CategoryShort Films
Horror short films — festival winners, proof-of-concept scares and first-time directors.
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DocumentariesEventsFilm FestivalsForeignIndieMoviesNewsShort FilmsThriller
Columbus, Ohio’s Nightmares Film Festival enters its second decade with a mouth-watering selection of fabulous fear fare from October 15–18, 2026. From occult terror to home invasion horror to intriguing documentaries and beyond, the fest has something for horror fans of all stripes. Following is the official press release. Nightmares Film Festival (Oct. 15 to 18) today revealed its 2026 program, opening its second decade with a celebration of the boldest, freshest and most surprising work keeping genre dangerous. “It’s our eleventh year, but we’re thinking of this as year one of a new decade of Nightmares,” said co-founders Jason Tostevin. “We’re celebrating the innovation, imagination and camaraderie that fuel the best of genre film.” Dubbed the “Cannes of horror” (iHorror), Nightmares is part summer camp for horror lovers, part annual reunion for some of the world’s top genre creators. Taking over the world-renowned Gateway Film Center, the festival will bring fans, filmmakers, screenwriters, press and industry reps together for
Continue reading →
AdaptationMoviesNewsShort Films
Lily Collias (Cape Fear) has been tapped to star in Ignore It, the upcoming feature film adaptation of creator Sam Evenson’s viral YouTube horror short, Variety reports. Backed by Anton and Temple Hill Entertainment, the film is a powerhouse production from the team behind Smile. The creature feature marks Evenson’s feature directorial debut. It will […]
Continue reading →
DocumentariesEventsFilm FestivalsMoviesNewsSci-FiShort FilmsThriller
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, takes place June 3–14, 2026 in New York City, and plenty of horror, thriller, and science fiction offerings are on tap. Here are five features and one short film that have our attention here at Horror Fuel. Film descriptions and information are from the Tribeca website and official press announcements. Keep watching for our Tribeca reviews once the fest gets rolling! Turn It Up! An indie rock band struggling to make its mark finds a possible meal ticket in an infectious new guitar riff. Unfortunately, it’s also a cursed melody that just so happens to open a portal to another, much scarier dimension. (Our featured image for this article is from Turn It Up!.) Director: Sam Scott Writers: Sam Scott and Gwenlyn Cumyn Cast: Gwenlyn Cumyn, Justine Nelson, Xavier Lopez, Julian Richings Genre: Comedy, Horror, LGBTQIA+, Science Fiction https://tribecafilm.com/films/turn-it-up-2026 Crooks After Faye and Johnny stick up a local gangster’s poker
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EventsFilm FestivalsForeignIndieMoviesNewsShort Films
Portland Horror Film Festival holds its 11th annual edition from June 3-7, 2026, at Portland, Oregon’s Hollywood Theatre and Clinton Street Theater. The fest also offers a virtual version for those who wish to watch from the comfort of their homes. Either way, you’ll be treated to a top-notch selection of scare fare from around the world. Following is the official press announcement. The 11th annual Portland Horror Film Festival returns June 3-7, 2026, bringing five days of independent and international horror cinema to Portland’s historic Hollywood Theatre and Clinton Street Theater. This year’s festival will feature a special 45th Anniversary screening of My Bloody Valentine with director George Mihalka and Rue Morgue Executive Editor and “Faculty of Horror” co-host Andrea Subissati, and a live performance by Aurelio Voltaire, alongside a massive lineup of feature films, short films, premieres, and special events celebrating the best in contemporary horror filmmaking. Known as Portland’s premier festival dedicated to all genres of independent
Continue reading →
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Screenland Armour and Downright Creepy present Panic Fest 2026, which kicks off March 9–13, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. With nearly 150 features, long form shorts, and short films on tap, there is plenty to choose from. I have had an early peek at the following shorts and can recommend that fright-fare aficionados put them on their need-to-see lists. Following are the official Panic Fest descriptions for the shorts. Click the links for more information, including tickets. The Scene (director Daniel Meyers) With the hope of discovering a new lead, a detective revisits the scene of his partner’s brutal murder. Yet, the longer he stays, the harrowing truth begins to reveal itself . . . Link below includes a trailer. Our featured image for this article is from The Scene. https://panicfest.eventive.org/films/69ab1fb0d0cabe43751e0592 Hell’s Half-Acre: Sojourn (director Nicholas Nicastro) Hell’s Half-Acre is a true-crime Western inspired by the haunting case of the Bloody Benders — America’s first family of serial killers. Set
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Film FestivalsMoviesReviewsShort Films
