A curated collection of independent horror short films, featuring hand-picked short horror films from emerging filmmakers.
Playback
Directed by Maksym Varenyk
Cast: Christian Carrigan, Judson Emery, and Krystal Ellsworth
Recommended by Buried Films (23 Films)
Hand-picked short horror films curated by Buried Films. This selection rotates regularly, spotlighting standout work that blows us away.
The Smiling Man
A little girl home alone finds herself face-to-face with pure evil.
The Backrooms
An analog horror series revolving around a mysterious alternate dimension known as the Backrooms.
There Comes a Knocking
A grieving woman installs an antique door into her home, which opens herself up to the other side.
Lights Out
When you are all alone in a small dark room, what do you fear the most? Is it the temporary blindness or is it the uneasy deep feeling that someone, or rather something, is observing your every move?
Catcher
In the short horror film Catcher from Dylan Clark, using a special device, a boy must confront and erase his recurring nightmare. If you haven't watched any of Dylan's past work, like Portrait of God, you're missing out. The team behind this short film is incredible!
Every Night I See Them
A man does everything in his power to not fall asleep in an attempt to escape certain death.
The Lake
When a young man takes his girlfriend out on the lake to propose, they come face to face with the dark spirits beneath the surface.
Close Your Eyes
A musician's quiet evening turns into a night of terror when he sees his roommate sleepwalking.
Ignore It
A family struggles to live with a spirit that becomes deadly if its presence is acknowledged.
The Rickety Man
A father discovers his children are grieving their mother's death in their own terrifying way, after having met a mysterious entity in the woods.
Recently Added
The last 10 short horror films that have been added to Buried Films.
Stimulant
Stimulant, a psychological horror short written and directed by Nicholas Laughlin. Michael and his roommate Jenn decide to try the new pill that everyone is raving about. But the side effects warp more than just their minds as bodies pile up around them.
Night Of The Living Dead
The original cult classic zombie horror film from George A. Romero. A film every horror fan should watch, and plays such an important role in cinema. A ragtag group of Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls that are ravaging the Northeast of the United States.
Milk & Serial
From Curry Barker and Cooper Tomlinson, the team behind the film Obsession from Blumhouse and Focus Features. This was a found footage film they put out for free before Obsession. Check it out! A surprise birthday prank takes a turn for the worse when a popular social media duo must face the reality of the terrifying aftermath.
The Massacrer
The Massacrer, a short horror film proof of concept from Alysm Films. A weekend reunion of old college friends at the cusp of middle age is interrupted by an undead corpse's murderous rampage.
Catcher
In the short horror film Catcher from Dylan Clark, using a special device, a boy must confront and erase his recurring nightmare. If you haven't watched any of Dylan's past work, like Portrait of God, you're missing out. The team behind this short film is incredible!
The Door
A mother grieving over her daughter's disappearance struggles to move on after she becomes obsessed with a mysterious door that appears in her house.
The Old Baraboo Inn
Known as a frequent stop for Al Capone and his outfit, the Old Baraboo Inn has become synonymous with gangsters, girls, and ghosts. Owned and operated by B.C. Farr until his death, the old inn is now owned by B.C.'s sister Shelly who continues his legacy of inviting patrons to interact with the spirits who call this bar home.
Disinfectant
The janitor loves his job. The demon loves its food. Submission for the Jakob Owens Horror Short Film Contest 2023.
The Treatment & The Cure
Two rogue scientists strive to create the cure to save humanity from a deadly plague that could wipe out all of humankind.
Playback
A couple stops at an old motel, and finds a mysterious VHS tape. Submission for the Jakob Owens Horror Short Film Contest 2025
1-5 Minute Shorts (29 Films)
Ultra-short horror films that deliver the scares fast, all under five minutes. These bite-sized shorts focus on atmosphere, timing, and strong ideas rather than long setups or explanations.
Midnight Snack
A noise awakens a women who finds something sinister looking for a MIDNIGHT SNACK.
The Nurse
With a gauze wrapped around her eyes, a young patient wakes up to the squeaky noise of a wheeled surgical cart, utterly terrified by the palpable darkness.
Augmented
Left with only a note and pair of sunglasses when she awakens, a young woman discovers something terrifying on the "other side" when she puts the glasses on.
Whisper
A young woman is haunted by ghost that her Amazon Echo picks up on.
Polaroid
What's LURKING in the POLAROID??
Lights Out
When you are all alone in a small dark room, what do you fear the most? Is it the temporary blindness or is it the uneasy deep feeling that someone, or rather something, is observing your every move?
Nope
A man discovers a disturbance in his home and wastes no time deciding what to do about it.
Ding Dong
Someone-- or something-- plays Ding Dong Ditch with a girl who's home alone.
