Summary
Horror films have a way of pinning audiences to the edge of their seats and engrossing them in terrifying tales of monsters and mayhem, transforming an otherwise mundane hour into something truly unsettling. But the beauty of the horror genre is that films don’t have to be particularly long or complex to root themselves deeply into the minds of their viewers.
In fact, some short films are so gripping that they’re actually scarier than feature-length titles. To showcase some of these amazing miniaturized works of art, we’ve collected a sampling of some of thebest horror shortsthat the Internet has to offer.
Updated November 26th, 2024, by Rachael Phillips: Decades on from the invention of film, horror remains one of the most popular movie genres. Horror shorts are a growing form of media, capturing the attention of fans by impressively packing all the captivating elements of feature-length films into a viewing time of under 40 minutes. Developers' ability to squeezegripping storytelling, horrifying visuals, and visceral scaresinto such a limited timeframe often means that horror shorts are actually more effective than their feature-length counterparts. Despite low budgets and limited crews, these are some of thebest horror shortsthat blow feature-length horror films out of the water.
22The Cat With Hands
A Disturbing Stop Motion Film
Those that are looking for something just as visually creepy as it is tense should take a look atThe Cat With Hands.It’s a rather short offering at just under 4 minutes (not including the credits) but it manages to pack some seriously creepy moments into its run time.
What sets it apart from other short films on this list is its supremely jarring visuals, which take somewhat realistic sights and morph them into something sinister with fairy-tale-like effects. The end result is a nightmare for the eyes, with erratic movements and a clay-like quality that should stick with viewers long after the credits roll.
21Salt
What If A Circle Of Salt Was Your Only Protection?
One thing that makes a horror film great is suspense, andSaltmanages to keep viewers on the edge of their seats for its entire 2-minute runtime. It’s smart,plays on traditional horror tropes, and manages to stay exciting from the moment it starts to its climactic ending.
The fast-paced action, gorgeous visuals, and great acting should keep even the most established horror fans on their toes, guessing what will happen next. This is the type of short offering that could be adapted into a large-scale feature film, considering its premise and design.
20Peter The Penguin
A Horrifying Twist On A Childhood Belief
There is something terrifying about an otherwise normal situation turning into something truly unsettling.Peter The Penguinis a great example of this type of twist, starting out with something rather wholesome and quickly devolving into pure insanity. It’s the type of short that completely subverts viewers' expectations and leaves them trying to sift through the wreckage of what they’ve just witnessed.
Peter the Penguinis part comedy, part horror, and underlines all of it with a rapidly building tension that culminates in a twist that will leave viewers confused and horrified.
19Bedfellows
The Origin Of A Viral Internet Scare
Bedfellowsgained notoriety online shortly after it was created, with many people scaring their friends and family with the incredibly unsettling reveal. It is incredibly short but builds tension like a feature-length movie.
A woman receives a phone call late at night and answers it in a tired stupor. The voice she hears on the other end is the last person she’d expect, causing theseemingly innocent storyto tumble rapidly down a dark and sinister path.Bedfellowsis an edge-of-your-seat horror in a bite-sized format.
18Alexia
A Cautionary Tale About Obsession, Grief, & Technology
Easily one of the most relevant entries on this list,Alexiais a short Spanish tale of one man’s unhealthy obsession with the memorial of a loved one via social media. There are so many people around the world that are closely connected with their social media accounts, with some doing the same things as the main character in this short film.
Slow at the start, but quickly devolving into something truly horrifying,Alexiais a gripping horror short that is sure to make viewers jumpy.
17The Black Hole
A Horror Short About The Consequences Of Greed
Horror doesn’t need to feature monsters or supernatural creatures to be terrifying. Sometimes, all it takes is a seemingly playful concept and a twist that turns things from sci-fi fantasy to a thrilling horror short.
The man inThe Black Holefinds himself in possession of an incredibly useful (albeit a bitLooney Tunes) object that has him helping himself to some snacks from a vending machine. Things take a dark turn, however, when the man gets a bit too greedy and learns a valuable lesson that he might just take to the grave.
16White With Red
Brings A Classic Creepypasta To Life
Some of the best horror shorts are adaptations of famous folk stories or creepypastas. The concept ofWhite With Redhas been floating around Internet forums and campfires for years as its own chilling tale but turns into something truly horrific in this beautifully crafted short film.
When it comes to horror, visuals can make or break a story and the creators did a fantastic job of capturing the essence of this iconic legend. The end result is just as visually unsettling as it is through spoken word.
15Behind The Door
A Strong Endorsement For “Stranger-Danger”
Behind The Doortosses audiences directly into the thick of things, starting with a look at an unknown entity frantically trying to gain entry into a young boy’s house. What follows is a tense exchange between the terrified boy and whatever evil lurks outside the doorway.
This short, three-minute film is smart, paying homage to a classic horror trope while simultaneously teaching viewers an important lesson. People should always think before they speak, even if their hearts are racing.
14Alma
A Not-So-Innocent Animated Short
There are few things more terrifying than the naivety of children. Too young to understand some of the dangers that lurk around every corner,kids finding themselves embroiled in dangeris an understandably common trope in the horror genre.
Alma, an animated short film, showcases this naivety to great effect when a young girl wanders into a seemingly empty shop to grab a doll that’s caught her eye. There’s no dialogue or immensely scary monsters;Almais simply a horrific prospect brought to life through masterful storytelling and beautiful visual design.
13Doppelganger
Who To Trust…
Daywalt Horror has been crafting scares for years now, bringing their interesting and entertaining brand of spooks to their dedicated YouTube audience.Doppelgangeris easily one of their best, taking a seemingly normal trip home and twisting it into something truly sinister.
When a woman receives a call from her husband and instructions not to go home, she begins to have an inward struggle with herself and must come to grips with what’s the truth and what’s a lie. It’s smart, engaging, horrifying, and comes complete with a few great twists.
