A curated collection of independent horror short films, featuring hand-picked short horror films from emerging filmmakers.
Milk & Serial
Directed by Curry Barker
Cast: Curry Barker, Cooper Tomlinson, Adlih Torres, Sterling L. Pope, Jonnathan Cripple, Gloria Karel, John Simmonds, Paul Santoli, Rob Harrow
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.
Don’t Feed The Cat
Chloe finds a cat trapped in her sick grandfather's basement.
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...
Close Your Eyes
A musician's quiet evening turns into a night of terror when he sees his roommate sleepwalking.
Portrait of God
A religious girl prepares a presentation about a painting titled "Portrait of God". What she sees challenges her beliefs.
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.
Larry
A man. A parking lot. A friendship.
Playback
A couple stops at an old motel, and finds a mysterious VHS tape. Submission for the Jakob Owens Horror Short Film Contest 2025
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 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.
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.
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.
Whisper
A young woman is haunted by ghost that her Amazon Echo picks up on.
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 Whisperer
A girl hears strange whispering while home alone at night.
2 Players Required
When a troubled young woman begins playing a strange board game, she unwittingly allows a sinister presence to enter her apartment.
Hobby Night
A man conceals his double life.
Be Quiet
A young girl is woken in the night by her brother, who believes something is in the house with them.
Ding Dong
Someone-- or something-- plays Ding Dong Ditch with a girl who's home alone.
Mommy’s Boy
A little boy heads to the washroom when something catches his attention.
Nope
A man discovers a disturbance in his home and wastes no time deciding what to do about it.
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?
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.
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.
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.
Every Night I See Them
A man does everything in his power to not fall asleep in an attempt to escape certain death.
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.
The Backrooms
An analog horror series revolving around a mysterious alternate dimension known as the Backrooms.
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.
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.
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?
There Comes a Knocking
A grieving woman installs an antique door into her home, which opens herself up to the other side.
The Maiden
A real estate agent tries to sell a haunted house.
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!
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.
$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?
MORA
A struggling artist searches for a mysterious woman that shows up in gruesome AI-generated images.
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.
Trouble
Set in 1952, this musical thriller is what happens when a traveling salesman shows up on the doorstep of a dying old man and can't contain the song within his heart. A dark riff on a classic musical.
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.
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?
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.
Other Side of the Box
A couple receives a mysterious package from an old friend.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Beast of Prey
A woman finds herself locked in an isolated cabin with something sinister on the other side of the door.
The Chair
The Chair, a short horror film from Curry Barker. 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. Make sure to check out Curry Barker and crew's new film Obsession, out now in theaters from Blumhouse and Focus Features. Awesome seeing the YouTube horror community killing it on the big screen!
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 Veil
A woman discovers a sinister presence that can only be seen through her shower curtain.
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.
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.
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 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.
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?
Playback
A couple stops at an old motel, and finds a mysterious VHS tape. Submission for the Jakob Owens Horror Short Film Contest 2025
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.
One Last Dive
With only 20 minutes left to investigate an underwater crime scene, a diver goes for one last dive.
Whisper
A young woman is haunted by ghost that her Amazon Echo picks up on.
The Maiden
A real estate agent tries to sell a haunted house.
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."
The Changing Room
A woman finds herself in a nightmarish trap after sneaking into a closed off changing room.
They Hear It
There are some sounds only children can hear.
The Whisperer
A girl hears strange whispering while home alone at night.
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.
Glaistig
A young woman is haunted by visions of a demon-like creature—visions she’s convinced are real, stemming from one terrifying night deep in the woods with her boyfriend and their roommate. Brushed off as drunken delusion, her warnings go unheeded… until it’s far too late.
2 Players Required
When a troubled young woman begins playing a strange board game, she unwittingly allows a sinister presence to enter her apartment.
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.
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...
Larry
A man. A parking lot. A friendship.
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.
Polaroid
What's LURKING in the POLAROID??
VIDEO 4
A woman finds an old video camera with a mysterious tape labeled VIDEO 4.
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.
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 (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.
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.
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.
Sugar Tits
A teeth-obsessed serial killer kidnaps a new victim to complete his deranged masterpiece.
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!
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?
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.
TRICK or TREAT!
During their first Halloween in their new home, Travis and Beth encounter an unexpected trick or treater.
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.
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.
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?
The Changing Room
A woman finds herself in a nightmarish trap after sneaking into a closed off changing room.
Playback
A couple stops at an old motel, and finds a mysterious VHS tape. Submission for the Jakob Owens Horror Short Film Contest 2025
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?
Portrait of God
A religious girl prepares a presentation about a painting titled "Portrait of God". What she sees challenges her beliefs.
Selfie
An insecure teenager deletes her social media accounts but soon learns that what she put online will come back to haunt her.
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.
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.
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.