The Witch
A woman is haunted by a presence. Every night it comes back. But is it real, or just her imagination?
Mommy’s Boy
A little boy heads to the washroom when something catches his attention.
5-10 Minute Shorts (37 Films)
Short horror films running between five and ten minutes, striking a balance between tight pacing and complete storytelling. These films have enough time to build tension, establish mood, and deliver a strong payoff without dragging things out.
The Massacrer
The Massacrer, a short horror film proof of concept from Alysm Films. A weekend reunion of old college friends at the cusp of middle age is interrupted by an undead corpse's murderous rampage.
Stay With Me
A woman studying for the MCAT finds her focus shattered when her automatic door lock mysteriously engages, hinting that she's not as alone as she thought.
Party Demon
A rookie exorcist faces off with a demon whose only demand is to make a new friend. A comic twist on the horror genre, this short turns possession into an unlikely party invitation.
Larry
A man. A parking lot. A friendship.
The Treatment & The Cure
Two rogue scientists strive to create the cure to save humanity from a deadly plague that could wipe out all of humankind.
Special Day
On the night of her 18th birthday, Emily's family gather together to reveal a secret to her - a secret that will shape the rest of her life.
Darby After Dark
One night, during her usual shift as a late-night radio host, Darby receives a mysterious phone call from a woman who shares a chilling paranormal game with her.
Selfie
An insecure teenager deletes her social media accounts but soon learns that what she put online will come back to haunt her.
In A Nutshell
A miniature artist is commissioned to recreate a gruesome crime scene for the local police departments homicide department, unknowingly opening the doors for an evil entity.
Don’t Feed The Cat
Chloe finds a cat trapped in her sick grandfather's basement.
10-15 Minute Shorts (17 Films)
Short horror films running between ten and fifteen minutes, giving the story room to breathe and tension time to build. These films allow for stronger atmosphere, deeper setups, and more deliberate pacing than ultra-short horror.
Christmas Eve
Welcome to West Manor. The halls are decked, the lights are twinkling, and the atmosphere is to die for.
The Itch
A psychological sci-fi horror story about a young man who awakens in an unfamiliar apartment only to find himself under surveillance… and decaying rapidly. He relies on an enigmatic set of vaccines he discovers in the bathroom to slow his decline, but quickly plots revenge on his unseen watcher as his condition continues to deteriorate.
$TRIP
It's Penny's first night stripping at an underground club. Will she go all the way? And what happens to her if she doesn't?
Catcher
In the short horror film Catcher from Dylan Clark, using a special device, a boy must confront and erase his recurring nightmare. If you haven't watched any of Dylan's past work, like Portrait of God, you're missing out. The team behind this short film is incredible!
MORA
A struggling artist searches for a mysterious woman that shows up in gruesome AI-generated images.
Pretty Pickle
MATURE - As he spends more time with his new girlfriend, a young man begins to privately dwell upon one of her quirks, leading him to a troubling discovery.
The Jester
Note: This film is age restricted by the creator. You'll need to click through to watch on YouTube after logging into your account. After a closing shift on Halloween night, a man stumbles upon what seems to be the embodiment of Halloween itself. Trick or treat?
Disguise
A woman encounters a malevolent presence in her house that can disguise itself as anything.
Method
When a dog sitter arrives at a house for what seems like a simple job, a list of strange rules makes him suspect that this is no ordinary dog.
Static
Charlotte, a sleep-deprived new mother grappling with postpartum depression, begins to hear unsettling interference noises emanating from her baby monitor.
15-20 Minute Shorts (5 Films)
Short horror films running between fifteen and twenty minutes, offering space for deeper storytelling and more immersive worlds. These films take their time developing characters, mood, and tension without feeling rushed.
The Rickety Man
A father discovers his children are grieving their mother's death in their own terrifying way, after having met a mysterious entity in the woods.
Stimulant
Stimulant, a psychological horror short written and directed by Nicholas Laughlin. Michael and his roommate Jenn decide to try the new pill that everyone is raving about. But the side effects warp more than just their minds as bodies pile up around them.
The Review
Two young vloggers, Jamie and Ethan, set out to create a fun, positive review of their stay in a picturesque, remote County Durham treehouse. They wanted subscribers, but what they found was a terrifying local legend.
Box Fort
One weekend while their parents are away, three sisters decide to build a box fort. As strange things start to happen around them, they wonder if someone or someTHING is living inside of it. Based on the Creepypasta and Reddit NoSleep short story written by Mallory Eddy.
Other Side of the Box
A couple receives a mysterious package from an old friend.
Psychological Horror (35 Films)
Psychological horror short films driven by tension, dread, and the human mind. These films focus on fear that builds slowly and lingers, rather than relying on jump scares or shock alone.
