::THRILLING SHORT FILMS::
THE GIST OF THE LIST: A list of short films both new and old that feature twisty plots, thrilling scenarios, surprising revelations, and (at times) frightening horrors. Many of these small narratives would fit quite well in such programming as ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS or THE TWILIGHT ZONE. In addition, many of these short films can be seen for free on YouTube or Vimeo.
Even more short films: [link]http://vimeo.com/channels/1076863[/link]
[copy and paste the link into your web browser to watch]
[LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER]
OTHER LISTS:
CAMMANDO (MEN-ON-A-MISSION) THRILLERS
CON THRILLERS
COURTROOM THRILLERS
CULT EUROPEAN SUPERHERO MOVIES
DARK COMEDIES WITH PESKY CORPSES, BOTCHED KIDNAPPINGS, MURDEROUS BLUNDERS & ACCIDENTAL DEATHS
DEALS WITH THE DEVIL
DINNER PARTIES FROM HELL
DON'T PERFORM THE AUTOPSY! I'M NOT DEAD!
GOTHIC HORROR
HEIST THRILLERS
HEROIC BLOODSHED + BULLET BALLET + GUN-FU
HOLLYWOOD GIALLO (+ ITS OTHERS)
INNOCENT FUGITIVE ON-THE-RUN THRILLERS
ITALIAN GIALLO (+ ITS OTHERS)
LOCKED ROOM MYSTERIES + IMPOSSIBLE CRIMES
LO-FI SCI-FI
ONE ROOM THRILLERS
PARALLEL UNIVERSES, ALTERNATE REALITIES, FEVERISH DREAMS
POLICE PROCEDURALS
PRISON ESCAPE THRILLERS
RURAL-COUNTRY THRILLERS
THEOLOGICAL FILMS
THRILLING SHORT FILMS
THRILLING TV EPISODES
THRILLING TV MOVIES
UNKNOWN + UNAVAILABLE THRILLERS
VANISHED PERSON THRILLERS
Even more short films: [link]http://vimeo.com/channels/1076863[/link]
[copy and paste the link into your web browser to watch]
[LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER]
OTHER LISTS:
CAMMANDO (MEN-ON-A-MISSION) THRILLERS
CON THRILLERS
COURTROOM THRILLERS
CULT EUROPEAN SUPERHERO MOVIES
DARK COMEDIES WITH PESKY CORPSES, BOTCHED KIDNAPPINGS, MURDEROUS BLUNDERS & ACCIDENTAL DEATHS
DEALS WITH THE DEVIL
DINNER PARTIES FROM HELL
DON'T PERFORM THE AUTOPSY! I'M NOT DEAD!
GOTHIC HORROR
HEIST THRILLERS
HEROIC BLOODSHED + BULLET BALLET + GUN-FU
HOLLYWOOD GIALLO (+ ITS OTHERS)
INNOCENT FUGITIVE ON-THE-RUN THRILLERS
ITALIAN GIALLO (+ ITS OTHERS)
LOCKED ROOM MYSTERIES + IMPOSSIBLE CRIMES
LO-FI SCI-FI
ONE ROOM THRILLERS
PARALLEL UNIVERSES, ALTERNATE REALITIES, FEVERISH DREAMS
POLICE PROCEDURALS
PRISON ESCAPE THRILLERS
RURAL-COUNTRY THRILLERS
THEOLOGICAL FILMS
THRILLING SHORT FILMS
THRILLING TV EPISODES
THRILLING TV MOVIES
UNKNOWN + UNAVAILABLE THRILLERS
VANISHED PERSON THRILLERS
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- DirectorPhillips SmalleyLois WeberStarsLois WeberVal PaulDouglas GerrardAbandoned by her maidservant in an isolated country house, a mother must protect herself and her baby from an invading tramp while her husband races home in a stolen car to save them.MY TWO CENTS: The thriller distilled down to its essence. This silent film was ahead of its time, implementing every cinematic technique in the book (at the time) to ratchet up the thrills. Despite not offering much in plot, it's remarkable how well it holds up. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br1QcfAhypU[/link] - DirectorGianni HoepliUbaldo MagnaghiStarsLav KamenarovicGino EprisiCarlo BissiA doctor performs an experiment on a dying man by placing him under hypnosis on his deathbed.MY TWO CENTS: This silent film from Italy is an effective adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar" with cinematography and editing that's evocative of Sergei Eistenstein's work with an ending that is shockingly gory - even by today's standards! The lack of any soundtrack, however, hurts its effectiveness. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3qGwCPKhdI[/link] - DirectorJules DassinStarsJoseph SchildkrautRoman BohnenOscar O'SheaIn this classic Edgar Allan Poe story, a man commits a murder, but afterward the victim's beating heart torments the murderer's mind.MY TWO CENTS: Solid adaptation of Poe's classic from the great Jules Dassin (RIFIFI) - straightforward, ably performed, and professionally executed. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlTCXIJEj-c[/link] - DirectorWendy ToyeStarsAlan BadelCameron HallGeoffrey BayldonA strangely-garbed and eccentric-acting stranger arrives in a small English town. But, after several days on being in the town, the citizens accept him as a harmless, though a bit daft, member of the community. He then pays a visit to the town's leading citizen and reveals himself as a man with the perfect plan for murder.MY TWO CENTS: Plays out like a long lost tale of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS - starts off as a whimsical comedy until turning quite dark with a chilling twist. One of my favorites. 9
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/71276534[/link] - DirectorTed ParmeleeStarsJames MasonJack MatherA madman tells his tale of murder, and how a strange beating sound haunted him afterward.MY TWO CENTS: Animated adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's classic tale of the macabre that is artfully realized with stark compositions and delirious camera effects; perhaps the best version of tale ever put on screen. 9
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccUTtxwLDTg[/link] - DirectorJoseph LoseyStarsDonald WolfitMichael MedwinMichael RipperMY TWO CENTS: Directed by Joseph Losey and written by Jimmy Sangster, this short tale of crime features a man disguised as a woman who robs a casino, double crosses his partner, gets shot in the process, and makes a run for it... and that's not even the first ten minutes of the short! Not perfect, despite a slam-bang start as it becomes quite sluggish in the second half, but it does end on a nice twist ending. 6
WATCH IT: Unavailable - DirectorLloyd Michael WilliamsStarsDorothea GriffinCalvin WatersYoung Ursula plays in a tree and ruins her fancy dress. Her elderly mother teaches her a cruel lesson about whether things can ever be mended; what Ursula learns about how to behave may not be what her mother intended.MY TWO CENTS: Written by Charles Beaumont (THE TWILIGHT ZONE), this arty, eerie tale of psychological horror may not be for everyone's tastes, but it may reward the more adventurous viewer. 7
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9Rys_RdYa4[/link] - DirectorChris MarkerStarsÉtienne BeckerJean NégroniHélène ChatelainThe story of a man forced to explore his memories in the wake of World War III's devastation, told through still images.MY TWO CENTS My nomination for the greatest short film of all time. Beautiful, harrowing, spellbinding. Served as the inspiration for Terry Gillam's TWELVE MONKEYS. 10
