UTG’s 31 Days Of Halloween: 10 Unforgettable Horror Shorts

Of all the holidays celebrated worldwide, no single day is more loved by the UTG staff than Halloween. With the arrival of the year’s best month, the time has finally come to begin rolling out a plethora of features and special announcements we have prepared in celebration of our favorite day, including the one you’re about to read.

Now in its third year, 31 Days Of Halloween is a recurring feature that will run throughout the month of October. The hope and goal of this column is to supply every UTG reader with a daily horror (or Halloween-themed) movie recommendation that is guaranteed to amplify your All Hallows’ Eve festivities. We’ll be watching every film the day it’s featured, and we hope you’ll follow along at home.

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In this special, first-time installment of 31 Days, UTG editors James Shotwell and Brian Lion have chosen five short films a piece that you can marathon through as Halloween quickly approaches. Featuring the talents of several directors including Ruairi Robinson, Chris Cullari, Ryan Spindell, Nick Everhart, and Greg Nicotero, these are some of our absolute favorites to watch during the holiday season.


Blinky™, directed by Ruairi Robinson

Everything about Blinky™ surprised me upon my first viewing. The visuals are stunning, as is the acting, score, cinematography, and just about every other aspect of it. Led by Max Records (Where The Wild Things Are, The Sitter) and one of the cutest robots I’ve seen onscreen probably ever, this short is terrifying in the way Child’s Play is terrifying, only with a more realistic premise that utilizes the endless rise of technology as its backbone, along with a heartbreaking theme relatable to millions. It’s a slow-burner that you would initially never consider any type of horror film, but just let it play out; you won’t regret it.


The Sleepover, directed by Chris Cullari

The Sleepover is a clever little horror comedy that serves as a love letter to classic slasher films from the ’70s and ’80s with nods both subtle and obvious. Featuring two great child leads and a simple premise, The Sleepover is both fun and succinct and should easily appease any fan of the genre. It looks great visually and has a perfectly eerie score to match. The movie also highlights a special bumper sticker that I’m still waiting to see get mass produced. No mother should be without one.


The United Monster Talent Agency, directed by Greg Nicotero

This short is a must-see for fans of classic horror; everything from the Universal Monsters of the ’30s and ’40s to your favorite masked murderers of the ’70s and ’80s. Directed by make-up and effects mastermind Greg Nicotero, The United Monster Talent Agency parodies all the best monsters in horror with a fun, black & white spoof that takes a look at the inner workings of the fictional UMTA. With cameos from some of horror’s greatest talents (Jeffrey Combs, Frank Darabont, Eli Roth, and more), this short was clearly made with a true love for the genre by those that have worked within it for years.


Suckablood, directed by Ben Tillett & Jake Cuddihy

Beginning with a terrific title design, Suckablood wastes no time in showing off its qualities; fantastic cinematography, make-up, costumes, sound design and more make it immediately clear that this is a top-notch production. Led by an amazing narration from Ben Tillett and the no-dialogue acting of the young Holly Jacobson, Suckablood will likely terrify any child, but mostly those that suck their thumbs. Between the horrifying visuals and the beautifully ominous, orchestral score, Suckablood serves not only as one of my favorite horror shorts, but as a remedy for parents who can’t get their child to keep their thumbs dry. It’s a cautionary tale of sorts.


Cargo, directed by Ben Howling & Yolanda Ramke

As a father, Cargo is hard to watch. It’s gorgeous and tragic. It doesn’t rely on overuse of typical horror devices, and honestly, the only thing terrifying about it is the reality of the situation and the “what if?” you might find yourself circling in your head — especially if you’re a parent. I found myself appreciating the smart use of no dialogue which isn’t needed in this case to portray the emotion and tragedy onscreen, thanks to pitch perfect acting, a poignant score, and stunning cinematography. Within an over-saturated sub-genre of horror, Cargo takes a look at a side and situation rarely explored, one that I personally found much more interesting emotionally with an entirely different kind of terror.


An Evening With My Comatose Mother, directed by Jonathan Martin

There is no rule saying that all great horror shorts need to have high quality production values, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. An Evening With My Comatose Mother is a drop dead gorgeous little terror about a girl who is asked to spend an evening in a home with someone’s comatose mother. It begins like any night, but things quickly take a turn for the weird in a way that fans of Dead Alive will absolutely adore. Martin has created a tiny, yet engrossing universe that is filled with thrills and chills you won’t soon forget. Also, the set design and special effects are second to none.


Slash-In-The Box, directed by Nick Everhart

There are few short film creators that I feel can do no wrong, and one of them happens to be Mr. Nick Everhart. His near decade long career in film has produced a number of exciting adventures, but the one I find myself coming back to at least once every year is his 2011 effort, Slash-In-The-Box. Running just over five minutes, Nick sets up and pulls off a quick tale of terror that puts you on the edge of your seat before closing with a gag that will make horror diehards want to stand up and applaud. I’ve never met Nick in person, but when I do he will receive at least two high fives as a thanks for creating this masterpiece:


The Root Of The Problem, directed by Ryan Spindell

As a child, I hated the dentist. As an adult. I still feel the same. There is something about sitting in an uncomfortable chair while a person who is essentially a stranger in a mask pokes around at my exposed bones with sharp metal objects that just makes me uneasy. I know a lot of you feel this way as well, which is why this film had to appear in this feature. Ryan Spindell has captured those fears and concerns that so many of us share and put them on display in the most unsettling of ways with The Root Of The Problem. It takes place in a world that feels somewhat distant from society today, but I guarantee you the story that unfolds on screen will ensure you think twice before scheduling another cleaning.


Tub, directed by Bobby Miller

If there ever comes a day when I am able to forget the images burned into my mind the first time I watched Tub, it will likely be due to me having been lobotomized. Bobby Miller’s 2010 horror success was one of the big stories coming out of Sundance, and in the months that followed it played every major and minor horror festival that would welcome its absurd tale of boy meets tub. I’m not sure anyone could have prepared audiences for what to expect when they sat down for those initial screenings, and sitting here almost half a decade later I think the same can be said for those who are about to see it for the first time now. There is no point of reference for what happens in Tub. It is one of those truly unique viewing experiences that only comes along once every other year if we’re lucky and lives on forever thanks to lists like the one you’re reading right now. Enjoy:


Abe, directed by Robert McLellan

If you love Dexter, science fiction, and learning about the things that compel others to kill, you owe it to yourself to spend the next eight minutes getting to know Abe. Created by Robert McLellan, this futuristic short tells the story of a robot who was programmed to love, but not how to move on when others do not love him back. He was created to help humans and has done just that, but when his humans stop loving him back Abe decides it can only be due to the fact something inside them is broken. His job is to make the lives of humans better, so he does what he is programmed to do – fix them. MGM is currently adapting this story into a feature-length effort, so get familiar now and prepare to see Abe on the big screen in the years ahead:


Editorials written by: James Shotwell & Brian Lion
Last year’s Day 26 film: Stoker

Brian Leak
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