A curated collection of independent horror short films, featuring hand-picked short horror films from emerging filmmakers.
Close Your Eyes
Directed by Andy Chen
Cast: Vinny Balbo, David Illy Bennett, Maddi Estrada
Recommended by Buried Films (22 Films)
Hand-picked short horror films curated by Buried Films. This selection rotates regularly, spotlighting standout work that blows us away.
Larry
A man. A parking lot. A friendship.
The Backrooms
An analog horror series revolving around a mysterious alternate dimension known as the Backrooms.
Every Night I See Them
A man does everything in his power to not fall asleep in an attempt to escape certain death.
There Comes a Knocking
A grieving woman installs an antique door into her home, which opens herself up to the other side.
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.
VIDEO 4
A woman finds an old video camera with a mysterious tape labeled VIDEO 4.
The Maiden
A real estate agent tries to sell a haunted house.
Salt
A demonic presence closes in on a mother and her sick daughter. Their only protection - a ring of salt.
Close Your Eyes
A musician's quiet evening turns into a night of terror when he sees his roommate sleepwalking.
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?
Recently Added
The last 10 short horror films that have been added to Buried Films.
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
Don’t Feed The Cat
Chloe finds a cat trapped in her sick grandfather's basement.
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.
Late Fees
A video store clerk collects the souls of patrons who forget to return their movies on time.
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.
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.
The Witch
A woman is haunted by a presence. Every night it comes back. But is it real, or just her imagination?
The Changing Room
A woman finds herself in a nightmarish trap after sneaking into a closed off changing room.
2 Players Required
When a troubled young woman begins playing a strange board game, she unwittingly allows a sinister presence to enter her apartment.
After Hours
Sequel to After Dark. Vinny realizes something's wrong when a trail of blood leads inside a cabin with his friends nowhere to be found. After coming face to face with a mysterious creature, he must fight to escape the creatures that lurk at night.
The Veil
A woman discovers a sinister presence that can only be seen through her shower curtain.
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.
Fresh Ink
A man finds a mysterious warning note tucked away inside of an old book. He soon finds out he's not alone.
Whisper
A young woman is haunted by ghost that her Amazon Echo picks up on.
Be Quiet
A young girl is woken in the night by her brother, who believes something is in the house with them.
Call of the Ocean
A woman finds a beautiful seashell on the beach, and then something unexpected happens…
5-10 Minute Shorts (36 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.
Make It Stop
Anna Bowman’s patient, Jacob hears voices and sounds again, thinking it is God. She tries to solve this issue only to be confronted by what these voices really are.
Catch Your Breath
A shy teenager (Andrew) is peer pressured by his older brother (Mike) into playing a game that is said to summon the ghost of the town legend, 'The Lady Beneath'. To disprove his brother and impress a girl at school he reluctantly agrees. The rules of the game are simple, as long as Andrew holds his breath, he is safe from The Lady Beneath. But how long can Andrew hold his breath?
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.
The Maiden
A real estate agent tries to sell a haunted house.
Ignore It
A family struggles to live with a spirit that becomes deadly if its presence is acknowledged.
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.
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!
Blink
After being violently pushed from a window, Mary wakes up in the hospital, almost completely paralyzed. Trapped inside the prison of her own body, Mary’s only way to communicate is by blinking her eyes. She tries to warn the nurse that a sinister, inhuman force is trying to kill her. But when strange things begin happening around her, she realizes it may be too late to stop it.
Lucid
With a unique power to Lucid Dream, a widower must find his dead wife before she is consumed by a nightmarish entity.
Honor’s Half-Life
When an old army buddy is overtaken by a horrifying radioactive virus, a veteran and his daughter are forced to do the unthinkable to contain the quickly evolving threat.
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.
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!
Christmas Eve
Welcome to West Manor. The halls are decked, the lights are twinkling, and the atmosphere is to die for.
MORA
A struggling artist searches for a mysterious woman that shows up in gruesome AI-generated images.
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?
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.
$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?
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: Chapter 2
The Jester returns in this sequel short film to continue to spread his Halloween cheer.
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.