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/46620661[/link] - DirectorRobert EnricoStarsRoger JacquetAnne CornalyAnker-Spang LarsenIn 1862, during the American Civil War, a Southern civilian is about to be hanged for attempting to sabotage a railway bridge. When the execution takes place from the bridge, the rope breaks and he begins his escape toward home.My TWO CENTS: Wonderfully crafted short that actually appeared on US television as an episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE. Won the academy award for best short film. 9
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/15147706[/link] - DirectorEdward AbrahamStarsBurt LettsDave LloydBrian PeckMy TWO CENTS: A surreal, nightmarish adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM. Clearly inspired by the dark, bold aesthetics of German Expressionism, this art film is quite possibly the greatest adaptation of the tale with its beautifully rendered photography, eerie sets, and disquieting sound design. 9
WATCH IT: Unavailable. - DirectorAlexandre AstrucStarsMaurice RonetAdaptation of Edgar Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum.My TWO CENTS: A French production of Edgar Allan Poe's THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM. Another solid production with atmospheric black-and-white cinematography, but it pales in comparison to Edward Abraham's version from 1962 if only because that one was executed to near perfection. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmgspWSVyiw[/link] [NO SUBTITLES] - DirectorLes GoldmanPaul JulianStarsHerschel BernardiA town is doomed to endless torment by the Hangman, who continues to kill off the town one by one. As more die, the town becomes more and more in disarray as the gallow grew each day.MY TWO CENTS: Chilling animated film told in a rhyme pattern similar to Doctor Seuss... but only with a much darker and serious intention. Based on the poem by Maurice Ogden, the message is quite powerful and hard-hitting. 9
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqziaQxAsMA[/link] - DirectorAndrzej KondratiukStarsIgnacy GogolewskiZdzislaw MaklakiewiczAdam PawlikowskiWhile passing through a small town, a man decides to have a haircut at the local barber's.MY TWO CENTS: This tale of a man going to a small town barber for a shave has a lovely air of menace that features a memorable climax and a neat little twist ending. A long lost buried gem. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C01R48IiH7o[/link] - DirectorLarry YustStarsOlive DunbarWilliam 'Billy' BenedictWilliam FawcettAn adaptation of Shirley Jackson's short story of the same name, "The Lottery" tells the story of a shocking annual tradition in a small village.MY TWO CENTS Terrific adaptation of Shirley Jackson's classic chilling tale. 8
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/65266252[/link] - DirectorBranko RanitovicPavao StalterAn animated adaptation of Poe's famous short story: "Mask of the Red Death"MY TWO CENTS Surreal, artfully rendered adaptation of Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" though less of a narrative and more of a feverish dream - it will delight some and bore others. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpChGRqqFZY[/link] - DirectorBruno GantillonStarsMartine DericheThalie FrugèsPaul BonifasA young student meets an elderly antiques-loving couple looking for a help. They like her very much, and she's hired on the spot.MY TWO CENTS A french film that plays out like a Roald Dahl short story directed by Roman Polanski. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajp6TBwNF34[/link] - DirectorDavid LynchStarsDorothy McGinnisRichard WhiteVirginia MaitlandA young boy plants some strange seeds and they grow into a grandmother.MY TWO CENTS An unsettling and strange tale from David Lynch that seems to be inspired by Franz Kafka and Francis Bacon - this one makes his later works (LOST HIGHWAY, MULHOLLAND DRIVE) seem straightforward in comparison. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bAPEgFeNuw[/link] - DirectorSteve CarverStarsAlex CordSam JaffeEdward BinnsMY TWO CENTS Yet another adaptation of Poe's classic - this one is rougher around the edges but it also seems to convey the insanity a bit better (the blotchy black and white cinematography helps). 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe0WyjiW5Ps[/link] - DirectorLeon JeannotStarsFranciszek PieczkaHenryk BoukolowskiJolanta LotheDeep beneath the streets of Italy lie the catacombs of the Montresors, filled with barrels of wine and the bones of the dead. One evening, friends Fortunado and Montresor venture below the city with promises of the rare vintage wine Amontillado. Based on the short story by Edgar Allen Poe, Fortunado and Montresor find themselves in a web of betray and revenge, changing their friendship forever.MY TWO CENTS Good but overlong adaptation of Poe's class narrative - a little dry. 6
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EscdHElJWYg[/link] [NO SUBTITLES] - DirectorAntonio MerceroStarsJosé Luis López VázquezAgustín GonzálezGoyo LebreroA man gets trapped inside a telephone box and nobody is able to free him.MY TWO CENTS: Perhaps the most notorious film on this list - a Spanish film that starts of as a surreal comedy of almost Fellini-esque proportions until plummeting into TWILIGHT ZONE horror of the most terrifying variety. My highest recommendation. 10
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CABpfvOgbjw[/link] - DirectorPatrick BokanowskiStarsJean-Jacques ChoulJacques Delbosc d'AuzonClaus-Dieter ReentsA study of human anxieties about beauty, youth and objectification.MY TWO CENTS: Eerie, surreal, experimental, abstract short film with a fusion of live action and animation that is silent with unsettling sound design. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk9nQG1J7Xs[/link] - DirectorDick MaasStarsHenny AlmaCor van RijnA man drives his blind wife to a picnic spot he hopes she won't return from, but she won't get out of the car.MY TWO CENTS: Before director Dick Maas achieved international infamy with his schlock-classic THE LIFT, he made this delightful little tale concerning a husband trying to coax his blind wife out of the car... but why is he sweating and she's apprehensive? The final revelation is what makes this one memorable. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmtmr14k22U[/link] [NO SUBTITLES] - DirectorJames DeardenStarsJulie NeesamPeter BlakeAvis BunnageA young model's boyfriend storms out one night. She follows him and, along the way, picks up an old woman standing at the roadside in the rain. But her act of kindness has terrible repercussions when the old woman turns out to be a serial killer looking for her next victim.MY TWO CENTS: Later remade as LEFT TURN by Sean Ellis - both are worthy of your attention - this is a delightfully eerie tale concerning marital strife, hitchhikers, and serial killers from the writer of FATAL ATTRACTION. 8
