The horror scene has exploded in creativity over the past few years, and there’s no shortage of fresh ways to make your skin crawl. One of the quickest routes to a good fright is through short‑form cinema. Horror short films have surged in popularity during the last decade, cementing their place in Internet culture. With Halloween in full swing, let’s shine a light on these terrifying gems and explore the works that have sent shivers down viewers’ spines worldwide. Below are ten unforgettable horror shorts that will keep you up all night:
Top 10 Horror Short Films to Watch This Halloween
10 Alone Time (2014)
This 2014 horror‑thriller from director Rob Blackhurst follows Ann, a young woman overwhelmed by the relentless pace of New York City life. Stressed at work and home, she impulsively heads out for a solo hike, hoping the serenity of the mountains will recharge her. We watch her tranquil day in nature unfold—until she realizes something terribly off has been lurking the entire time.
The brilliance of Alone Time lies in its writing. It moves at a slow, quiet, and intelligent pace, coaxing the audience into a false sense of safety by using a relatable protagonist. There are no jump‑scares or ear‑splitting noises; instead, the twist alone delivers a spine‑tingling jolt, presenting a disturbingly realistic scenario that could happen to anyone.
9 I Heard It Too (2014)
Inspired by the infamous two‑sentence horror story, directors Matt Sears and Tim Knight bring to life one of the most bone‑chilling shorts ever made. I Heard It Too follows Stephanie, a little girl awakened in the dead of night by her mother’s voice echoing from downstairs. Confused, she climbs the stairs, only for her mother to seize her and whisper the haunting line, “I heard it too.” The film then embarks on a tense quest to uncover who—or what—was calling from below.
Matt Sears has built an impressive horror résumé with shorts like The Sky, Give Her Back, and the award‑winning Charlie Boy. Yet I Heard It Too stands out as his masterpiece, keeping viewers on edge from start to finish without ever letting up.
8 The Sermon (2018)
An isolated church community, led by an extremist preacher, captures and tortures a middle‑aged woman caught having an affair with another woman. The preacher’s daughter—who is the other woman—decides it’s time to break free from the sect’s draconian practices and devises a daring plan.
As a piece of psychological horror, The Sermon leaves a lasting impression. Director Dean Puckett delivers a fresh take reminiscent of Ari Aster’s Hereditary and Midsommar, wrapped in a gorgeous vintage aesthetic that immerses viewers in a densely atmospheric world. The film pulls no punches, and its underlying message is as unsettling as the horror itself.
7 STUCCO (2019)
This unsettling short was written, directed, and starred Janina Gavankar (Star Wars, True Blood, The Morning Show) as J, an agoraphobic, emotionally shattered woman who accidentally punches a hole in the wall while hanging artwork. She discovers the wall conceals a secret room, but chooses not to break through further. While awaiting the house’s original blueprints, strange events begin to unfold, and the possibilities of what lies behind the wall start to dominate J’s thoughts.
Gavankar’s debut earned the SXSW 2020 Special Jury Prize and garnered praise for both her script and performance. STUCCO is raw, unapologetic, and as unconventional as a film can be—a standout entry in contemporary psychological horror. Don’t miss it!
6 There Comes A Knocking (2019)
Emma, a grieving widow navigating the recent loss of her husband John, installs a new antique door in her home. After finishing, she discovers the door is locked—a detail she missed during installation—and she cannot open it without a key. She decides to postpone dealing with it until morning, but that night she is jolted awake by mysterious knocks coming from the other side of the door.
There Comes A Knocking was penned and directed by Ryan Connolly, the beloved creator of the Film Riot YouTube channel, and serves as a concept blueprint for a potential feature film. The short thrives on its emotional depth, making viewers empathize with Emma’s sorrow while delivering striking visuals and top‑tier acting. When the creep factor arrives, it hits the mark without missing a beat.
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5 The Jester (2016)
An exhausted young man returns home from a late‑night Halloween shift and encounters a mysterious figure dressed as a jester who insists on performing magic tricks for him. Initially humoring the stranger, the man soon discovers the tricks grow increasingly sinister, leading to a terrifying cat‑and‑mouse game as he realizes the jester is far from what he seems.
The Jester is a blast. Director‑actor Colin Crawchuck delivers an insanely entertaining short, featuring a terrifying masked antagonist who, despite never speaking, exudes such charisma that viewers can’t help but feel a twisted affection for him. The jester feels like an unstoppable, mystical force whose unpredictable behavior keeps audiences perched on the edge of their seats.
Thanks to its massive popularity, The Jester spawned two sequels—The Jester: Chapter 2 and The Jester: Chapter 3—both executed with the same flair as the original. Enjoy!
4 Larry (2017)
This brilliant short from director Jacob Chase follows Joe, a nighttime parking‑lot attendant plagued by boredom. Alone in his booth during the night, Joe discovers an old iPad hidden in the Lost‑and‑Found box beneath his desk and decides to take a peek. The iPad reveals the disturbing tale of Larry, a depressed monster living behind a window, yearning for a true friend. As Joe reads, something begins to stir outside the booth, suggesting Larry is coming to visit his newfound companion.
The film’s power stems from its claustrophobic atmosphere. The entire story unfolds within Joe’s tiny booth, which also serves as the sole light source. When that light flickers, all bets are off. Larry is a must‑watch, and fans will be thrilled to learn it inspired the feature film Come Play, starring Community’s Gillian Jacobs, slated for a theatrical release this Halloween.
3 The Smiling Man (2015)
First, a quick clarification: this award‑winning Smiling Man was directed by A.J. Briones and follows an unnamed little girl who, while home alone, discovers a meticulous arrangement of balloons throughout the house. As she follows the balloons downstairs, she comes face‑to‑face with a terrifying entity known only as the Smiling Man.
There are no words to capture the anxiety‑inducing nightmare this creature creates. It ranks among the most frightening horror beings of recent memory and could become a new icon of the genre if ever adapted into a feature. The Smiling Man leaves an indelible impression that lingers long after the credits roll.
2 Behind (2015)
This incredibly clever Japanese short, directed by Rick Kawanaka, follows a young woman working on her computer at home who becomes unsettled when the door behind her repeatedly opens on its own. After repeatedly getting up to close it, her nerves fray, prompting her to switch on her webcam to discover exactly what’s happening behind her.
In classic J‑horror fashion, Behind serves as a masterclass in escalating tension, with each second feeling more uncomfortable than the last. It leverages a simple premise to its fullest potential within mere minutes. Its success sparked the Alone In The House series, which curates similarly chilling short films.
1 Lights Out (2013)
There it is—the modern classic. Lights Out follows a woman about to crawl into bed when a dark silhouette appears in the hallway as she flips the switch. Startled, she toggles the light on and off, only to realize the figure materializes only in darkness and moves when she can’t see it.
This short broke the internet in 2013. Director David F. Sandberg’s career skyrocketed, leading to a feature‑length version in 2016 and later directing blockbusters like Annabelle: Creation and Shazam! Lights Out is widely hailed as the ultimate horror short, its simple yet brilliant concept still spooking audiences today. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out.
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