15 Of The Scariest Short Horror Films (You Can Watch On YouTube Right Now)

For the past many years, YouTube has provided the world with countless amusing cat videos, babies biting people, and so on. However, you may or may not know that a darker and more sinister corner YouTube plays host to some of the scariest short films based in the world of horror.

From the works of established directors to passion projects by college students, there are hundreds upon hundreds of short films uploaded every day. So in the spirit of Halloween, we’re counting down some of the scariest short horror films you can go watch on YouTube right now.

Updated October 30th, 2020 by Zach Gass: Nowhere in the blood-soaked realms of the horror genre does it say that a horror film has to be feature film length. There are dozens of films out there who can guarantee a scary sequence in 10 minutes or less thanks to the invention of scary short films. Not only that, but many of these bite-sized suppliers of scares can all be found on the free and familiar platform of YouTube. For those that think horror is created with long runtimes and a big-budget, take a look at some of these fearsome,  free to watch features for your Halloween thrills.

15 The Umbrella Factory

Crypt TV is a YouTube channel absolutely loaded with brilliant short horror films of all varieties. Any die-hard horror junkie would be seriously mistaken to not subscribe and expose themselves to some of these seriously scary shorts.

One of the most underappreciated members of the channel’s library is The Umbrella Factory, an animated, black-comic adaptation of The Monkey’s Paw. Short, spooky, and stylistic, The Umbrella Factory is the perfect way to whet one’s appetite before binging a series of horror shorts. But this isn’t the only feature from Crypt TV to warrant attention.

14 The Birch

If it’s one thing Crypt TV does exceptionally well, it’s creating memorable monsters with only minutes of screen time. One of the most horrifying and hauntingly beautiful creatures ever to step foot in a horror movie has to be The Birch. The Birch is a forest spirit brought to life by a bullied British schoolboy who reaps a gnarly vengeance on his tormentor, much to the audience’s satisfaction.

Not since the ghosts from Del Toro’s Crimson Peak has a spirit been so lethal yet loving at the same time. Fans of traditional creature features will definitely love her.

13 Look-See

For those wanting a more gruesome and gory affair from Crypt TV, look no further than the Look-See series of shorts. This collection of films will undoubtedly make the viewer’s skin crawl. The Look-See creature himself is essentially Slenderman with razor-sharp teeth and a knack for making his victims disappear, usually in bloody ways.

The creature is supposedly a representation of unprocessed grief, eating away at those it affects before finally consuming them, leaving a selected body part as a symbol of their tragedy. It gives new meaning to insult to injury.

12 The Backwater Gospel

The Backwater Gospel is an animated horror short from Wicker.Works that’s more of an acquired taste, but more than enjoyable for those willing to pay attention. The Joker once said “when the chips are down these… civilized people, they’ll eat each other.” and this stylish short film is the perfect visual example.

When the mysterious Undertaker, a manifestation of death, visits the religious town of Backwater to take some poor soul with him, the townsfolk turn on one another in a brutal, violent fashion. Not even the town’s beloved, bible-belt minister is safe from the carnage.

11 Never Hike Alone

Can a horror film be a fountainhead of fan-service? The answer is Never Hike Alone. This Friday the 13th-inspired fan film pulls Jason Voorhees back to his roots while at the same time bringing him into the modern age without the use of a Michael Bay remake.

While the film’s body count is surprisingly low, to say Camp Crystal Lake’s resident slasher doesn’t deliver would be insultingly untrue. The film is free to watch in its entirety and recently got a sequel that continues the carnage with Never Hike in the Snow. 

10 2am : The Smiling Man

CreepyPastas have often been controversial topics thanks to likes of the SlenderMan. However, it is some of the lesser-known stories on the popular fiction site that can provide substantial amounts of source material for the budding horror short director and 2am: The Smiling Man is one such success story.

Directed by Michael Evans in 2013, this short film based upon the Reddit phenom chooses to embrace a creepier style of storytelling. Paul Foltz, who plays the smiling man embodies the character and really brings a sense of mischief to the role with his gaunt and misshapen movements that are sure to leave viewers unsettled and perhaps rethinking that late-night stroll.

9 The Cop Cam

The Blair Witch Project is undoubtedly one of the most popular horror films ever made. With its found-footage approach, it opened up the world to a style and format of filmmaking that had never been as commercially successful.  It gave up-and-coming filmmakers a tool that could be utilized without breaking the bank and so the onslaught of found footage films began.