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mPxaPTX-_8[/link] - DirectorRobert BiermanStarsGeraldine JamesJohn WhiteDavid CaseyA stalker follows Sally home and attempts to break into her flat several times. How will he finally get to her?MY TWO CENTS: What an obscure gem! Essentially a straight up giallo, complete with experimental score, threatening phone calls, a black gloved killer, a shaving razor, and a woman in distress. The kaleidoscopic editing, delirious music, and rich atmospherics elevate this above mere homage. Certainly worth a look! 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqhNjeHLIlY[/link] - DirectorRobert HarmonStarsCharles NapierWilliam SandersonMickey JonesA police officer on vacation travels around on his motorcycle targeting nearby occupants of and travelers through China Lake.MY TWO CENTS: Placeholder
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4n1JNWkI6k[/link] - DirectorSaxon LoganStarsJoanna DavidNickolas GraceHeather PageRich couple Angela & Richard travel to the home of brother and sister Alex and Marion for dinner but end up clashing with their hosts over their different views. And when a destructive storm ruins their dinner plans they go out to a restaurant where they meet strange owner (Fulton MacKay) and his employee, As the foursome continue to argue the tension rises and the night takes a bloody turn for the worst.MY TWO CENTS: Longer than your typical short film at 50 minutes, this arty slasher has atmospheric cinematography and intelligent subtext but very little in terms of plot. 7
WATCH IT: Unavailable - DirectorMikhail TitovA man kills a toy designer and steals his latest product. The product, a mini-army complete with weapons, then wages war on the killer.MY TWO CENTS: Animated adaptation of Stephen King's fun story BATTLEGROUND is well-animated and surprisingly faithful to its source material. However, this was to be later outdone by Brian Henson in his superb adaptation for the series NIGHTMARES AND DREAMSCAPES. Still, this is a good one. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0o_2PPsBw0[/link] - DirectorJirí BartaStarsFrantisek HusákZdenek MartínekIvan VojtekA sarcastic story about a thief who becomes the victim of his own victims. His victims come from the other world and take his most precious possession - his blood. The phantasmal atmosphere of the film is achieved through artificial animation coloring in a motion picture.MY TWO CENTS: Jirí Barta's feverish nightmare. Slow, subdued, but has an undeniably haunting atmosphere of menace and dread. Be careful who you decide to steal from... 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Aew_Naz3cY[/link] - DirectorNorman HullStarsDavid MorrisseyMajor WileyRichard RidingsA man out hiking in the countryside accidentally gets his foot stuck in a hole. Events become progressively worse.MY TWO CENTS: An out-of-towner is hitchhiking along a country road when his foot becomes stuck in a hole. The man can't get it out and none of the cars are stopping to help him. A simple premise leads to a surreal nightmare which descends into outright horror at its climax. Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGJdh-6coQ4[/link] - DirectorAlison MacleanStarsTheresa HealeyPeter TaitAnnagretta ChristianA woman finds something quaint in her kitchen sink and feels strangely captivated towards it.MY TWO CENTS: A perfect companion piece to David Lynch's ERASERHEAD - unnerving and surreal tale about a woman who finds some strands of hair in her kitchen sink that may be something much more ominous. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs4eJgj4v8I[/link] - DirectorAlain RobakStarsJean-François GallotteMarie-Thérèse CaumontRoger ZaconniA man, looking to buy a house, spells out the classifieds and discovers that he can win the house of his dreams: he goes there.MY TWO CENTS: A man has to survive a series of Rube-Goldberg-like death traps in an old mansion in order to acquire ownership of it - think HOME ALONE meets TALES FROM THE CRYPT and you'll have an idea of what to expect. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqo9jdMUgMw[/link] [NO SUBTITLES] - DirectorAnita AssalBarthélémy BompardPhilippe DorisonStarsClémentine CélariéFranck BarukAlain AithnardAdrénaline is a compilation of 13 short films: Metrovision, Revestriction, Graffiti, Elephant Cemetery, Traffic Jam, Corridor, Urgence, Interrogation, The Last Fly, T.V. Buster, Cyclops, Physical Sculpture and The Blind.MY TWO CENTS: A collection of short films of varying quality - some good and some not so good - and include such tales as "Corridor" (above) and "Revestriction" (below). However, one film to note is a short tale called "Embouteillages" (which IMDB doesn't have an entry for) - it's an interesting spin on "The Phone Box" concerning people who find themselves locked in their cars which seem to be alive and driving their passengers somewhere most horrifying... 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_UdNjTlM3U[/link] [NO SUBTITLES] - DirectorBarthélémy BompardStarsBernadette CoqueretMY TWO CENTS: Short, absurd tale of a woman in bed who begins to notice that the ceiling is slowly descending towards her... A simple, surreal premise that generates a solid sense of desperation with a strange twist in its tail. Won the jury prize for best short film at Cannes. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S8Tskmp_CA[/link] - DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsÁlex AnguloSaturnino GarcíaJosé Antonio ÁlvarezA man comes into a bar in which there's only one other customer and asks the bartender to serve him a Mirinda (a Spanish orange drink). But then he refuses to pay for it, saying that the bartender had never warned him that he would have to; when the bartender insists, the man takes out a rifle and kills him. Then he asks the other customer to keep serving him more Mirindas, and therefore this other man sees himself forced to replace the bartender, for fear of what the killer will do to him if he doesn't...MY TWO CENTS: Placeholder
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyalEElkIXc[/link] - DirectorPaul BerryUpstairs, in the moonlit and empty room, a little boy scared of the dancing shadows, encounters a figment of his vivid imagination: the horrible Sandman.MY TWO CENTS: Reminiscent of the animated films of Tim Burton, this is a surprisingly dark fairy tale. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/23506050[/link] - DirectorJan KounenStarsAbel AboualitenDominique BettenfeldRodolph FreyttA point of view shot of a man waking up as the prisoner of a ragtag team of maniacal murderous mercenaries.MY TWO CENTS: Kinetic short which melds sci-fi, action, and comedy into one bizarre, stylish package which is told entirely from the POV of a single character who never talks and has a strange talent to not die no matter how many times he's shot, stabbed, and blown up. 8
