1-5 Minute Shorts (33 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.
You’ll find a mix of supernatural, psychological, and more visceral horror, all designed to make an impact without overstaying their welcome. If you’re looking for something quick to watch but still want to feel genuinely creeped out, this category hits the spot.
You’ll also find a lot of overlap with our Psychological Horror shorts.
2 Players Required
Directed by Cameron Gallagher
2 Players Required
Short horror film 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 Dark
Directed by Jakob Owens
After Dark
Short horror film After Dark from Jakob Owens. 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.
After Hours
Directed by Jakob Owens
After Hours
Short horror film After Hours by Jakob Owens. 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.
Attic Panic
Directed by David F Sandberg
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?
Augmented
Directed by Gary Davies
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.
Be Quiet
Directed by Gary Davies
Be Quiet
A young girl is woken in the night by her brother, who believes something is in the house with them.
Beast of Prey
Directed by Danny Donahue
Beast of Prey
A woman finds herself locked in an isolated cabin with something sinister on the other side of the door.
Buddybot
Directed by Jack Kudas
Buddybot
Three friends test out their new “BuddyBots”—lifelike/lookalike AI companions—only to discover they may have signed up for more than just convenience… they’ve welcomed a nightmare with a smile.
BuddyBot is a 5-minute horror-comedy short that takes a darkly hilarious look at our obsession with smart technology. When Jack’s newly delivered lookalike AI companion begins acting disturbingly off—sitting motionless, staring, and grinning like a nightmare version of himself—he calls his friends Eli and Big Rye for help. But while their BuddyBots seem perfectly functional (cooking pancakes and pulling weeds), Jack’s is anything but normal. As the mystery unfolds through frantic calls, strange behavior, and a suspicious instruction manual, it becomes clear that these friendly robots might be more dangerous than they seem.
Blending sharp comedy, tech paranoia, and a pinch of absurdity, BuddyBot is a funny ride into the unsettling side of artificial.
Call of the Ocean
Directed by David F Sandberg
Call of the Ocean
A woman finds a beautiful seashell on the beach, and then something unexpected happens…
Close Your Eyes
Directed by Andy Chen
Close Your Eyes
A musician's quiet evening turns into a night of terror when he sees his roommate sleepwalking.
Come Up Here
Directed by Andrew Gibbs
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.
Ding Dong
Directed by Timothy Troy
Ding Dong
Someone-- or something-- plays Ding Dong Ditch with a girl who's home alone.
Fresh Ink
Directed by Matt Benson
Fresh Ink
A man finds a mysterious warning note tucked away inside of an old book. He soon finds out he's not alone.
Guide My Slay
Directed by Heath Benfield
Guide My Slay
Guide My Slay, a short horror film from Heath Benfield and the Misfit Parade. 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
Directed by Timothy Troy
Hobby Night
A man conceals his double life.
Katie
Directed by Nathan Wright-Edwards
Katie
Katie, a short horror film by Nathan Wright-Edwards. As her daughter retreats behind a mask and into silence, a mother's obsession with uncovering the truth forces her to confront a horrifying reality.
Katie was written, shot and edited in just 48 hours! Created for the 48 Hour Film Project (Horror/Sci-Fi) - Toronto.
Lights Out
Directed by David F Sandberg
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?
Lorelei
Directed by Sophie Laur de Manos
Lorelei
In the short horror film Lorelei, a woman’s ordinary swim at a quiet pool leads her down a dark and twisted path. Plagued by unsettling memories at a party, she finds herself manipulated by an ancient force—the Lorelei. This siren from German folklore distorts reality, pulling her deeper into a living nightmare. What starts as a subtle shift in perception soon becomes a fight for control, as she is drawn into the Lorelei’s deadly grasp.
Midnight Snack
Directed by Andrew Gibbs
Midnight Snack
A noise awakens a women who finds something sinister looking for a MIDNIGHT SNACK.
Mommy’s Boy
Directed by CJ Bernauer
Mommy’s Boy
A little boy heads to the washroom when something catches his attention.
Nope
Directed by Ryan Godoy
Nope
A man discovers a disturbance in his home and wastes no time deciding what to do about it.
Obsessed
Directed by Cliff Mello
Obsessed
Short horror film Obsessed from Cliff Mello. A young woman’s pursuit of perfection spirals into madness when a miracle weight-loss drug—and its haunting VHS trainer—begin to consume her mind and body. In this 5-minute psychological horror short, Tess orders Trimexa, a revolutionary weight-loss program promising control, beauty, and power. Guided by the too-perfect Craig Powers, her reality unravels as the side effects grow darker—blurring the line between discipline and delusion. Official entry for the Jakob Owens Horror Short Film Contest 2025
One Last Dive
Directed by Jason Eisener
One Last Dive
With only 20 minutes left to investigate an underwater crime scene, a diver goes for one last dive.
Playback
Directed by Maksym Varenyk
Playback
A couple stops at an old motel, and finds a mysterious VHS tape. Submission for the Jakob Owens Horror Short Film Contest 2025
Polaroid
Directed by Joey Greene
Polaroid
What's LURKING in the POLAROID??
Salt
Directed by Rob Savage
Salt
A demonic presence closes in on a mother and her sick daughter. Their only protection - a ring of salt.
The Changing Room
Directed by Sam Evenson
The Changing Room
A woman finds herself in a nightmarish trap after sneaking into a closed off changing room.
The Lonesome Thing
Directed by Danny Donahue
The Lonesome Thing
A man tries to convince a spirit to leave his house.
The Nurse
Directed by Julian Terry
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.
The Veil
Directed by Sam Evenson
The Veil
A woman discovers a sinister presence that can only be seen through her shower curtain.
The Whisperer
Directed by Danny Donahue
The Whisperer
A girl hears strange whispering while home alone at night.
The Witch
Directed by Andrew Gibbs
The Witch
A woman is haunted by a presence. Every night it comes back. But is it real, or just her imagination?
Whisper
Directed by Julian Terry
Whisper
A young woman is haunted by ghost that her Amazon Echo picks up on.