What Happened to Dorothy Bell? An interesting investigation of familial trauma and mental illness through a horror lens, What Happened to Dorothy Bell? uses a combination of vintage-style footage (not found footage, to clarify, although the approach is similar) and present-day proceedings. Protagonist Ozzie (Asya Meadows) was attacked when she was a child by her titular grandmother (Arlene Arnone Bibbs). Now a young adult, Ozzie searches for answers to why that happened and also about her grandmother’s disappearance. As might be expected with a family as the focus in a horror film, skeletons lurk in the closet and the supernatural may well be at play. What Happened to Dorothy Bell? has the feel of a gateway horror film, with its surprises and shocks not approaching very scary levels nor reveling in gory effects work. Lingering shots of rooms in which something may or may not happen in the background and noises from other rooms make for most of the suspenseful
Continue reading →
MoviesNewsProductShort Films
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products has unleashed a ghoulishly good surprise for fans of the iconic Tim Burton film. A monster number of new Beetlejuice Beetlejuice collections are coming soon, promising to bring a touch of the Netherworld to everyday life. These collections will surely delight fans of all ages. It features designs inspired by the film’s most beloved characters, including the otherworldly sandworm and Beetlejuice’s signature black-and-white suit. Get ready to add a spooky twist to your wardrobe, home decor, and more. There will be unique ready-to-wear apparel from fashion designer Rodarte. Let’s not forget the exquisite jewelry collection from Fabergé, the latter designed in partnership with Tim Burton and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice costume designer Colleen Atwood. Saks will debut an immersive window display at its iconic New York flagship store (later in August). Colleen Atwood also designed a “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” inspired fashion collection for retailer Primark, offering something for every fan. Amazon also has a dedicated product page
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsSci-FiShort Films
Electrophilia (Los Impactados) Argentinian feature Electrophilia touches on body horror and eroticism involving electricity but never goes full-on with these themes, instead feeling more like a character study of its protagonist, veterinarian Amanda (Mariana Di Girólamo). The young woman is struck by lightning and after she recovers from a six-week coma, she begins to feel changes that have happened to her mind and now-scarred body. She falls in with a group of lightning-strike survivors under the care of Juan (Germán Palacios), a doctor who uses unorthodox methods to treat those under his care, and begins an affair with him. Amanda develops sexual kinks related to electrical charges and shocks, worrying her significant other Jano (Guillermo Pfening). Director Lucía Puenzo, who cowrote the screenplay with Lorean Ventimigila, leaves viewers hanging with plot points that seem to have no resolution, such as Jano secretly going into Juan’s office and finding the doctor’s file on Amanda but then that scene not being addressed
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
Indera (Malaysia, 2024) Although Malaysian horror Indera is, according to the official film description, “set against the backdrop of the violent Memali Incident in 1985,” director Ming Jin Woo’s feature should work fine for viewers with little-to-no prior knowledge of the event. Handyman Joe (Shaheizy Sam) does his best to raise his young daughter Sofia (Samara Kenzo) after her mother (Ashira Shafinaz) — who was also his wife — died in a tragic accident. Penniless and evicted, Joe takes on the position of caretaker for an older Javanese woman (Ruminah Sidek) who is raising three young orphans. The locals give the woman a wide berth for mysterious reasons. Fans of supernatural cinema should find plenty to be impressed with here, with top-notch performances from the main cast members, and although Indera contains some tried-and-true horror tropes, it puts an intriguing local flavor on matters, and Woo directs with a fine sense of building mystery and delivering chills. Help, I’m Alien
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesReviewsShort Films
Listen Carefully (U.S., 2024) Writer/director/star Ryan Barton-Grimley’s feature Listen Carefully follows a harrowing night in the life of Assistant Bank Manager Andy (Barton-Grimley), and it’s an entertaining, sometimes head-scratching, ride. As Andy’s wife Allie (Simone Barton-Grimley) skeptically leaves her husband in charge of their baby for a girl’s night out with his promise that he will prioritize the wellbeing of their child ahead of his work from home, Andy’s job anxiety becomes the least of his worries after the baby is kidnapped. A mysterious voice (Ari Schneider, who costarred with with Ryan Barton-Grimley in the latter’s writing/directing feature Hawk and Rev: Vampire Slayers) on the other end of a baby monitor sends Andy on a wild quest to gather enough money — in an illicit, dangerous manner — for ransom. Listen Carefully sends both Andy and viewers down a path in which reality and dreams intermingle to the point of being unsure which is which. Ryan Barton-Grimley keeps Andy’s anxiety