The Whisperer
A girl hears strange whispering while home alone at night.
Fresh Ink
A man finds a mysterious warning note tucked away inside of an old book. He soon finds out he's not alone.
Catcher
In the short horror film Catcher from Dylan Clark, using a special device, a boy must confront and erase his recurring nightmare. If you haven't watched any of Dylan's past work, like Portrait of God, you're missing out. The team behind this short film is incredible!
The Door
A mother grieving over her daughter's disappearance struggles to move on after she becomes obsessed with a mysterious door that appears in her house.
Darby After Dark
One night, during her usual shift as a late-night radio host, Darby receives a mysterious phone call from a woman who shares a chilling paranormal game with her.
The House Between
One last chance for redemption.
Static
Charlotte, a sleep-deprived new mother grappling with postpartum depression, begins to hear unsettling interference noises emanating from her baby monitor.
Method
When a dog sitter arrives at a house for what seems like a simple job, a list of strange rules makes him suspect that this is no ordinary dog.
The Lonesome Thing
A man tries to convince a spirit to leave his house.
The Nurse
With a gauze wrapped around her eyes, a young patient wakes up to the squeaky noise of a wheeled surgical cart, utterly terrified by the palpable darkness.
Supernatural (45 Films)
Supernatural horror short films focused on ghosts, hauntings, curses, and unexplained phenomena. These stories are rooted in the unknown, where fear comes from forces that can’t be fully seen or understood.
Late Fees
A video store clerk collects the souls of patrons who forget to return their movies on time.
The Rickety Man
A father discovers his children are grieving their mother's death in their own terrifying way, after having met a mysterious entity in the woods.
One Last Dive
With only 20 minutes left to investigate an underwater crime scene, a diver goes for one last dive.
Darby After Dark
One night, during her usual shift as a late-night radio host, Darby receives a mysterious phone call from a woman who shares a chilling paranormal game with her.
2 Players Required
When a troubled young woman begins playing a strange board game, she unwittingly allows a sinister presence to enter her apartment.
Nope
A man discovers a disturbance in his home and wastes no time deciding what to do about it.
Whisper
A young woman is haunted by ghost that her Amazon Echo picks up on.
I Heard It Too
A girl heard her mom yell her name from downstairs, so she got up and started to head down. As she got to the stairs, her mom pulled her into her room and said "I heard that, too."
Selfie
An insecure teenager deletes her social media accounts but soon learns that what she put online will come back to haunt her.
We Got A Dog
Morgan comes home from a late shift to find her boyfriend Mason, decided to adopt a new pet. Though there is something odd about Mason and his behavior, Morgan quickly becomes suspicious of the new pet in their home.
Creature (30 Films)
Creature driven horror shorts centered around monsters, entities, and physical threats. These films focus on creature design, practical effects, and the kind of primal fear that comes from facing something tangible and dangerous.
Don’t Tell Your Mom
In the industrial area of a seedy town where vampires roam free, Kyle rolls up to his cousin's factory...of nightmares.
Beast of Prey
A woman finds herself locked in an isolated cabin with something sinister on the other side of the door.
Night Of The Living Dead
The original cult classic zombie horror film from George A. Romero. A film every horror fan should watch, and plays such an important role in cinema. A ragtag group of Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls that are ravaging the Northeast of the United States.
Be Quiet
A young girl is woken in the night by her brother, who believes something is in the house with them.
Disinfectant
The janitor loves his job. The demon loves its food. Submission for the Jakob Owens Horror Short Film Contest 2023.
Milk Teeth
An orphanage spirals into mayhem when a boy discovers a shadowy creature who comes to collect more than just the children's teeth...
The Lonesome Thing
A man tries to convince a spirit to leave his house.
Don’t Feed The Cat
Chloe finds a cat trapped in her sick grandfather's basement.
We Got A Dog
Morgan comes home from a late shift to find her boyfriend Mason, decided to adopt a new pet. Though there is something odd about Mason and his behavior, Morgan quickly becomes suspicious of the new pet in their home.
2 Players Required
When a troubled young woman begins playing a strange board game, she unwittingly allows a sinister presence to enter her apartment.
Comedy (4 Films)
Horror short films that mix scares with humor, satire, or absurd ideas. These films lean into dark comedy, awkward moments, and unexpected twists while still playing with classic horror themes.
Sugar Tits
A teeth-obsessed serial killer kidnaps a new victim to complete his deranged masterpiece.
Party Demon
A rookie exorcist faces off with a demon whose only demand is to make a new friend. A comic twist on the horror genre, this short turns possession into an unlikely party invitation.
Don’t Tell Your Mom
In the industrial area of a seedy town where vampires roam free, Kyle rolls up to his cousin's factory...of nightmares.
Nope
A man discovers a disturbance in his home and wastes no time deciding what to do about it.