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7MD5_wSmHs[/link] - DirectorAlejandra MoyaStarsLisa OwenJesús OchoaAdriana OliveraA car with a flat tire in the middle of a lonely road. A chain-smoking woman is waiting in the driver's seat. Suddenly, a car approaches. The driver (a somber menacing man) offers to help her. The woman refuses but he insists. She suspects he wants something more.MY TWO CENTS: I've seen the gag done before but I was still surprised by this neat little thriller. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctp7UGKgc7g[/link] [NO SUBTITLES] - DirectorDavid KoeppStarsJaneane GarofaloBob BattStephen BlakeA woman drives down an eerie highway at night in search of hospitality and come across some suspicious townsfolk and a little more than she bargained for..MY TWO CENTS: One of my absolute favorites only because it has one of those endings where, even knowing there's going to be a twist, you are incapable of guessing it until it happens. It's like a good joke, where the punchline comes our of left field and leaves you in stiches. 9
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LtSENnoDhc[/link] - DirectorSebastian NiemannStarsJulia HaackeKlaus StiglmeierRainer MatsutaniMY TWO CENTS: A hitchhiker attempts to get a ride from an ominous black van, but its driver seems to have malevolent intentions. Standard thriller premise is made interesting with black and white photography as well as dialogue-free execution. Its twist ending, while having the merit of being completely unpredictable, is also completely silly. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oFNk1IQdoM[/link] - DirectorRob GreenStarsDavid KincaidClive PerrottMark WebbThe story takes place in a prison where a prisoner tells the tale of how he killed his wife to an inquisitor. He claims that he was driven to do the crime by the presence of her evil, satanic black cat...MY TWO CENTS: Some may not appreciate that this short film is essentially just a recitation of Poe's classic tale (i.e. a man speaks to the camera for most of the time) but the atmosphere surrounding the actor enhances key elements within the narrative. Not exciting but interesting. 6
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKN_I6ouswg[/link] - DirectorPierre FerrièreStarsYan EpsteinPascaline GirardotOn Christmas eve, Lieutenant Lucas's telephone keeps ringing. He can't tell who's calling until he notices, through his window, a strange creature who can't help but making phone calls...MY TWO CENTS: A Christmas themed psychological thriller that is evocative of the style one might find in an episode of TALES FROM THE CRYPT. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/27115696[/link] [NO SUBTITLES] - DirectorJim GillespieStarsChristopher FulfordFrank GallagherDavid MacKayThe electrifying journey of a cable repairman at the hands of two lunatic joy riders. In the middle of night, in the middle of winter and, yes, in the middle of nowhere.MY TWO CENTS: A straight forward thriller concerning a man who stumbles upon a crime scene and the criminals who put him in their trunk. Well executed with moments of suspense but unfortunately no real surprises. 6
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LZouIUcOSo[/link] - DirectorDavid LoweStarsMary-Lou StewartRoy BillingMonique SpanbrookA man is brutally murdered in a swimming pool. The only witness, Mrs Moore, refuses to tell the police what she has seen. Why? The answer lies in Mrs Moore's past.MY TWO CENTS: A police detective interrogates a woman concerning a murder at the pool. Well performed with clever editing; thrills are subdued, favoring character complexity over action. Worth a look. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/15206503[/link] - DirectorMatthijs van Heijningen Jr.StarsRoef RagasKim van KootenSuspense film from the "Cine 100" series about a deserted motel, a woman with a broken-down car, a shower curtain and a knife.MY TWO CENTS: Atmospheric black and white photography, taut direction, and a clever final reveal makes this a solid Hitchcockian gem. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbbZzTO-zfQ[/link] NO SUBTITLES - DirectorVincent BalStarsVeerle van OverloopFrank FocketynGene BervoetsMylene and Werner are going to make their flat up for Christmas. Then Sam comes with a bottle of Veuve Cliqot. Sam tells Werner that he knows Werner has stolen money at work. Werner murders Sam. Soon afterwards, Sam is alive again and it looks as if somebody else would have to die. Who's fooling who?MY TWO CENTS: An absolute hoot, this delicious send-up of noir tropes is hilarious with about a dozen or so plot twists to ensure it's wildly unpredictable. 9
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/12487814[/link] - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsJeremy TheobaldIn his squalid apartment, a man tries to squash with his shoe an insect of some kind that is moving around the room.MY TWO CENTS: From the director of "Memento", this is a rather strange film concerning a man trying to crush... well, "something" with a shoe. 7
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/24460574[/link] - DirectorVincenzo NataliStarsVickie PapavsBruce McFeeDavid HewlettBen and Ellen are thrust into adventure when Hank, a blood covered security man of the building rushes into their elevator, claiming that there's a dangerous creature in the building.MY TWO CENTS: Classic TWILIGHT ZONE inspired short from the director of CUBE. Tricky and claustrophobic from beginning to end, this one demands a viewing. 9
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-uUJ1p0rck[/link] - DirectorMartin MurphyStarsBrett WoodJohn BridsonNicholas CassimIn the dark streets of suburbia, a young man catches a Nightride bus only to find himself trapped by a masked man who murders the driver and takes control of the wheel. He must escape, but at what price?MY TWO CENTS: Aussie thriller concerning a young man who gets on the bus in the middle of the night... and the back passenger looks especially creepy. Straight-forward, no-nonsense suspense piece that climaxes to a tense stand-off but its unfortunately marred by a rather routine twist ending. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y--sZ8-ChH4[/link] - DirectorStuart AcherStarsFrank RidleyPaula PlumKen CheesemanAn elementary school principal arrives at school to find a video tape that is sent from the "future". The tape is from Bobby, age 40. But in the present time, Bobby is in elementary school at the same school. The tape's message is incredible, but concise: Stop a school bus accident that will kill 50 students that are on a field trip.MY TWO CENTS: Imperfect but nevertheless absorbing tale of whether or not a VHS recording was sent from the future. 6