Continue reading →
More from Short Films
DocumentariesEventsFilm FestivalsForeignIndieMoviesNewsShort FilmsThriller
Columbus, Ohio’s Nightmares Film Festival enters its second decade with a mouth-watering selection of fabulous fear fare from October 15–18, 2026. From occult terror to home invasion horror to intriguing documentaries and beyond, the fest has something for horror fans of all stripes. Following is the official press release. Nightmares Film Festival (Oct. 15 to 18) today revealed its 2026 program, opening its second decade with a celebration of the boldest, freshest and most surprising work keeping genre dangerous. “It’s our eleventh year, but we’re thinking of this as year one of a new decade of Nightmares,” said co-founders Jason Tostevin. “We’re celebrating the innovation, imagination and camaraderie that fuel the best of genre film.” Dubbed the “Cannes of horror” (iHorror), Nightmares is part summer camp for horror lovers, part annual reunion for some of the world’s top genre creators. Taking over the world-renowned Gateway Film Center, the festival will bring fans, filmmakers, screenwriters, press and industry reps together for
Continue reading →
AdaptationMoviesNewsShort Films
Lily Collias (Cape Fear) has been tapped to star in Ignore It, the upcoming feature film adaptation of creator Sam Evenson’s viral YouTube horror short, Variety reports. Backed by Anton and Temple Hill Entertainment, the film is a powerhouse production from the team behind Smile. The creature feature marks Evenson’s feature directorial debut. It will […]
Continue reading →
DocumentariesEventsFilm FestivalsMoviesNewsSci-FiShort FilmsThriller
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, takes place June 3–14, 2026 in New York City, and plenty of horror, thriller, and science fiction offerings are on tap. Here are five features and one short film that have our attention here at Horror Fuel. Film descriptions and information are from the Tribeca website and official press announcements. Keep watching for our Tribeca reviews once the fest gets rolling! Turn It Up! An indie rock band struggling to make its mark finds a possible meal ticket in an infectious new guitar riff. Unfortunately, it’s also a cursed melody that just so happens to open a portal to another, much scarier dimension. (Our featured image for this article is from Turn It Up!.) Director: Sam Scott Writers: Sam Scott and Gwenlyn Cumyn Cast: Gwenlyn Cumyn, Justine Nelson, Xavier Lopez, Julian Richings Genre: Comedy, Horror, LGBTQIA+, Science Fiction https://tribecafilm.com/films/turn-it-up-2026 Crooks After Faye and Johnny stick up a local gangster’s poker
Continue reading →
EventsFilm FestivalsForeignIndieMoviesNewsShort Films
Portland Horror Film Festival holds its 11th annual edition from June 3-7, 2026, at Portland, Oregon’s Hollywood Theatre and Clinton Street Theater. The fest also offers a virtual version for those who wish to watch from the comfort of their homes. Either way, you’ll be treated to a top-notch selection of scare fare from around the world. Following is the official press announcement. The 11th annual Portland Horror Film Festival returns June 3-7, 2026, bringing five days of independent and international horror cinema to Portland’s historic Hollywood Theatre and Clinton Street Theater. This year’s festival will feature a special 45th Anniversary screening of My Bloody Valentine with director George Mihalka and Rue Morgue Executive Editor and “Faculty of Horror” co-host Andrea Subissati, and a live performance by Aurelio Voltaire, alongside a massive lineup of feature films, short films, premieres, and special events celebrating the best in contemporary horror filmmaking. Known as Portland’s premier festival dedicated to all genres of independent
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesShort Films
Screenland Armour and Downright Creepy present Panic Fest 2026, which kicks off March 9–13, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. With nearly 150 features, long form shorts, and short films on tap, there is plenty to choose from. I have had an early peek at the following shorts and can recommend that fright-fare aficionados put them on their need-to-see lists. Following are the official Panic Fest descriptions for the shorts. Click the links for more information, including tickets. The Scene (director Daniel Meyers) With the hope of discovering a new lead, a detective revisits the scene of his partner’s brutal murder. Yet, the longer he stays, the harrowing truth begins to reveal itself . . . Link below includes a trailer. Our featured image for this article is from The Scene. https://panicfest.eventive.org/films/69ab1fb0d0cabe43751e0592 Hell’s Half-Acre: Sojourn (director Nicholas Nicastro) Hell’s Half-Acre is a true-crime Western inspired by the haunting case of the Bloody Benders — America’s first family of serial killers. Set
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesReviewsShort Films