Slasher (10 Films)
Slasher horror short films centered on killers, close encounters, and escalating danger. These films lean into tension, pursuit, and the constant feeling that something bad is about to happen.
Halloween (Fan Film)
From Jakob - I've always loved the season of Halloween and even more so the Halloween movie franchise. As a fan of the movies and the holiday... I thought I'd have fun making my very own Halloween fan film!
Sugar Tits
A teeth-obsessed serial killer kidnaps a new victim to complete his deranged masterpiece.
TRICK or TREAT!
During their first Halloween in their new home, Travis and Beth encounter an unexpected trick or treater.
The Jester: Chapter 3
On Halloween night, a young girl has no one to go trick-or-treating with....until The Jester offers to tag along.
The Jester
Note: This film is age restricted by the creator. You'll need to click through to watch on YouTube after logging into your account. After a closing shift on Halloween night, a man stumbles upon what seems to be the embodiment of Halloween itself. Trick or treat?
Guide My Slay
Let the reindeer games begin! A suburban Christmas party takes a dark turn when a menacing Santa arrives. Many of the guests are on his naughty list and he needs a makeshift "Rudolph" to help hunt them down.
Hobby Night
A man conceals his double life.
The Massacrer
The Massacrer, a short horror film proof of concept from Alysm Films. A weekend reunion of old college friends at the cusp of middle age is interrupted by an undead corpse's murderous rampage.
Nightfall
Jim is working late in his garage on what seemed like a normal summer night. That quickly turns into a nightmare, when he sees a silhouette of someone standing at the end of his driveway.
The Jester: Chapter 2
The Jester returns in this sequel short film to continue to spread his Halloween cheer.
Documentary (1 Films)
Documentary-style horror films focused on real events, real people, and unsettling truths. These films lean into investigation, history, and firsthand accounts, where the fear comes from what actually happened or what might have.
The Old Baraboo Inn
Known as a frequent stop for Al Capone and his outfit, the Old Baraboo Inn has become synonymous with gangsters, girls, and ghosts. Owned and operated by B.C. Farr until his death, the old inn is now owned by B.C.'s sister Shelly who continues his legacy of inviting patrons to interact with the spirits who call this bar home.
Features (2 Films)
Feature length horror films and longer-form projects that go beyond short formats. These films have more time for character development, extended tension, and fully realized stories to unfold.
Night Of The Living Dead
The original cult classic zombie horror film from George A. Romero. A film every horror fan should watch, and plays such an important role in cinema. A ragtag group of Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls that are ravaging the Northeast of the United States.
Milk & Serial
From Curry Barker and Cooper Tomlinson, the team behind the film Obsession from Blumhouse and Focus Features. This was a found footage film they put out for free before Obsession. Check it out! A surprise birthday prank takes a turn for the worse when a popular social media duo must face the reality of the terrifying aftermath.
All Films (92 Films)
A complete collection of all the horror short films featured on Buried Films. You’ll find everything from supernatural and psychological horror to creature features, slashers, and experimental shorts, all in one place.
Curve
Clinging to a curved surface high above a sentient abyss, a girl has to cover the few feet back to safety before she loses grip.
Method
When a dog sitter arrives at a house for what seems like a simple job, a list of strange rules makes him suspect that this is no ordinary dog.
The Itch
A psychological sci-fi horror story about a young man who awakens in an unfamiliar apartment only to find himself under surveillance… and decaying rapidly. He relies on an enigmatic set of vaccines he discovers in the bathroom to slow his decline, but quickly plots revenge on his unseen watcher as his condition continues to deteriorate.
Playback
A couple stops at an old motel, and finds a mysterious VHS tape. Submission for the Jakob Owens Horror Short Film Contest 2025
Portrait of God
A religious girl prepares a presentation about a painting titled "Portrait of God". What she sees challenges her beliefs.
After Dark
A woman finds out what happens when you break the rules of the cabin. Lock the doors and windows. Be quiet. Leave the lights on. And DO NOT GO OUT AFTER DARK.
There Comes a Knocking
A grieving woman installs an antique door into her home, which opens herself up to the other side.
Milk & Serial
From Curry Barker and Cooper Tomlinson, the team behind the film Obsession from Blumhouse and Focus Features. This was a found footage film they put out for free before Obsession. Check it out! A surprise birthday prank takes a turn for the worse when a popular social media duo must face the reality of the terrifying aftermath.
Deep End
On a hot summer day, a young man learns the terrifying secret behind an abandoned swimming pool.
Stimulant
Stimulant, a psychological horror short written and directed by Nicholas Laughlin. Michael and his roommate Jenn decide to try the new pill that everyone is raving about. But the side effects warp more than just their minds as bodies pile up around them.