By BRYAN CHRISTOPHER
Bonjour short horror connoisseurs, I hope you have an appetite for a new batch of short horror flicks! On the menu this month we have a decent into madness with some vintage energy, a bus stop with some seriously spooky vibes, and a very unpredictable encounter in a dark forest late at night.
Bon appétit, and as always, if you or anyone you know have a short film you’d like me to consider or if you’ve got some news you’d like to share in the short horror world, please contact me via Twitter or email me at remedialhorror@gmail.com!
The Night Jane Went Insane (2023)
Length: 7:26 minutes Director: Zach Lorkiewicz Starring: Brinke Stevens, Michelle Bauer, and Linnea Quigley
I’ve featured director Zach Lorkiewicz several times in this column because he always brings something different to the table, from horror comedy to found footage to experimental horror. This time around, Lorkiewicz gives a retro vibe as a woman named Jane (Brinke Stevens) starts picking up on a subliminal signal coming through her television. As she starts getting lost in the experience, Lorkiewicz revels in a surreal, late ’70s/early ’80s aesthetic that plays like a fever dream. This one probably pairs well with a nice quaalude.
Where to find it: Making the festival rounds. Check out the trailer here
Bus Stop (2023)
Length: 13:09 minutes Director: Zora Cielle Anri Starring: Joshua Shea, Poppie Boyes
Zora Cielle Anri gives us a modern day blend of fairy tale and ghost story as young Holden (Joshua Shea) waits at a bus stop late at night where he is joined by a mysterious girl (Poppie Boyes). The two strike up a conversation, but Holden becomes more and more disconcerted as the girl’s conversation becomes increasingly cryptic and he begins seeing flashes of specters popping up around the bus stop. Soon her talk turns to a monster that lurks in the darkness, and we start to wonder just how the girl wound up at the stop in the first place, and if Holden might suffer a similar fate. There is a somberness that permeates the film, giving it an almost melodic, dreamlike quality that matches the ephemeral nature of the tale.
Where to find it: Streaming on YouTube
The Perfect Place to Cry (2023)
Length: 6:30 minutes Director: Shane Bannon Starring: Celina Bernstein, Kevin Owyang
When a young woman (Celina Bernsteain) finds an isolated patch of forest to cry it out after a breakup, she stumbles on a brutal murder being committed by a mysterious man with a baseball bat (Kevin Owyang). If you think you know where things are going from here, I can pretty much guarantee you don’t. I absolutely love the curveball Shane Bannon throws in what seems like a pretty typical horror premise, shifting into something that becomes oddly emotional while still hanging on to a sense of dread, utter weirdness, and even a dash of humor. It’s a testament to the interesting ways to play with the short horror format.
Where to find it: Making the festival rounds. Check out the trailer here
