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A whole decade after its debut in 2014 under Bryce McGuire and Rod Blackhurst, Night Swim has received a live-action adaptation from Universal Pictures. Despite less than favorable scores on both IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, Night Swim is one of few horror short films that ever see the light of day as big-budget blockbusters.
Some additional exceptions for horror shorts that made it in Hollywood include The Sitter (1977), later known as When a Stranger Calls (1979); Saw 0.5 (2003), soon to be simply Saw (2004); and 2008’s Argentine short Mamá, which became the basis for Andrés Muschietti’s Mama (2013). But there are many more independent projects that deserve a live-action makeover, so let’s take a look at the top contenders.
Disguise (Tyler Czajkowski)
Directed by Tyler Czajkowski, Disguise is based on the short story “The Ultimate Disguise” from Reddit’s r/NoSleep. It follows a woman’s terrifying experiences in her own home when she decides to confront the strange noises coming from her basement. Disguise stars Zoe Rose LoMenzo as the film’s protagonist, who senses a sinister presence lurking within her walls and investigates alone after an attempt to wake her sleeping husband.
Curve (Tim Egan)
Straight from the mind of Tim Egan comes Curve. This horror short film stars Laura Jane Turner as a nameless woman perched precariously above an ominous abyss. As she attempts to literally claw her way off a curved concrete surface, she faces consumption at the hands of whatever beast lies below. Perhaps the only difficulty in bringing Curve to the big screen lies in the simplistic concept. But the story has potential to be expanded.
Don’t Look Away (Christopher Cox)
Christopher Cox, known as the creator of the TV series Panic, made a name for himself with Don’t Look Away. Set in a suburban home, the short follows Savannah, a teenager who undergoes a frightening experience. From her bedroom window, she sees a mysterious figure standing in the yard. When she enlists the help of her father, he simply tells her: “Don’t look away.” Don’t Look Away is by far one of the most-viewed horror short films on YouTube with 36M views and counting.
The Moonlight Man (Danny Donahue)
Not to be confused with the 2016 feature film The Midnight Man, Danny Donahue’s short The Moonlight Man sees a woman walking to her car in the dead of night. Unbeknownst to her, she is being stalked by a sinister entity. Phillip Kreyche and Casey Fichtner star as the unknown assailant and his respective prey. Almost exactly a year later, Donahue released a sequel titled The Moonlight Man 2, though it wasn’t as well-received.
The Chair (Curry Barker)
Finally, from director Curry Barker comes The Chair. This 25-minute short earned nominations for Best Film at Los Angeles Short Film Fest and became a semi-finalist at Burbank International Film Festival. Anthony Pavone plays Reese, an average man who brings home an antique chair. A series of events leads Reese to believe the chair is possessed by a malevolent spirit and his girlfriend begins acting strangely. Without a doubt, Haley Schwartz as Julie sells the suspense of the disturbing goings-on.
