400! - 100 Great Horror Short Films

Once again, my hundredsome milestone has coincided with my Halloween Countdown. It's an exciting time... and as soon as I saw it, I had only one idea.

I want to share more horror stories with you, but I don't always have the opportunity to write them. So, I thought it would be fun to curate some for you. So, years ago, when I first started the Halloween Countdown, I started compiling a collection of horror short films.
I thought it wouldn't be too hard to find 100 films, but it turns out, I am kind of a horror movie snob [Wow(!) a guy who analyzes horror stories is a bit picky about horror stories, who knew?] so, it took me a long time to find several that I liked.
In fact, I have spent the last four months trying to find the last 40 or so movies for this list, because I wanted every single one to be one that I thought were the actual best of the best out there.

And this isn't just a "hey, maybe go look for these" type of list, where you have to do homework to find the cool things I'm talking about. No, I am going to embed them all here for you to watch, right now. You can save them to watch later, but I highly recommend that you check some of these out. If you're not sure why you should check out a particular title, I'll give a little description about why I think it's awesome, as well as a little "triggers" list. These include:

Bigotry (Homophobia/Misogyny/Racism/Transphobia); Death (of Animals/of Children/Murder/Suicide/); Flashing Lights/Jumpscares; Gore (Blood/Bone/Flesh/Organs/Rot); Nudity/Sex Scenes; Violence (to Animals/to Children/Domestic/Self-harm/Sexual);

Feel free to highlight the red to see the triggers, or Ctrl+F and search for your particular trigger, if you want to either prepare yourself for them, or avoid them entirely.

I have put these vaguely in order of "least favourite to most favourite", but that's my opinion, I hope you can find a new favourite amongst them. So, without further ado, to celebrate another 100 blog posts enjoy a bit of Horror for this Halloween Countdown, I am proud to present to you...

The AWN's 100 Best Horror Short Films (That You Can Watch, RIGHT NOW)

Internet Story  by AdamButcher
This starts as a mystery that could only exist online, in a video essay style, then slowly becomes a tragedy which can also only exist online...
Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder);Bigotry (Homophobia);

Apt 17  by Indiego Cinema
One of the scariest thoughts can be "Am I doing the right thing?", and this short explores it in a way that builds tension with every passing second.
Trigger Warnings: Date Rape implied; Violence (Domestic) implied;

Creep Box  by Witchcraft Motion Picture Company
An interesting exploration of a new technology which challenges ideas of life, death, grief, memories... and the horrors of resurrection.
Trigger Warnings: Death/Suicide implied;

Hysteric  by Witchcraft Motion Picture Company
Filmed in one take, this tale follows two girls late at night whose mother's mind has been influenced by an alien, humming sound.
Trigger Warnings: Death/of Children; Harm to Children;

The God Man  by Andrew Foerster
This mockumentary is initially a cosmic mystery, but the revelations of this incredible discovery is both incredible, and potentially disturbing.
Trigger Warnings: n/a;

We Got a Dog  by Ryan Valdez
Morgan's boyfriend crosses a line when he buys a dog without consulting her. So, what makes this a horror story? Simple... that thing is not a dog.
Trigger Warnings: Nudity;

Whistle  by Superfreak Media
I listen to a lot of podcasts, so the idea of a podcast slowly revealing that you're in danger from a deadly cryptid gives me the creeps.
Trigger Warnings: Jumpscare;

DOORS  by High Strange TV
This has a simply premise with great execution, and its one of very few analogue horror. Have you checked all of the doors in your house, lately?
Trigger Warnings: n/a;

Laura Hasn't Slept  by Paramount Entertainment Australia
Stories of dreams can be overdone with surreality, but this story explores nightmares in a way that's more subtle and disturbing.
Trigger Warnings: Gore (Blood, Bone, & Flesh);

The French Doors  by New Zealand Film Commission
A man renovating his new house discovers a world of darkness outside of the french doors he just installed.
Trigger Warnings: Violence; Death implied;