The Cop Cam takes this very premise and infuses it with a video-game-style to create a suspense-filled journey through an abandoned house in response to an emergency call. It’s not the most story-driven piece but for an electrifying scare, its a perfect go-to for any fan of found footage film.

8 Bloody Mary

Folklore and tales of Bloody Mary have always played havoc with anyone looking for an easy scare and, more often than not, this old tale has served generations of teenagers from all over the world in scaring each other silly but with no real outcome. However, director Alexander Ronnberg tells a different story in 2016’s Bloody Mary short.The lack of any kind of soundscape plays a key role in building tension in this piece.

With the looming camera movements, typical horror tropes, and cliches, it serves its purpose in delivering a memorable experience that is perfect for putting anyone off of ever looking in the mirror again.

7 The Captured Bird

By far the most visually stunning selection on this list is The Captured Bird, directed by Jovanka Vucovic in 2012. It quite rightly grabbed the attention of Guillermo Del Toro, who was named as an executive producer, because of its simple premise, and beautifully-structured exploration of innocence and seemingly dark undertone.

The film also enlisted an outstanding team for its production and you can really tell that this was a labor of love for all involved, with impeccable creature designs and a nod to the works of H.P Lovecraft. It was a critical success, and very rightly so for its haunting atmosphere, stunning visuals, and unnerving performances. It is a must-see for fans of anything that Guillermo Del Toro has produced.

6 Tuck Me In

Tuck Me In is a perfect example of the effectiveness of using common and everyday tasks that a viewer can relate to then giving them a perfect scare. Directed by Ignacio F. Rodo in 2014 and one of the shorter selections in this list with just a one minute run time, Tuck Me In has an ability to create intrigue that can rival a full-blown feature-length film.

Its climax proves to be scary because of the performances from both the father and son, giving us something more unsettling than what is expected without the need for a typical jump scare. It leaves the viewer with questions and the door open to interpretation which only adds to its appeal.

5 The Maiden

From Michael Chaves, director of The Curse Of La Llorona and the upcoming Conjuring 3 comes The Maiden, a masterfully produced short that delivers on everything you could ask for from a horror film. The Maiden balances itself on the thin line between comedy and horror with its humorous story involving a real estate agent selling a haunted house.

Chaves hammers down on the comedic premise by ramping up the tension and delivering horrifying visuals with a poignant ending. It is a well-executed piece with performances to match and it is exciting to think of what Chaves can accomplish within the Conjuring Universe.

4 Mama

Written and directed by Andy Muschietti of the It films comes Mama, a short film that later went on to be adapted for the big screen thanks to its haunting premise and well-executed, claustrophobic atmosphere. Muschietti cleverly brings his story to life in one continuous sequence held together by two sisters at the mercy of Mama.

Some fans argue that this short is infinitely scarier than its feature-length follow-up and it is hard to dispute when we see the jarring and uncomfortable Mama in full glory, terrifyingly running amok in this creepy and memorable piece.

3 Autumn Harvest

Directed by Fredrik S. Hana, Autumn Harvest explores one lonely man’s desperate pursuit for connection with grotesque and horrific outcomes. Shot entirely in black and white and lacking any dialogue, Autumn Harvest is a beautifully produced short.

As it progresses we see incredible acts of violence paired with an intriguing story of tragedy only made better with an incredible performance from its leading man. Lovecraftian to the core, it’s impossible not to applaud everyone involved and it is certainly a memorable piece that keeps its cards close till the bitter end.

2 Lights Out

In 2013 David F. Sandberg, an unknown writer and director at the time, entered a short film based around a simple premise into the ‘Who’s there film challenge’. That film was Lights Out and not only did it win the competition, but it shot Sandberg into the spotlight. In 2016, the short went on to become a fully-fledged, feature-length film.

That being said, fans of the original short film will argue that the film never quite matched the horrifying original.Filmed on a shoestring budget, it is a simple premise and really demonstrates that fears and phobias can often create the most thrilling of horror experiences.

1 Zygote

Best known for the film District 9, Neil Blomkamp decided to branch out from Hollywood and into the world of short films by creating his own studio, with its sole purpose being to produce films to test the water for larger projects and ideas for feature-length productions. As a result, we have Zygote, a sci-fiction horror short with clear comparisons to The Thing and Alien.

The indie style short film format allows Blomkamp to stretch his legs and play in his own sandbox with the viewer reaping the rewards. It’s a tension-filled experience and one that is a testament to what can be achieved when a talented director can express creative freedom without constraints.

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