Short Horror Films by Women to Stream Right Now

We know that we shared some of these for our “National Short Film Day” post, but we’re bringing them back to your attention this month! Here are some short films by Women that you’ll definitely want to check out. We suggest a deep dive into the actresses, directors and writers credits as well to find even more of their work!

Much like a short story, Short Films are bitesized nuggets of storytelling; they’re perfect when you want to take yourself out of reality for a short break, but don’t want to commit to a whole movie. Each of these flicks below leverages their minimal run time to the maximum potential, creating little capsules of heightened emotional impact. I personally find short films vastly more interesting sometimes than their feature length counterparts, because they have such a small space to captivate an audience and unravel an entire narrative. It is no easy feat to be able to deliver compelling dialogue, story, atmosphere, and garner empathy from your viewer in such a limited timeframe. I love the intensity with which they’re created in dark genres (fantasy, scifi, horror, and mystery.) It’s also pretty satisfying to be able to experience dozens of stories in the same amount of time the average feature presentation gives you. Who doesn’t want to immerse themselves in MORE COOL STORIES?! (Okay they’re not everyone’s jam, but that’s okay!) Please, enjoy the following short films I’ve selected to share with you! And I do recommend checking out the Final Girls Film Fest which is offering virtual screenings of both short and feature length films by women starting this week in February! (In person events will be in the fall, in Germany)

Content Warnings: Some of the short films below in this post may contain sensitive subject matter. We urge viewers to proceed with caution, and please care for your mental health if anything is too much or to triggering! Some films contain gore, violence, misogyny, sexual situations, violence, and may be difficult for some viewers to continue watching.

“Blood Runs Down”

Zandashe Brown

When a mother undergoes a frightening transition, her daughter must decide between saving her or protecting herself in this haunting account of inheritance, daughterhood, and demons. Written and Directed by Zandashé Brown Director of Photography - Zac Manuel Editor - Jalea Jackson Composer - Sultana Isham

“Wake”

Bree Newsome

Low-resolution screener. Not for distribution. WRITER/DIRECTOR BREE NEWSOME CAST SAHR ALI as Charmaine BENTON GREENE as the Man BUENA BATISTE WEBBER as the Demon PRINT SOURCE INFO Bree Newsome 646 335 3262 bree.newsome@gmail.com TAGLINE “The next time you sleep, it’s gon’ be your wake...” LOGLINE A repressed woman does away with her domineering father, freeing herself to pursue her heart’s desire. Using a local folk magic called “root work”, she conjures a demon to aid her in creating the man of her dreams. However, she soon finds herself in a waking nightmare. SYNOPSIS As the sun sets on a small 1930s town in rural eastern North Carolina, a gravedigger solemnlydisplaces the earth as the townsfolk gather for a wake in the house of recently deceased Ezra Giles, whose body lies in a casket at the front of the living room. From dusk to dawn, they will keep vigil over the body, singing and praying for its soul to make a peaceful transition to the other side. The church ushers interrupt their gossiping long enough to express condolences and pity for Ezra’s lone survivor, his aging daughter, Charmaine. After years of living like a hermit under her father’s tyrannical rule, Charmaine’s youthful charms have faded and she is surely doomed to live out her days as a lonely old maid in her father’s rotting house. But what the others perceive as her sorrow-- her slumped shoulders and lowered gaze-- is in actuality Charmaine’s attempt to conceal the flicker of deception in her eyes; for she knows their pity on her is misplaced and their prayers for her father’s soul are in vain. As she goes through all the ceremonial motions of the burial, tossing dirt onto the grave of the father she murdered, Charmaine makes a stealthy manuever to carry away some of her father’s graveyard dirt hidden in her handkerchief. Not content to simply pray for what she wants or to let nature take its course, Charmaine resorts to a local folk magic called “root-work”. Carrying the hanky of graveyard dirt and a mojo box of dolls, fetishes and charms, she heads deep into the woods, until she reaches a clearing where she forms a protective circle around herself using salt. She conjures up a tricky demon who appears to her in the form of a woman and promises to provide Charmaine with the man of her dreams in exchange for her father’s soul which is trapped among the graveyard dirt in Charmaine’s handkerchief. When the Man arrives, complete with a wedding ring, he is exactly what Charmaine imagined from his crisp, white linen suit to his deep green eyes. When the gossipy church ushers come nosing around, Charmaine stuns them all by showing off her suave, sophisticated husband, who tells everyone that he is a physician. She revels in the envy of all the women who laughed at her and called her an “old maid”. But just as Charmaine rejoices in having everything she wants, the Man’s eerie perfection gives way to horror and revulsion when he reveals his true nature. She again summons the demon asking for help but instead provokes a terrifying encounter. Reminding Charmaine that the Man is her “root work”, the demon in no uncertain terms informs her that if she wants to get rid of him she will have to do it herself. Refusing to be outdone, Charmaine serves the Man a poisoned glass of sweet tea and finds herself joined once again by the townsfolk for a wake in her living room, this time mourning the death of her husband. But as day breaks, Charmaine realizes that the Man is waking up. Terrfifed of being found out, she pretends to be overcome by grief and throws herself on the casket, bawling and begging for time alone. As soon as the room is empty, she slips out a back door, hellbound for the shed. Grabbing an axe, she charges into the living room and flings open the casket to find the Man staring at her with his smiling green eyes. WHAM! She brings the axe down on his head. But her horror melts away to bewilderment when she finds the casket is filled only with the dirt she used to make him. At the burial site, Charmaine tosses dirt over the Man’s grave, keeping none of it for herself this time, wanting no part of him to linger beyond the burial. But as the Reverend performs the rites, speaking about God’s creation of man from dust, Charmaine is overcome with sickness and vomits. The gossipy ushers eye each other knowingly. Months later, they come nosing around to find Charmaine in a rocking chair on her porch, barefoot with a swollen belly. In an exhausted daze, she rocks back and forth complaining about not being able to sleep because the baby inside her is “always kicking, always keeping me ‘wake.”

“Skintight”

Ciara Boniface

Set in a small Texas town, a young Black woman becomes the prey of a cult built on a secret that is skin-deep, with a Southern virtuous figure at its forefro...

“Suicide by Sunlight”

Nikyatu Jusu

Valentina, a day-walking Black vampire protected from the sun by her melanin, is forced to suppress her bloodlust to regain custody of her estranged daughter...

“The Stylist”

Jill Gevargizian

A psychopathic hairstylist collects scalps and wears them -- in an attempt to escape herself. "The Stylist" by Jill Gervargizian Subscribe to ALTER on YouTub...

“Invisible Friend”

Izzy Lee

Invisible Friend A boy's imaginary friend comes out to play. Directed, written & produced by Izzy Lee 1st Assistant Director: Michael J. Epstein 2nd Assistant Director: Diana Porter Cinematography: Michael J. Epstein Film & Sound Editor: Corey Norman Original Score: Timothy Fife Sound Mixer, Boom Operator & Gaffer: Sophia Cacciola Production Manager: J. Zocalo Production Assistant: Timothy Porter FX: Izzy Lee Starring Diana Porter & Benjamin Porter Copyright 2015, Nihil Noctem Films www.nihilnoctem.com https://www.facebook.com/nihilnoctemfilm @nihilnoctemfilm

“Monster”

Jennifer Kent

A single mother battles her son's fear of a monster in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.

“White Song”

Katrina Graham

“Persephone”

Lisa J Dooley

A young girl is buried alive with only a flashlight and pocketknife...but getting out is just the beginning. Directed By Lisa J. Dooley.A segment from FUN SI...

Film list compiled by Ellen Avigliano

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