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/37147112[/link] - DirectorAdam TurnerStarsT.J. BlitzMarc MilesKevin WigginsA son tries to transport a stolen kidney for his ill father across the country.MY TWO CENTS: Starts off with a bang - a man wakes up naked in a tub full of ice with a gaping wound in his side - but the rest of the film is more concerned with the surreal mishaps of a son trying to transport the stolen kidney to his ill father, whose exploits are humorous and have an air of tension about them but seem to lack the visceral thrills of the opening. Still, the grainy effect of the film stock does much to enhance the experience of the film. 6
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/39142426[/link] - DirectorNacho CerdáStarsPep TosarTrae HoulihanA sculptor is traumatized by the death of his wife in a car accident. He builds a sculpture in her memory. As the lifelike sculpture begins to bleed through the cracks of clay, the sculptor's flesh mutates and crumbles away...MY TWO CENTS: Director Nacho Cerdà stirred controversy with his exploitative short AFTERMATH, but this one is a much more subdued affair - haunting, bittersweet, and tragic. Not particularly exciting but the themes come through well enough. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/45600947[/link] - DirectorEllory ElkayemStarsRebecca HobbsJeremy CallaghanPatrick WilsonA young woman battles against a series of giant spiders, spawned by toxic waste, in her new suburban home.MY TWO CENTS: A fun homage to 1950s B-monster movies... Silly but entertaining. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YgRcaEbQYE[/link] - DirectorIna LüdersStarsCia BergRocco BarkerChick OrtegaDating with a gangster's girlfriend is never wise, but when trouble arises the elevator can be a perfect hiding place.MY TWO CENTS: A dialogue-free screwball comedy-thriller about a man on the run from a hit man for dating a gangster's girl. He decides to hide out in an elevator and a whole string of complications ensue. Witty but admittedly silly. 6
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/111114177[/link] - DirectorIgor LegarretaEmilio Pérez PérezStarsMariví BilbaoPepo OlivaMY TWO CENTS: A Polanskian psychological thriller about the slow mental deterioration of a man in an apartment... or is there really malevolent forces at work? Featuring a solid central performance and stylish cinematography, this film lacks the horrific imagery of Roman Polanski or the plotting of Alfred Hitchcock to make it a true classic, but it's worth a view. 6
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/69578812[/link] [NO SUBTITLES] - DirectorDavid ReidStarsStephen HallVictor RodgerEryn StrachanLate one night, a taxi driver is hijacked. Caught in a struggle between money and murder, will he live to see another day?MY TWO CENTS: A fun crime thriller with a bevy of twist and turns which take place over a course of the night. Not perfect - the director strangely implements distracting freeze frames from time to time - but the quick pacing and the constant tension makes this quite an engrossing short. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/73279637[/link] - DirectorMiguel SapochnikStarsStuart BowmanIndra OvéJoerg StadlerSet in a future past, a haggard military Clone awaits his fate in a grim termination plant. As his inevitable death draws closer, his dreams of escape turn into reality...MY TWO CENTS: Just like the short film EXIT ROOM, this is a sci-fi tinged adaptation of AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK. Interesting with slick production values but emotionally cold. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/55460151[/link] - DirectorSean EllisStarsLucy RussellAndrew TiernanHeather-Jay JonesOn a dark, rainy night, a girl drives home and picks up an elderly woman who seems to be in trouble. She begins to doubt her good deed when something about her traveling companion begins to seem very strange to her.MY TWO CENTS: A solid remake of PANIC from 1978 - more slick, stylized, and horrifying than the original, but lacks the original's restraint. That said, both are cracker jack yarns. 8
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6j_dkFz408[/link] - DirectorHeng TangStarsAlex HughesSebastian LamourStuart RobinsonMY TWO CENTS: Similar to THE TWILIGHT ZONE episode "Person Or Persons Unknown," a boy comes home to find that he's been seemingly replaced by another boy... or did he? 6
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.aftrs.edu.au/showcase/students-and-films/video/0_sp0tq1ta[/link] - DirectorPhil StooleStarsKenneth BranaghGerard HoranJimmy YuillWhich way lies madness? A man named Joe drives his Land Rover into a remote field. The purpose of his trip is obscure. Is he scouting a location? Has he been sent by someone to check out the area? His cell phone rings and a stranger's voice tells him to look in the back of his car. He does, and discovers the dead body of a young girl who's gone missing. The voice on the phone tells him he's been set up, that no one will believe him, and that he'd better follow instructions and bury the body. As he complies, his headaches worsen. Is there any way out for Joe?MY TWO CENTS: Kenneth Branagh stars, so suffice to say the lead performance is top notch. The ending is a little underwhelming, but the build up is psychologically suspenseful in the Hitchcockian tradition. 7
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/87178736[/link] - DirectorRobert MorganStarsLivy ArmstrongDaniel Hogwood-KaneVictoria HayesThe dark, surreal story of a cat who wants to be human.MY TWO CENTS: Bizarre, creepy short that's part live action and part animation. Not sure how someone came up with the concept of having a cat with human hands come from a well and steal the face of a boy, but there you go... 7
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4PR9NZlAB4[/link] - DirectorJohn HardwickStarsSusanne LotharPaul DaviesDavid BoydAfter a car accident a woman finds herself deep in the woods with her dead stiff friend still holding her hand.MY TWO CENTS: It will remind you of that ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS episode "Breakdown" only more downbeat, more sad... and more gruesome. 7