On My Way  by MakeDo Entertainment
We follow a simple partygoer on Halloween, and join him as he watches the world around him starts to go completely mad.
Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder) off-screen;Gore (Blood) implied;

MONSTER  by Maya Films
Whilst this would inspire the feature film The Babadook, it has a different vibe, and (in my interpretation) a very different storyline.
Trigger Warnings: Jumpscares;

The Knife  by Holomax
A small town gets terrorized by a cursed, bloodthirsty knife. Excellent execution elevates this basic premise into a pulpy masterpiece.
Trigger Warnings: Gore (Blood); excessive; Death (Murder); Violence (in General, & to Children); does pregnancy count?;

The Silvergleam Whistle  by Nickel Eye Pictures
A ghost story about a haunted train turns into a horrifying adventure for a young family who decide to stay at an old motel in the woods.
Trigger Warnings: Death (general, & of Children implied; Gore (Blood, & Rot); Jumpscare;

Slut  by the American Film Institute
This film explores the impossible standards of the virgin-whore complex, and the deadly implications of the men who perpetuate it.
Trigger Warnings: Gore (Blood); Death (Murder); Bigotry (Misogyny);

Larry  by Jacob Chase
When a parking attendant finds a tablet with a strange fairytale, he becomes haunted by the twisted creature of the darkness.
Trigger Warnings: Flashing Lights; Jumpscares;

I Can't Wake Up  by Gnostica Productions
When a lone dreamer is trapped in his nightmares, he becomes more and more desperate to find a way to escape, and avoid the monsters in his mind.
Trigger Warnings: Jumpscares; Flashing Lights;

Fragile.com  by AT&T Hello Lab
A young actress struggling in love and theatre is recruited to perform for a strange website that caters to a niche set of clientele.
Trigger Warnings: n/a;

Hunter's Cabin  by N'cee Van Heerden
A man has fled to a secluded cabin in the woods because he has a dark secret, but his plans go awry when he discovers that he's not as secluded as he hoped.
Trigger Warnings: Gore (Blood); Death (Murder);

The Whisperer  by Danny Donahue
I saw so many "And Then a Monster Killed You" stories for this, it's so boring. I thought this was the same, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Trigger Warnings: n/a;

Gargoyle  by Michael Cusack
This sad, gothic story sees a woman mourning the loss of her beloved husband, with this emotional tale portrayed entirely in gorgeous stop-motion animation.
Trigger Warnings: Word;

Harvey's Dream  by Omen Bird Pictures
Can you tell a horror story with little more than two actors talking in the kitchen? With this short film, I learned that you can.
Trigger Warnings: Gore (Blood);

And They Watched  by Fun Size Horror
A janitor is haunted by the ghost of an executed man in this short that explores the different concepts of guilt and innocence.
Trigger Warnings: Gore (Flesh); Death (Murder) off-screen;

Phone Home  by Aria Jackson
Grief can be such a lonely, isolating feeling, so when Eric gets a phone-call from his late fiancée, he will do anything to bring her home.
Trigger Warnings: Death; Gore (Blood); Nudity;

Teaching Jake about the Camcorder, Jan '97  by Brian David Gilbert
The inimitable BDG is very funny, but this exploration into analogue horror shows that he knows what it takes to scare you as well.
Trigger Warnings: Flashing Lights;

Sleep Talker  by Carl Firth
I thought I knew what this would be about, but things take a strange turn, but rather than making it silly it just becomes all the more scary.
Trigger Warnings: Gore (Blood & Flesh);

The Lonely Host  by Lisa J Dooley
This is really just a story of a weird, sad lady, but her character just builds and builds the tension into a crescendo of horror.
Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder);

Overtime  by Craig D. Foster
Ralph has been held up at work, and everything is keeping him from getting home. But he needs to get home before the full moon rises.
Trigger Warnings: Gore (Blood);Death (Murder) off-screen;

