achieve.
A group of teenagers sneaks into a school pool to drink and engage in intimate activities. One, however, feels uneasy about the situation, particularly the notion of drinking and making out. Seeking escape, she jumps into the pool, only to feel something wriggling inside her shorts. When she climbs out, she discovers that two of her companions have turned into demonic aliens. They swiftly deal with the boy who had made an advance toward her, but she manages to escape to the pool temporarily. It’s there she realizes the pool’s bottom has become a gateway to another dimension. Venturing through it, she meets her demise upon encountering what can only be described as a massive, monstrous living mountain.
The conclusion serves as a tribute to the works of H.P. Lovecraft, with the entity at the end embodying exactly what Lovecraft envisioned when describing Azathoth and other cosmic horrors.