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsVRc5XwlKU[/link] - DirectorKarl ShefelmanStarsMichael FragaleDep KirklandKing Kong BundyIn the tradition of Roald Dahl or O.Henry, this strange little psychological thriller begins when a New Yorker stops in a small Pennsylvania town with a flat tire only trapped in the local bar where he is acused of being a hit and run driver who killed one of their patrons. As the locals interrogate and threaten our protagonist we are lead through a series of psycholical twists and turns, leading to a very surprise ending.MY TWO CENTS: The acting waivers and the direction is sometimes rough around the edges, but the story is surprisingly gripping and becomes quite tense as it builds up its claustrophobic atmosphere, culminating in a nice twist ending. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/65094520[/link] - DirectorF. Javier GutiérrezStarsPep GuinyolJuanjo ArteroIsabel PintorOtto, a blue production line worker, discovers the infidelity of his wife, Sarah. The day before their separation, he begins a macabre and twisted revenge...MY TWO CENTS: A jilted husband seeks revenge on his cheating spouse but complications ensue. After a rather bizarre opening (which makes it appear to be a horror film, which it isn't) it becomes a quite humorous comedy of errors with a pleasing twist in its tail. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sErrf98qJ1U[/link] - DirectorTrevor SandsStarsJeremy SistoReedy GibbsMichael Bailey SmithThe greatest battle that one can ever fight is the one that takes place within the mind; perspective, perception and control are the weapons used in this particular conflict.MY TWO CENTS: A man with multiple personality disorder - which are real and which are not? Starring the always versatile Jeremy Sisto, this short may ultimately be inconsequential but its nevertheless interesting. 6
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/27387850[/link] - DirectorChase PalmerStarsSean KellyFrances ChewningRobert YoungsIn his homage to film noir, a man learns that cheaters can wind up dead.MY TWO CENTS: A fun, noir-ish tale told in a no-nonsense documentary style ala HE WALKS BY NIGHT - a fun and twisty ride. 8
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/8898869[/link] - DirectorNacho VigalondoStarsMarta BelenguerNacho VigalondoAntonio TatoA woman enters a restaurant one morning - only to be met with silence instead of people talking.MY TWO CENTS: Oscar-nominated short film that infuses the musical, the comedy, and the thriller genres together. Probably my second favorite short film of all time. 10
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/36470597[/link] - DirectorTim BullockStarsClayton JacobsonJason GannTwo men try to bury a body.MY TWO CENTS: A dark comedy from the land of down under regarding two argumentative roommates who have a very difficult time burying a body. Funny with ironic twists. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kLJMUac0Mc[/link] - DirectorKoldo SerraStarsManolo SoloJon AriñoHéctor AlterioA man volunteers to take part in an experiment that attempts to analyse human behaviour under extreme conditions of terror. His mission is to remain seated inside a dark room for a length of time of 15 minutes. If he manages to hold on, he will receive in return a generous sum of money. Is it possible to terrify an individual who knows beforehand that everything is a farce?MY TWO CENTS: Written by Nacho Vigalondo (TIME CRIMES and the short 7:35 IN THE MORNING), this TWILIGHT ZONE stylized short seems to be about a science experiment which analyzes a man's reaction to terrifying situations... but nothing is at it seems. 8
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYz5Jf6f6dY[/link] [NO SUBTITLES] - DirectorKristin DehnertAimee LagosStarsAnne RamsayShaun ToubDwayne WycoffA white woman riding the subway system begins to suspect that two non-white men are following her.MY TWO CENTS: A straight forward thriller concerning a woman being followed by two men on the subway. Slick direction with an interesting twist in its tale keeps this one interesting, even though by the time its all over it seems to lack a certain je ne sais quoi. 6
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.break.com/video/ugc/underground-short-film-by-kristen-dehnert-aimee-lagos-551043[/link] - DirectorPeter CornwellStarsBrett ArcherRen KlyceBen, our main character, wakes up in an unusual hospital after seemingly landing on an asphalt road due to a car collision. He later wakes up to the sound of dog barking and decides to explore the hospital. After he studies the hospital, noticing all the details from the plain white hallways from the surgical tools spread about the rooms, he realizes this isn't a normal hospital. He then hears footsteps and goes into the nearest room where he finds an experimental patient. The patient, lying on a bed moaning, comes to life in a horrific manner and leaves our main character, Ben, running for his life through the hospital while being chased by surgeons along the way. Ben realizes that the only chance of survival is leaving the Hospital with haste. Run Ben, Run.MY TWO CENTS: Fun animated tale which is a send-up of thriller tropes. Very entertaining. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://youtu.be/ihkaDQFivrM[/link] - DirectorBoris SchaarschmidtStarsBob FrancoBirgit MeyerChris J. MiloWet Shaving - Thriller.MY TWO CENTS: Truly feels like an episode of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS - it's even in black and white! Nothing is as it seems in this unpredictable, Hitchcockian crime drama. 9
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/95778567[/link] - DirectorSimon EllisStarsAllen MechenIshbel NicolPhilip WebsterMystery and misfortune, in spades.MY TWO CENTS: A comedy of errors about a man trying to bury a body with many complications. Entertaining but admittedly inconsequential. 7
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/27181006[/link] - DirectorRupert WyattStarsBrian CoxLloyd OwenHosh KaneTwo war correspondents are escorted to a recently bombed town. The apparent perpetrators are about to be executed in front of a baying mob of survivors. One journalist doubts the guilt of the adolescent prisoners; the other believes they are not there to take sides but to take pictures...MY TWO CENTS: More of a thrilling drama than an outright thriller, this short tale of photo-journalists in a war-torn country addresses the moral ambiguities between documentation and toleration of war-time atrocities. 8