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 (4 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.
Other Side of the Box
A couple receives a mysterious package from an old friend.
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.
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.
Psychological Horror (34 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.
Fresh Ink
A man finds a mysterious warning note tucked away inside of an old book. He soon finds out he's not alone.
Portrait of God
A religious girl prepares a presentation about a painting titled "Portrait of God". What she sees challenges her beliefs.
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.
Every Night I See Them
A man does everything in his power to not fall asleep in an attempt to escape certain death.
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 Maiden
A real estate agent tries to sell a haunted house.
$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?
There Comes a Knocking
A grieving woman installs an antique door into her home, which opens herself up to the other side.
Lucid
With a unique power to Lucid Dream, a widower must find his dead wife before she is consumed by a nightmarish entity.
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.
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.
Close Your Eyes
A musician's quiet evening turns into a night of terror when he sees his roommate sleepwalking.
Playback
A couple stops at an old motel, and finds a mysterious VHS tape. Submission for the Jakob Owens Horror Short Film Contest 2025
Static
Charlotte, a sleep-deprived new mother grappling with postpartum depression, begins to hear unsettling interference noises emanating from her baby monitor.
2 Players Required
When a troubled young woman begins playing a strange board game, she unwittingly allows a sinister presence to enter her apartment.
Deep End
On a hot summer day, a young man learns the terrifying secret behind an abandoned swimming pool.
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.
Salt
A demonic presence closes in on a mother and her sick daughter. Their only protection - a ring of salt.
The Chair
After Reese brings home an antique chair, a series of horrific events follow, leading him to question if it's a malevolent spirit the chair possesses or the darkness inside his own mind.
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.
Ignore It
A family struggles to live with a spirit that becomes deadly if its presence is acknowledged.
Creature (29 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.
Polaroid
What's LURKING in the POLAROID??
VIDEO 4
A woman finds an old video camera with a mysterious tape labeled VIDEO 4.
Larry
A man. A parking lot. A friendship.
Come Up Here
A woman is home alone, but someone's calling from upstairs... come up here. Just another quick micro horror short based on an idea I had, and a story my great grandma used to tell me when I was a kid.
The Whisperer
A girl hears strange whispering while home alone at night.
Catch Your Breath
A shy teenager (Andrew) is peer pressured by his older brother (Mike) into playing a game that is said to summon the ghost of the town legend, 'The Lady Beneath'. To disprove his brother and impress a girl at school he reluctantly agrees. The rules of the game are simple, as long as Andrew holds his breath, he is safe from The Lady Beneath. But how long can Andrew hold his breath?
They Hear It
There are some sounds only children can hear.
Make It Stop
Anna Bowman’s patient, Jacob hears voices and sounds again, thinking it is God. She tries to solve this issue only to be confronted by what these voices really are.
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."
Disinfectant
The janitor loves his job. The demon loves its food. Submission for the Jakob Owens Horror Short Film Contest 2023.
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.
Nope
A man discovers a disturbance in his home and wastes no time deciding what to do about it.
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.
Slasher (9 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.
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?
Sugar Tits
A teeth-obsessed serial killer kidnaps a new victim to complete his deranged masterpiece.
The Jester: Chapter 2
The Jester returns in this sequel short film to continue to spread his Halloween cheer.
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.
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.
TRICK or TREAT!
During their first Halloween in their new home, Travis and Beth encounter an unexpected trick or treater.
Hobby Night
A man conceals his double life.
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!
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.
All Films (88 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.
Selfie
An insecure teenager deletes her social media accounts but soon learns that what she put online will come back to haunt her.
The Lonesome Thing
A man tries to convince a spirit to leave his house.
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.
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.
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.
One Last Dive
With only 20 minutes left to investigate an underwater crime scene, a diver goes for one last dive.
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.
Attic Panic
In the underlit attic, an unsuspecting woman tidies up an already cluttered space; however, in the mysterious dimness, her eye catches a motion. Is this a trick of the mind, or is there something sinister hiding in the thick shadows?
Ding Dong
Someone-- or something-- plays Ding Dong Ditch with a girl who's home alone.