Chad Gets the Axe  by Travis Bible
A narcissistic streamer decides to desecrate a corpse for content (sound familiar?), but he just walked into the wrong murder cabin...
Trigger Warnings: Gore (Blood);Death (Murder);

The Flying Man  by Marcus Alqueres
I find the concept of Superhero Horror fascinating, and this short film explores the idea in a way that is both creepy and captivating.
Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder) censored;

The Noise Next Door  by Christopher Cox
This simple, but effective story combines a few different tropes together into a scary story about the danger behind closed doors.
Trigger Warnings: Violence (Domestic) off-screen; Jumpscare;

The Pavement  by Taylor Engel
There are a few of these stories that are truly beautiful, and this neo-noir tale of death and regret, whilst not the scariest, is dark and poetic.
Trigger Warnings: Blood (Gore); Death (Murder & Suicide); Word;

Night Bus  by Pia Pressure
I love this idea, the tale of a bus driver driving the late route who realizes that she's a picked up an unnatural passenger.
Trigger Warnings: Jumpscares; Violence;

Special Day  by Ink Run Productions
This premise does have the vibe of a two-sentence horror story, but it's a fascinating, high-concept horror used to great affect.
Trigger Warnings: Word;

The Three Men You Meet at Night  by Niteshift Films
The most effective horror tackles real terror, and a woman dealing with various predatory men as she travels home at night is as true as it gets.
Trigger Warnings: Bigotry (Misogyny) heavily implied; Violence (Sexual) themes;

Milk  by Santiago Menghini
This seemed like another "I heard it too" style horror, but this short film is so much darker and more metaphorical and surreal than that.
Trigger Warnings: honestly, it's so surreal, I don't even know...

Abi's Monster  by Christopher Cox
I thought this, too, was an "I heard it too" story, but it became a much deeper exploration into all of the deepest fears parents can have.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children) it looks like one, anyway;

Progeny  by AFI Conservatory
Whilst it shouldn't require such metaphors, this is an incredible and gross story about power, violence, consent and control.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children) unborn/alien, but still; Gore (Blood & Flesh); Violence (Sexual) themes/design;

Pleasant Inn  by David Romero
There's something about this animal, with minimal dialogue and dynamic movement that makes the threat here feel more inhuman and violent.
Trigger Warnings: Death; Gore (Blood & Flesh);

Hello?  by Hollywood Institute for Parapsychical Research
Whilst I don't usually like ghost stories, this has an interesting plot behind it, and I like both the acting and the effects in this.
Trigger Warnings: Death (Suicide) discussed; Jumpscares;

Ten Shots  by Gordon Shoemaker
When a local hunter sees something evil in the woods, all he has are ten bullets in his gun. Can he save anyone? Can he save himself?
Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder); Gore (Blood);

Red Skies  by Bret Miller
This sci-fi horror story is simple, but effective, telling the story of Earth's initial invasion and foreshadowing the doom soon to follow.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Animals) alien;

Basement  by Jeffiot
This simple, short film is about a woman discovering a dangerous secret hidden within a film camera in the basement, and the subtle horror.
Trigger Warnings: Flashing Lights screen flicker;

Vikaari  by Synhedrion Studios
This fictional documentary is about a species of inhuman children, which seem to have evolved in response to violence.
Trigger Warnings: Bigotry; Death; Gore (Blood);

The Banishing  by Red Tree Pictures
This simple story of a girl haunted by a spirit becomes much more engaging with great atmosphere and interesting writing.
Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder; Gore (Blood); Violence (to Children);

Fetch  by Blanca Agudo Hernández
Want to make an "And Then a Monster Killed You" story fresh and interesting? Step 1: awesome cinematography. Step 2: Make the hero a dog.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Animals) implied;

Slaughterbots  by The Future of Life Institute
This would be higher if not for the "PSA" at the end, but it is a genuinely creepy idea. And the message, if unsubtle, is worth hearing.
Trigger Warnings: Bigotry themes/implied (heavily); Death; Gore (Blood);

