For those of you who struggle with limited or diminished attention spans, we’ve got a recipe for quick, effective entertainment. It’s no secret that scintillating short films are produced on a near daily basis. Not every quick flick is a home run, but there are a staggering number of true A-class short features floating around the web, enough in fact to fill a full month’s 24/7 viewing and then some.
And in fact, many of the filmmakers you know today – Adam Green, Ti West, Darren Lynn Bousman, James Wan, to name a few – saw their careers properly kickstarted after assembling game-changing short films. Did you realize Saw was a terrifying short before it was ever a feature length pic? Did you realize Bousman pumped out a 10-minute rendition of Repo! The Genetic Opera two years before he got the official film under way?
Short films can be damn important, and some of these pictures being released and thriving on the festival circuit are being created by names that will be familiar to each of us in a few years time. The short film is one of the greatest ways to break into the industry, and that’s no longer a secret. It’s also why we’re seeing stronger and stronger shorts hit the market with each year that passes.
If you doubt the validity of this little cinematic sermon, take a look at the following 10 short films. Each and every one of these quickies is brilliant in one way or another, and they’re all worth more than a single viewing.
The Security Guards
The Security Guards is a very straightforward piece that unravels like a segment from an old issue of Tales from the Crypt (it’s slightly reminiscent of Issue #40). It’s never once played straight, loaded with goofy moments and over-the-top practical effects. But the real joy of it all is seeing Tiffany Shepis in action as a doomed woman driven by greed. Great flick for fans of silly 80s fare.
Attack of the Brainsucker
Sid Zanforlin’s Attack of the Brainsucker tells the tale of a young girl with an affinity for horror films and a wild imagination who begins to receive visits from the ghouls that she’s so obsessed with. Beautifully shot with some surprisingly impressive special effects, strong performances and a wonderfully campy throwback vibe that transitions into a dark and somewhat depressing finale, this ranks right up there with some of the finest and most emotionally complex short films shot within the genre. Top to bottom this one looks great, and the story never lets loose its grip on our imagination.
Friday the 13th: Bloodville
Sonny Fernandez is a talented dude who pieced together this ridiculous animated Friday the 13th fan film, and I can’t possibly be any more grateful! The short is clearly designed to appeal to the lighthearted (you can avoid it if you’re only interested in Oscar-worthy material) and keep you laughing while feeling a little nostalgic, but it’s also all about pure entertainment and genuine fun. If you’re a fan of Friday the 13th or animated works, you’re going to find Sonny’s work to be a serious blast.
Reaver
Another rare example of a short that’s worthy of being a feature, Reaver is an edgy, emotional picture with a big science fiction influence, a little conspiracy theorizing and a powerful closing sequence. Len LoBiondo does an excellent job in the director’s chair, but huge credit also belongs to Molo Alcocer Délano, who co-wrote the film with LoBiondo. This is a jarring story that puts faith and family love to the test. You can also look out for stellar performances from Kelly Blatz, Cassidy Boyd and Richard Burgi.
OCD
A man suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder finds himself losing a grasp on what’s real and what isn’t. The things he sees are terrifying, and the mash-up of jump scares and drawn out chills makes for a rewarding viewing experience. Director Steven Smith shows shades of Cronenberg here, and that’s enough to keep me curious about the man’s future.
Waterborne
This film really needs no breakdown. It’s about zombie kangaroos! They’ve even got their own nickname already – zombieroos! Waterborne isn’t as heavy on the humor as you may expect, but it still rocks… and it’s about zombieroos. What more can you possible ask for?
Thresher
Trapped in a lavish room, endlessly struggling to figure out the combination to the final lock still ensuring he exist as a prisoner, Thresher’s protagonist finds himself in an even more horrifying bind when he learns that he may not be safe on either side of that door. A stunning aesthetic quality really anchors the picture, but the Lovecraftian twist during the final moments completely sends it over the edge, and Nick Gregorio’s performance sure as hell doesn’t hurt the cause. Mike Diva and Sam Shapson are brilliant.
It’s Okay
Another extremely polished production makes the cut, as director Alex Kline puts his technical prowess on proud display. A respectable nod to J-horror, It’s Okay is a bare bones tale because that’s what it needs to be in order to produce the kind of payoff a moody production such as this rightfully deserves. A crisp image and smooth editing help the brief feature fly right by.
In the Tall Grass
Nadia Dubijansky and Alexii Muftoll join forces to create this mesmerizing animated short about a man struggling to climb from within himself. This one sports a truly haunting vibe, and the sound effects complement the visuals in a very extraordinary manner. This one isn’t what most would deem terrifying, but it is a brilliant piece of work that clearly saw a ton of work invested.
Gotcher
Gotcher is screaming for a full-length feature film transfer! This could genuinely be one of the next shorts that earns proper extension. There’s also the potential to create a genuinely frightening film menace to terrify the youngsters. It’s been some time since we’ve witnessed a truly great nemesis born on screen, but this nasty bastard could change that. Bruce Branit writes and directs this subtle but aesthetically pleasing piece that feels like a fitting hat tip to “The Twilight Zone.”