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/37403291[/link] - DirectorSalvador SanzStarsSebastián RamsegLorena SuárezA retake on the classic story of the gorgons brought forward to the modern world and turned into an apocalyptic horror story.MY TWO CENTS: A wonderfully original and epic animated tale of a post-apocalyptic world brought about by ancient Greek mythology, pop-singers, strange surgeries, and media frenzy. This needs to be made into a feature-length film - this short only scratches the surface of its richly defined world. 9
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPO106yW7lU[/link] [NO SUBTITLES] - DirectorIvar Leon MengerStarsFabian BuschJustus von DohnányiTimo DierkesAfter a student picks up a hitchhiker in his dad's Jag, radio reports warn of an escaped psychopath from a local prison and that drivers should not stop for anyone. The student driver starts to get suspicious of his passenger who becomes increasingly erratic as the journey progresses. Tensions are high and conversation between the two becomes awkward and disjointed. When the pair are stopped at a police roadblock designed to catch the escapee, events take a dramatic twist.MY TWO CENTS: German short that takes a classic thriller premise - is a hitchhiker an escaped lunatic - and turns it on its head with unpredictable results. 8
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1xBrhD5L7I[/link] [NO SUBTITLES] - DirectorBoris SchaarschmidtStarsJürg LöwSabine PostelUlrich SchmissatMY TWO CENTS: From the director of WET SHAVE comes another tantalizing thriller about a woman who begins to see the same person in all her old photos - has someone been following her for years whilst unaware? The premise immediately grabs you but unfortunately the resolution is underwhelming. 6
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/99883249[/link] - DirectorBrian O'MalleyStarsLiam CunninghamGer CareyKit M. TsangMY TWO CENTS: Routine crime story improved by a slick direction and a strong lead performance from the always reliable Liam Cunningham. 6
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/111102947[/link] - DirectorShane AckerA rag doll fights a monster that has been stealing the souls of his people.MY TWO CENTS: Fascinating animated short that builds a unique and interesting world. The plot is rather slight - this is clearly a proof-of-concept work as it was later expanded successfully into a feature - but it's still worth a viewing. 6
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/20161592[/link] - DirectorAlex MerkinStarsAdrian GrenierJames Aaron OliverJamie BengeMY TWO CENTS: Clever little thriller concerning infidelity, jilted lovers, and murderous intentions with a few twists keeping the proceedings lively - one could easily see this on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS. However, it ends rather abruptly. It was later expanded into a feature length film but the short is much superior. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BidbnmrhsLg[/link] - DirectorAndrew LemanStarsMatt FoyerJohn BolenRalph LucasWhile sorting the affairs of his late Uncle, a man accidentally stumbles across a series of dark secrets connected to an ancient horror waiting to be freed.MY TWO CENTS: Probably the most successful adaptation of a HP Lovecraft story so far, this artfully rendered gem is told as a silent film and captures the spirit and adventure of a Lovecraftian tale perfectly. It's marred only by low production values, but typically this fact is well disguised throughout. 8
WATCH IT: Unavailable - DirectorÁlex MontoyaRaúl NavarroStarsJuanjo Díaz PoloPedro González Del ValleAlba GárateMY TWO CENTS: Thriller told in split screen like old-school Brian DePalma concerning a woman and a serial killer. Simple, straight-forward tale with no real surprises but the execution is a marvel. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/36380101[/link] - DirectorJennifer KentStarsSusan PriorLuke Ikimis-HealeyTrash VaudevilleA mother battles with her son's fear of a monster lurking in the closet, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.MY TWO CENTS: Director Jennifer Kent would go on to expand this short film into a feature as the critically-lauded BABADOOK. This version is much more simple (naturally) and tells the story of a mother battling... something... that is terrorizing her child. The imagery is truly frightening, especially when she looks into the closet. *shudder* 8
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/39042148[/link] - DirectorTom CosgroveStarsColm O'MaonlaiFiona O'ShaughnessyTony McKennaIn 1763, an evil landlord vies to inherit the Rotherham estate by diabolical means. His treacherous crimes are witnessed by supernatural forces who undertake a terrible revenge against him.MY TWO CENTS: Period horror drama set in Victorian Ireland, spoken mostly in Gallic, and features murderous husbands, vengeful spirits, and horrible curses. 7
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/23037775[/link] - DirectorJon KnautzStarsTrevor MatthewsKyle BrydgesJoe NewtonA pill-popping, over-caffeinated driver accidentally hits something. Panic-stricken, he searches for help in a strange and desolate town that offers very little in the form of human kindness.MY TWO CENTS: TWILIGHT ZONE-inspired short about a man who enters a town where everyone is mannequins... and they seem to only move when you don't look at them. It's twist ending is actually quite disturbing while being emotionally effective. 7
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/32198276[/link] - DirectorRodrigo GudiñoStarsShahla KareenTal ZimermanRichard UnderhillShot in the tradition of Alfred Hitchcock, THE EYES OF EDWARD JAMES tells the story of Edward, a patient regressed into the traumatic memory of the evening that his wife, Sarah, is brutally murdered. As his memory unfolds, however, it becomes apparent that Edward is not being completely honest with his doctor, just as Sarah was not being entirely honest with him on the night of her death.MY TWO CENTS: Hitchcockian tale told from the point of view of its main character, Edward James - are we seeing the man's memories, his fantasies, or perhaps even the future? Leaves much unanswered but in the most tantalizing and teasing manner. 8
WATCH IT: Unavailable - DirectorFaye JacksonStarsLara BelmontAnne BirdDominic BurgessEvery time Christine gets a lump removed, another appears. Increasingly disturbed, she begins to suspect her surgeon is a lot less benign than her tumours.MY TWO CENTS: Placeholder
WATCH IT: Unavailable