Remains  by Dylan Clark
This sad, dark exploration and grief and desperation is as sad as it is haunting and scary. What would a mother do to hear her dead baby again?
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Chidren) themes; Flashing Lights blinking colours; Jumpscares;

The Cat with Hands  by Halo Productions
A simple folk tale with some impressive effects and unsettling imagery, this story will haunt me for quite some time.
Trigger Warnings: Death (to Animals & Murder);

We're Not Safe Here  by Christopher Cox
I love a good campfire story, and this is one about a monster that can mimic your voice, with all the psychogical horror that it entails.
Trigger Warnings: Death off-screen; Gore (Blood); Jumpscares;

Bad Boy, Oliver  by Mr. Friend
This was just a really creepy story, but it also had an ending that I wasn't expecting and which made the story that much scarier, to me.
Trigger Warnings: Violence (to Children);

Selfie  by Digital Interference
This metaphor for the dangers of social media is elevated by incredible effects and a monster with a haunting way of hunting its prey.
Trigger Warnings: Gore (Blood & Bones); Jumpscares;

SomeThing  by Dan Riesser
A woman comes home to find a dead body. Has he actually killed an inhuman monster, or is he relapsing because he's off his medication again?
Trigger Warnings: Death implied; Gore (Blood);

The Portrait  by Cinemug
Zachary Padgett has channel full of talented filmmaking, but none if it truly captured my attention until I found this haunting story.
Trigger Warnings: n/a;

The Last Time I Saw Richard  by Mushroom Pictures
I came for the exploration of mental health, friendship, and mild queer themes, but stayed for the foreboding sense of helplessness and doom.
Trigger Warnings: Bigotry (Homophobia) implied; Gore (Blood); Violence (to Children & Self-harm) teenagers;

Garden Party  by ILLOGIC
I love the atmospheric storytelling in this story of nature taking over an abandoned mansion, as we slowly learn what happened to its occupants.
Trigger Warnings: Death; Gore (Flesh);

Imaginary Friend  by J. Sanchez Productions
I love a great mystery, and this story introduces a detective interested in the "monster" under her niece's bed, and what it really is.
Trigger Warnings: Death (General); Gore (Blood);Violence (to Children) themes;

Audio Guide  by Randominity
There's more to cosmic horror than tentacles and xenophobia, this short provides an example of how knowledge alone can be existentially disturbing.
Trigger Warnings: Death (General & Suicide) themes;

Moonstruck  by Telekinesis Entertainment
A simple idea (with cosmic horror roots) done in an exciting way... if you look at the moon, you will fall under its control
Trigger Warnings: n/a;

Dawn of the Deaf  by Shadowhouse Ltd
I love seeing different perspectives and after a sonic attack with only the deaf immune we see the struggles they face and must now overcome.
Trigger Warnings: Bigotry; Death; Violence (to Children, General & Sexual);

The Hunter  by Visionary Boulevard Productions
Some say the scariest monsters are human, because they're the only ones that truly exist. This short explores that with tension and drama.
Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder) implied;

Pelican Milkshake  by Skinner Street Films
I love the tension of a woman burying her husband being spotted by a recreational drone, forcing her to hunt down a potential witness.
Trigger Warnings: Death (Domestic & General); Gore (Blood & General);

Sophie's Turn  by Crypt TV
Some kids will do anything to be accepted, and it can lead to ridicule, but when demons get involved, nobody is truly safe.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children) implied; Gore (Blood); Violence (to Children);

Everything's Fine  by Rhodesclosed Productions
My opinion
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children) implied; Violence (to Children implied;

The Relic  by J.M. Logan
My opinion
Trigger Warnings: Death; Gore (Blood, Bones & Flesh);

Here There Be Monsters  by Wanderer Films
This incredible Australian film explores themes of bullying and violence with a surreal twist, all with no dialogue and great acting.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children) implied; Gore (Blood); Violence (to Children);

