The Mime is the second-best series from the twisted mind of writer/director Alex Magana, with The Smiling Woman being well ahead of the completion.. The Mime is giving the haunted yellow dress a run for its money, though...and with The Mime 5, the silent and prone to overreacting street performer has matched The Smiling Woman at her creepiest. This one is a solid 10 out of 10 stars!
The Mime 5
Starring: Isabella Moore and Lindsey Shelton
Director: Alex Magana
Rating: Ten of Ten Stars
(As much as I enjoyed The Mime 5, I am starting to think that Magana, once in a while, needs to give us a surprise ending where the victim in his story does not die in the end. He's come close to it in a couple of films, but it might be even more horrifying to leave a victim alive and suffering every now and then.
Dylan Clark returns to Terror Titans with a film that seems fitting for a Sunday!
Portrait of God (2022)
Starring: Sydney Brumfield
Director: Dylan Clark
Rating: Nine of Ten Stars
A young woman (Brumfield) is preparing a presentation on a painting titled "Portrait of God". It's a mysterious work where some claim to see God in it while others only see blackness. Despite her strong religious convictions, she is in the second group. Or is she...?
"Portrait of God" is an atmospheric film that turns downright chilling in its final moments. While I may be in two minds about the ending, I can't deny that it's good. I just wanted a little more. Nonetheless, watching this is a good use of your time during this Halloween Season.
Five Minute Dating" is one of those films that is ruined if one says too much about it. So all I'm going to say is prepare to get your heart-strings tugged at. and keep in mind that this is horror film fest!5 Minute Dating (2010)
Starring: Gustavo Franko, Anne-Marie Caccio, and Pamela Farrauto
Director: Peter Hatch
Rating: Ten of Ten Stars
Will tonight's round of speed-dating lead to soulmates finding each other, or is it just another meat market?
When you've watched as many horror movies (short and long) as I have, nothing much seems all that surprising or fresh. "The Empty Room" is one of those rare films that kept me guessing until the end... and even then they added a minor twist that I didn't see coming at all. This is definitely a creepy film that will get that Halloween Spirit stirring in you.
The Empty Room (2025)
Starring: Maya Morales
Director: Ethan Hunt
Rating: Nine of Ten Stars
A young woman (Morales) finds herself locked in a room with a tablet warning her she is not alone.
I love music videos from the 1980s and early 1990s, because so many of them were mini-movies. The video for "Night Boat" in one such item. Plus, it's all mysterious and spooky, with young men wait for the arrival of a woman none of them have seen before on an isolated boat dock.
It's a great little nugget to help spur the Halloween Spirit in your vicinity.
It's been a few years since we last checked in with filmmaker David Fershtadt, but we noticed that he just released a new short film so now seemed like the perfect time. His supernatural domestic troubles are continuing... much to his detriment but for our entertainment.
We hope you enjoy this mini trip into mysterious moodiness as much as we did!
Starring: Jonathan Stephens Director: Vincent Dormani Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
A man unknowingly hangs a cursed painting in his home... and lives to regret it.
"Open Casket" is another excellent chiller from Vincent Domani. I could mention a few nitpicks about the film, but the good outweighs the bad so heavily that it would be unfair. The only real complaint I can make against this film is that it manages to maintain a creepy atmosphere and then turns outright horrorific at the climax... but then crashes and burns during the last few seconds. It's almost like Dormani was at a loss for how to end the film, so he went with the easiest no matter how nonsensical.
That aside, I still have to give this film the highest possible praise I can -- I want to know more. I want the backstory of the painting, why it is the way it is, and what happens with Stephens' character. Like I said above, despire my disappointment with tbhe ending, the good far outweighs the bad here.
This is one of the better short films I've come across built around the trope "kids f--- around and find out" with Ouija Boards. It's a slow burn, but the payoff is worth it. In fact, I don't think I've seen a short film of this sub-genre present a more perfect ending. Behind the generic title, awaits an excellent student film! (It's ten years old, so I hope the people involved went onto successful film careers... they certain had talent!)
Ouija Board (2013)
Starring: Mia Vera, Shaun Sutton, and Hannah Halvorson
Friday the 13th (2023) Starring: Amanda Worley, Sidney Gates, and Director: Alex Magana Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
It's not the greatest short film in the world, no. It's just a tribute.
In this two minute short, Alex Magana gives us a taste of the Friday the 13th slasher series, as well as a sampling of his own style... and some of the grisly humor that is often present in his films. I was having a hard time deciding how to observe a Friday the 13th during the 31 Nights of Halloween... and then this premiered on the ACM Official YouTube Channel!
It's just two minutes long, but you'll still get several great moments. Amanda Worley has the best of these, but almost everything here is perfectly timed. Check it out!
It makes sense that a filmmaker who's become something of a fixture during the 31 Nights of Halloween should be the one to provide the perfect tidbit, at just the right time! (Although I am starting to wonder how that parking garage stays open, what with the number of unsolved disappearances and brutal murders that happen there. It has to be the most dangerous place in the Maganaverse...)
And speaking of "Tribute"... after you watch the great Friday the 13th tribute, rock out to the song that the opening lines for this review are a tribute to.
If someone ever makes a Disney-style cartoon centered on Hades and his Underworld, they need to hire Voltaire to write the songs. They should even hire him to do Hades' voice and songs.
You need no further evidence that I am stating as fact that what you'll find in today's offering will get you into the Halloween Spirit! (As an added bonus, the animated video by Daria Cohen turns this into a sequel of sorts to last weeks Tuneful Tuesday feature.
A woman finds a walled-up, hidden room in her house that's full of life-like wax figures.