TRAILER: [link]https://vimeo.com/83893029[/link] - DirectorMike FlanaganStarsScott GrahamBrandyn FeldmanJoe WickerA man sets out to prove an antique mirror is haunted.MY TWO CENTS: Later adapted into a feature length film, the short works much better as it plays out like a creepy episode of the THE TWILIGHT ZONE with a high-concept premise: a man in one room with multiple video cameras tries to prove a mirror hosts an evil supernatural force. A little rough around edges but the material transcends its limitations. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxZuop1d3hc[/link] - DirectorSacha BennettStarsJohn SimmKate MagowanDylan BrownIn a lawless outpost in 17th Century England, the people have ceased to be God-fearing but learn to fear the Devil instead.MY TWO CENTS: Gothic horror film dealing with the devil - atmospheric but more subdued than thrilling. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4NAcvDDJHA[/link] - DirectorNick ChildsStarsDavid StrathairnNeal HuffTim GuineeWhen Paul Mullin discovers his neighbor digging a hole on the middle of the night, he writes it off as simply a bizarre encounter. Until the neighbor - and his wife - disappear. Paul calls on the local sheriff to help unearth the truth and finds out that in a small town some secrets are better left buried.MY TWO CENTS: Plays out like a cracker-jack episode of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/68299737[/link] - DirectorColin CunninghamStarsColin CunninghamDaniel BrodskyRon SauvéA man who lives in an old camper trailer, wakes up one morning to find himself rolling down a desert highway. Taken hostage aboard this rolling nightmare, he will have to use his wits in order to survive.MY TWO CENTS: A remake of the classic short film THE PHONE BOX. Naturally, it can't rival the classic, but it's an interesting spin on the narrative. 7
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/34764098[/link] - DirectorRodrigo GudiñoVincent MarconeStarsJulian RichingsAlan AldertonLea LawrynowiczThe film centers on an unusual photograph dating back to the 1930s. An investigation of its particulars reveals a tapestry of secrets hidden in the details, and a tale of kidnapping and murder captured in a haunting moment.MY TWO CENTS: A tale of mystery and horror told entirely through one photograph... that seems to change over time. Wildly creative, this is truly a one of a kind flick which was nominated for a Genie award (the Canadian Oscars). 9
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/67754224[/link] - DirectorHaritz ZubillagaStarsMarian ÁlvarezZoe BerriatúaNydia GarcíaFour young people camped with an old RV close to the road. Someone is pointing with rifle at them. When the sniper shoots, everything is stained with blood. A vacation day turns into a ghoulish nightmare of terror, sex, and death.MY TWO CENTS: A sniper terrorizes four people who are camping out in an RV. Simple premise yet absolutely harrowing. The ending is unexpected simply because it's both surreal and humorous, which is in stark contrast to the frightening realism that came before it. A real find. 8
WATCH IT: [link]http://vimeo.com/7269117[/link] - DirectorChris LavisMaciek SzczerbowskiStarsLaurie MaherExhausted and profoundly melancholic, anachronistic Madame Tutli-Putli wants to board a train. And, surrounded by a lifetime's worth of personal belongings, she waits patiently. Is she running away from her past?MY TWO CENTS: Animated with a grungy style, this hallucinatory journey of a woman on a train is fascinating as it seems to shift its narrative from drama to suspense to horror to experimental art, but it's a little too abstract to be fully satisfying. Nominated for an Oscar. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/17081933[/link] - DirectorNash EdgertonStarsNash EdgertonMirrah FoulkesChum EhelepolaA young man tries to make things right again in his relationship after he and his girlfriend get in a fight.MY TWO CENTS: This short has gained a sort of cult following thanks to an effective shock that comes out of nowhere - it got me and gets everyone to whom I show it. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/21037121[/link] - DirectorDavid PriorStarsEric LangeJohn BillingsleyRay WiseHaunted by recent events and on the run, a man finds himself the unwitting pawn of a possessed evangelical radio station and like his unfortunate predecessor must ask himself whether it is better to reign in hell than serve in heaven.MY TWO CENTS: Atmospheric mystery with an intriguing premise and an admittedly effective revelation in the end, but the build up ponderous rather than suspenseful. 6
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/102372269[/link] - DirectorRichard GaleStarsPaul ClemensBrian RohanMelissa PaladinoThe epic story of one man's encounter with what could be the most relentless murderer of all time.MY TWO CENTS: Absurdist horror film that features an evil entity reminiscent of the one from IT FOLLOWS but six years earlier and plays it for laughs - and, boy, what laughs! Richard Gale brilliantly sends up the horror genre! 9
WATCH IT: [link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VDvgL58h_Y[/link] - DirectorSpencer SusserStarsBrad AshbyMia WasikowskaVladimir MatovicJimbo is 13 and can think of only one girl -- Sarah Jane. And no matter what stands in his way-bullies, violence, chaos, or zombies-nothing will stop him from finding a way into her world.MY TWO CENTS: Coming-of-age drama disguised as a zombie film - an interesting combination that works. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/5124137[/link] - DirectorAndy MuschiettiStarsVictoria HarrisBerta RosIrma MonroigA young girl wakes up and tells her sister that their mother has returned home.MY TWO CENTS: Many horror shorts are an execution of a single idea rather than a story; this is one of those examples. However, despite having relatively no story, it's execution of its said idea is masterful. Told entirely in a single tale, this visually stylish short is certainly creepy and beautiful to behold, though it is marred by a shock ending which seems tonally out of place. 7
WATCH IT: [link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRqS6pBC42w[/link] - DirectorDavid VictoriStarsVanessa BuchacaSanti MillánDavid RamírezA man sees a woman who is beaten by her husband in the car. Decides to follow the car.MY TWO CENTS: A bleak thriller concerning a man trying to save a woman from her sadistic husband. Constantly tense and unconventional in how it plays out. 8
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/30848170[/link] - DirectorPaul GowersStarsBen CromptonBill ThomasLucy HoltA random act of malice sets in motion a domino run of coincidences and catastrophes turning one man's ordinary day into a living nightmare.MY TWO CENTS: A dark comedy of errors with some deliciously horrible twists occurring to our hapless hero. Quite fun. 7
WATCH IT: [link]https://vimeo.com/14388778[/link]