Curve  by Lodestone Films
A woman awakens upon a slab of curved architecture, with no means of escape. There's also an alien/mystery elements, but I love the tension.
Trigger Warnings: Death implied; Gore (Blood);

Immure  by Uzong Films
I think it's clear, basic "werewolf/vampire" stories don't interest me, so this tale of a loner with a vampiric mother is fraught with drama.
Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder); Gore (Blood & Flesh); Jumpscares

Storytime  by Dylan Clark
MI said before, I love podcasts, and I love the way this fictional podcast starts to bleed into the reality of the listener.
Trigger Warnings: Death; Gore (Blood & Bone); Jumpscares;

Other Side of the Box  by Caleb J. Phillips
I enjoy a "Follow The Rules" horror stories, but they tend to be "Then a Monster Killed You" stories. Thankfully, this is not so pedestrian.
Trigger Warnings: n/a, it's all tension and implication, here;

Drone  by Action On The Side
Exploring the perspective of someone with a stutter, this uses sci-fi to dive deep into trauma and psychology of someone desperate to be heard.
Trigger Warnings: Bigotry; Gore (Blood & Flesh) if you don't like needles...;

Stalled  by Bonus Features
I like time loop stories and this one manages to be both compelling and scary with a simple, but effective mechanic. Story ain't half bad either.
Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder & Suicide) discussed/depicted; Flashing Lights; Gore (Blood);

Turned  by Vanishing Angle Productions
Like werewolves and vampires, zombie movies need a good twist; themes of motherhood and zombie virus hallucinations are a pretty good one.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children) implied; Gore (Blood);

Asleep & Awake  by Joshua Giuliano
This one is all about atmosphere, sound and cinematography. If you need a masterclass in tension, then this is it.
Trigger Warnings: n/a it's all about the atmosphere;

All You Can Carry  by London Film School
Another zombie one, but I like that this one is about a child protagonist. Seeing the world through his eyes is a whole new kind of fear.
Trigger Warnings: Death; Gore (Blood);

Thingamajig  by Skeleton Crew Productions
Stranded in a dimension of darkness, a man must find out how to combat the monsters in the dark. This is just a fantastic and creepy story.
Trigger Warnings: n/a;

Deep End  by Anthony Sellitti
The concept alone is just so creepy, a kid sneaking into a pool only to encounter an unnatural darkness beneath the surface
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children); Jumpscares;

Vicious  by Oliver Park
This explores grief and anxiety as a woman is trying to come to terms with the death of her sister, as she now lives in an empty flat
Trigger Warnings: Jumpscares;

Whiteout  by Washington Square Films
A couple alone in a car, in a blizzard, on a road, in the middle of the woods, you encounter a sick man in the snow. What do you do?
Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder);

Cream  by David Firth
The creator of Salad Fingers has a lot of disturbing videos, but this weird concept is the first that has a truly compelling story to tell.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children) discussed; Gore (Blood, Bone & Flesh); Violence (Sexual) discussed;

In Sound, We Live Forever  by Joshua Giuliano
This is not only scary, but beautiful, telling the history of a crime scene in sound before becoming a more traditional horror story.

Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder); Gore (Blood & Bone); Jumpscares;

Monsters  by Dreaming Ants Productions
This exploration of a dystopian world is not what you were expecting, but it builds up the drama and tension to a crescendo well worth watching.
Trigger Warnings: n/a;

Caravan  by Sarah Brims
During a family road trip, two Australian parents must confront one of a parents worst fears... not knowing where their children are.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children); Gore (Blood); Jumpscares;

Somniphobia  by Silver Hero Entertainment
A sleep therapist who can walk through dreams helps a woman haunted by her nightmares. But nightmares aren't always a monster under your bed.
Trigger Warnings: Death omplied;Flashing Lights; Violence (Domestic) discussed/implied;

MORA  by Grimoire Horror
Inspired by Loab, the cryptid that haunts AI images, this short is about a man doing everything he can to find the ghost in the machine.
Trigger Warnings: Death; Gore (Blood, Bone & Flesh);