What Happened to Dorothy Bell? An interesting investigation of familial trauma and mental illness through a horror lens, What Happened to Dorothy Bell? uses a combination of vintage-style footage (not found footage, to clarify, although the approach is similar) and present-day proceedings. Protagonist Ozzie (Asya Meadows) was attacked when she was a child by her titular grandmother (Arlene Arnone Bibbs). Now a young adult, Ozzie searches for answers to why that happened and also about her grandmother’s disappearance. As might be expected with a family as the focus in a horror film, skeletons lurk in the closet and the supernatural may well be at play. What Happened to Dorothy Bell? has the feel of a gateway horror film, with its surprises and shocks not approaching very scary levels nor reveling in gory effects work. Lingering shots of rooms in which something may or may not happen in the background and noises from other rooms make for most of the suspenseful
Continue reading →
MoviesNewsProductShort Films
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products has unleashed a ghoulishly good surprise for fans of the iconic Tim Burton film. A monster number of new Beetlejuice Beetlejuice collections are coming soon, promising to bring a touch of the Netherworld to everyday life. These collections will surely delight fans of all ages. It features designs inspired by the film’s most beloved characters, including the otherworldly sandworm and Beetlejuice’s signature black-and-white suit. Get ready to add a spooky twist to your wardrobe, home decor, and more. There will be unique ready-to-wear apparel from fashion designer Rodarte. Let’s not forget the exquisite jewelry collection from Fabergé, the latter designed in partnership with Tim Burton and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice costume designer Colleen Atwood. Saks will debut an immersive window display at its iconic New York flagship store (later in August). Colleen Atwood also designed a “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” inspired fashion collection for retailer Primark, offering something for every fan. Amazon also has a dedicated product page
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsSci-FiShort Films
Electrophilia (Los Impactados) Argentinian feature Electrophilia touches on body horror and eroticism involving electricity but never goes full-on with these themes, instead feeling more like a character study of its protagonist, veterinarian Amanda (Mariana Di Girólamo). The young woman is struck by lightning and after she recovers from a six-week coma, she begins to feel changes that have happened to her mind and now-scarred body. She falls in with a group of lightning-strike survivors under the care of Juan (Germán Palacios), a doctor who uses unorthodox methods to treat those under his care, and begins an affair with him. Amanda develops sexual kinks related to electrical charges and shocks, worrying her significant other Jano (Guillermo Pfening). Director Lucía Puenzo, who cowrote the screenplay with Lorean Ventimigila, leaves viewers hanging with plot points that seem to have no resolution, such as Jano secretly going into Juan’s office and finding the doctor’s file on Amanda but then that scene not being addressed
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
Indera (Malaysia, 2024) Although Malaysian horror Indera is, according to the official film description, “set against the backdrop of the violent Memali Incident in 1985,” director Ming Jin Woo’s feature should work fine for viewers with little-to-no prior knowledge of the event. Handyman Joe (Shaheizy Sam) does his best to raise his young daughter Sofia (Samara Kenzo) after her mother (Ashira Shafinaz) — who was also his wife — died in a tragic accident. Penniless and evicted, Joe takes on the position of caretaker for an older Javanese woman (Ruminah Sidek) who is raising three young orphans. The locals give the woman a wide berth for mysterious reasons. Fans of supernatural cinema should find plenty to be impressed with here, with top-notch performances from the main cast members, and although Indera contains some tried-and-true horror tropes, it puts an intriguing local flavor on matters, and Woo directs with a fine sense of building mystery and delivering chills. Help, I’m Alien
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesReviewsShort Films
Listen Carefully (U.S., 2024) Writer/director/star Ryan Barton-Grimley’s feature Listen Carefully follows a harrowing night in the life of Assistant Bank Manager Andy (Barton-Grimley), and it’s an entertaining, sometimes head-scratching, ride. As Andy’s wife Allie (Simone Barton-Grimley) skeptically leaves her husband in charge of their baby for a girl’s night out with his promise that he will prioritize the wellbeing of their child ahead of his work from home, Andy’s job anxiety becomes the least of his worries after the baby is kidnapped. A mysterious voice (Ari Schneider, who costarred with with Ryan Barton-Grimley in the latter’s writing/directing feature Hawk and Rev: Vampire Slayers) on the other end of a baby monitor sends Andy on a wild quest to gather enough money — in an illicit, dangerous manner — for ransom. Listen Carefully sends both Andy and viewers down a path in which reality and dreams intermingle to the point of being unsure which is which. Ryan Barton-Grimley keeps Andy’s anxiety
Continue reading →