"Wax" is a brand-new release from family-run short film production company Buried Hatchet, and we're certain that you'll find the three or so minutes it'll take to watch it is time well spent. The only quibble I have with it is that I would have liked a wide shot of the secret room, and I would liked to see some profile two-shots of Aleman's character discovering and interacting with the main wax figure.
But my issues with the cinematography are minor when compared to the fact that this film has earned the greatest praise I can give to any short film or short story: I want to know the backstory of the secret room, the wax figures within it. (My desire to know more was made even stronger by the coffee cup Aleman's character examines in the room. Look closely at it and I'm sure you'll understand why.)
All it takes is a minute to provide viewers with top-notch horror entertainment... as tonight's offering proves beyond a shadow of a doubt. (It can also be a cautionary tale; it's dangerous to be alone at night, this close to Halloween... because you may not actually be alone!)
Alone (2020)
Starring: Anonymous Actress
Director: Shane P. Liao
Rating: Nine of Ten Stars
The only complaint I have with this film--which is not related to the excellence on the screen--is the lack of credits. Yes, it's only one minute long, but there's a bit of black at the very end where at the very least the main actress' name could have been provided. I like giving credit where credit is due... but it feels odd to say this film stars "The Sushi", because that's all the information I have from the video's YouTube description.)
The Do-Gooder (2022) Starring: Jennifer Buckley, Xhaania Wright, William Sibley, Azaa Sharavnyam Director: Alexander Henderson
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
Two teenagers (Buckley and Wright) get drawn into an increasingly mysterious situation after witnessing a menacing old man (Sibley) abusing a young woman (Sharavnvam)
I'm at the point in my life where it's not easy for filmmakers to surprise me. I've watched hundreds upon hundreds of horror films and thrillers, and it's rare that I come across a twist I haven't seen before, or even a combination of twists.
"The Do-Gooder", though, kept me guessing until the end. The various pieces of the plot were familiar, but it became increasingly evident that they were either arranged in a very unusual way, or they were not the familiar elements I took them to be. By the time the final fade took place, I was generally happy with what had just unfolded... and I even found myself hoping there would be a sequel.
The film was not without its flaws, though. Many scenes are a little underlit, I would have liked to see some three-shots here and there, and the script is a bit flabby at points, but the strong and unexpected ending makes up for whatever technical weaknesses I feel like griping about. In the final analysis, watching "The Do-Gooder" is time well spent.
Sometimes, a shifting shadow is just a trick of the light. Sometimes, a shifting shadow is something deadly. A woman (Sayied) will learn that her life depends on knowing one from the other.
"I Saw It" is a straight-forward little chiller, featuring that rarest of horror movie characters: One that isn't an idiot. The film further benefits from effective lighting, nice use of soundtrack music and sound, and great camerawork. The creature effects are also very nice.
This short film is also a perfect PSA for this time of year. We should all be aware that with the lengthening shadows come a higher instance of Shadow People breaking through to our world. We should all be on our guard, so we can avoid becoming victims!
"Everything comes full circle," Stuart Hamilton said of this 31 Nights of Halloween selection -- the final chapter in the Stuart Trilogy!
The Drawer (2022)
Starring: Stuart Hamilton
Director: Stuart Hamilton
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
A man (Hamilton), who just wants a quiet night at home to read a book, discovers a drawer that is a gateway to parallel universe.
The third and final installment in "The Stuart Trilogy" sees our beleaguered hero facing his greatest mystery and most dangerous challenge yet. How will he fare? Well... it will only take a couple of (fun) minutes for you to find out.
These three linked short films from by Stuart Hamilton (see the first one here, and the second one here, if you didn't watch them already) are fine viewing for the Halloween Season, because they are a neat mix of the fun and the frightening--just like the Big Night that is just five days away now!
Cartoon Cat (2021) Starring: Jack Satish Director: Raghav AK Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
An armed robber (Satish) escapes police pursuit by hiding out in an apparently abandoned building. He soon comes face-to-face with a strange creature that makes him wish he had surrendered to the police.
Cartoon Cat is an urban-legend type character that (I think) has been made Open-Source by its creator. This is one of several films that have been made over the past few years featuring the character, and it's one of the best. The effects merging live action and computer animation are great, as is the story. Jack Statish is also great as the robber who comes to regret his life's choices.
"Cartoon Cat" is equal parts action film, horror film, and comedy... and each part is equally well executed. Heck, this may well be the near-perfect Halloween short film--it's full of tricks AND treats!
A recent survey established that folding sheets is the least favorite housekeeping chore of 28 percent of American adults. Given the events in tonight's short film, I think Stuart would be among those people... if he had been asked. And if he had been capable of answering.
The Hamper (2021)
Starring: Stuart Hamilton
Director: Stuart Hamilton
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
A man (Hamilton) is enjoying a peaceful night at home when he receives a mysterious delivery...
(This is the second installment in a series of three short films that we've dubbed The Stuart Trilogy. Click here if you haven't seen the first one... and look for Part Three to show up on October 26 as we continue slouching toward the Big Night!)
Every so often, I come across a short film or a music video where I will spoil the experience if I say too much about what unfolds in it. This is one of those. I recommend sitting back and enjoying the hard-rocking instrumental tune and the ride with a guy (played by Kirk Enochs) who has a need for speed and a car with a need for fuel!
Sledge (2021) Starring: Kirk Enochs, Danielle Victoria, Galen Howard, and Anuradha Senevi Director: Djay Brawner Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
Dance with the Dead is a California-based duo who perform metal-tinged electronic music that's deeply rooted in darkness and horror. You can explore their catalogue here.