Winston  by Aram Sarkisian
Whilst madness is interesting to explore, it can be done so poorly, but this excavation of a man's paranoia and obsession is unsettlingly poetic.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Animals & Murder); Flashing Lights; Gore (Blood, Bone & Flesh);

Riley Was Here  by Black Poodle Productions
Another strange exploration of zombies, in a world where zombification can be cured... but infection is a high unlike any other drug.
NOTE: This one appears age-restricted. I think because the main character is depicted in his underwear, the algorithm thinks this is porn or something. It isn't... but if the video below is just a grey box, click the link within the watch it on YouTube.
Trigger Warnings: Death; Gore (Blood & Flesh);

Backstroke  by Robbie Barclay
Such a simple, but effective idea. A girl is skinny dipping in a lake when a strange man with unclear intentions comes upon her.
Trigger Warnings: Death implied;

The World Over  by Nothing Rhymes With Entertainment
Another example of a story that explores cosmic horror by revealing that there are infinite realities, just beyond your doorway.
Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder & of Children again, unborn; Gore (Blood);

The Rougarou  by Lorraine Caffery
This follows a girl whose father got out of prison, and we watch her growing up in the mature world of crime, gangs and violence.
Trigger Warnings: Death (Murder); Gore Blood; Jumpscares;

The Sky  by Matt Sears
Another cosmic horror story, this one focuses more on the drama of two friends trying to find peace before the end of the world.
Trigger Warnings: Death; Gore (Blood);

The Kid and the Camera  by Grumbled Ink Entertainment
A great example of analogue horror, this old kid's show becomes more unnerving and disturbing, the longer you watch it.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children); Gore (Flesh);

Oscar's Bell  by Genesis Flux Films
A father, his son, and his dog are out camping in the woods. It's a beautiful night out... but there's a monster in these woods.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children) implied; Jumpscares;

It's Not About Fear  by Shotgun Productions
As someone with a mental illness, this exploration of trauma and vulnerability hits close to home. It's both horrifying and heartbreaking.
Trigger Warnings: Jumpscares; Violence (Sexual) themes/discussed;

Don't Die First  by Unchained Media
I don't usually like horror comedy, but this starts off with some campy 80s fun, messing with tropes. But it doesn't shy away from true horror...
Trigger Warnings: Bigotry (Racism); Death;

The Facts in the Case of Mister Hollow  by Rue Morgue Cinema
The second instance of a horror both scary and beautiful, but this also has hints at a mystery. Can you solve it before your time is up?
Trigger Warnings: n/a this is all music and (mostly) still images;

Maggie May  by Make Trouble Films
You are going to HATE this character... that's the point of this film and it's disturbing, but it has a strong message about right and wrong.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children); Gore (Blood);

Portrait of God  by Dylan Clark
Yet more cosmic horror. Despite watching hundreds of cosmic horror films, few captivated me in its religious horror like this short piece.
Trigger Warnings: n/a;

The Disappearance of Willie Bingham  by Guerin Group Films
In a world with a cruel and unusual form of capital punishment, criminals aren't executed, they just disappear...
Trigger Warnings: Gore (Flesh);

There's a Man in the Woods  by Jacob Streilein
Why is this animated "slam poem" the last on the list? Because I get shivers down my neck every single time I watch it.
Trigger Warnings: Death (of Children); Flashing Lightsflickering images; Gore (Blood);

— — —

So, that's my list. I hope you enjoyed it. If there's a short film you like which isn't on this list, feel free to include it in the comments below. But, after watching over 500 films, I think I watched it and excluded it for one reason or another... but this is my opinion, feel free to share what you want.

I'm the Absurd Word Nerd, and Until Next Time, I'm glad we got to watch a movie together before the end... we only have three posts left for this Final Countdown, there's not a lot of time left, so I'm glad we got to spend this time together. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.