This article is part of a directory: Game Rant's Ultimate Guide To Horror Movies
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Horror films have a way of pinning audiences to the edge of their seats and engrossing them in terrifying tales of monsters and mayhem, transforming an otherwise mundane hour into something truly unsettling. But the beauty of the Horror genre is that films don't have to be particularly long or complex to root themselves deeply into the minds of their viewers.

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In fact, some short films are so gripping that they're actually scarier than feature-length titles. To showcase some of these amazing miniaturized works of art, we've collected a sampling of some of the best Horror Shorts that the Internet has to offer.

Updated April 8th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: Horror shorts continue to pop up all over the web, drawing in fans with their bite-sized creepy storylines and visually alarming designs. It's one thing to make a feature film in which directors have all the time they need to build tension and tell a story, but it's a completely different animal to do so in under 10 minutes with a minimal budget. But up-and-coming storytellers are consistently blazing past expectations with Horror shorts that feel just as well-designed and terrifying as big-budget projects. To shine a better light on some of the best Horror Shorts, the following list has been updated with even more entries.

13 The Cat With Hands

TheCatWithHandsShortFilm

Those that are looking for something just as visually creepy as it is tense, should give a look at The Cat With Hands. It's a rather short offering at just under 3 minutes (not including the credits) but it manages to pack some seriously creepy moments into its short run time. What sets it apart from other short films on this list is its supremely jarring visuals, which take somewhat realistic sights and morph them into something sinister with Fairy Tale-like effects. The end result is a nightmare for the eyes, with erratic movements and a clay-like quality that should stick with viewers long after the credits roll.

12 Salt

SaltShortHorrorFilm

One thing that makes a Horror film great is suspense and "Salt" manages to keep viewers on the edge of their seats for its entire 2-minute runtime. It's smart, plays on traditional Horror tropes, and manages to stay exciting from the moment it starts to its climactic ending. The fast-paced action, gorgeous visuals, and great acting should keep Horror fans hooked. This is the type of short offering that could be adapted into a large-scale feature film, considering its premise and design.

Salt is definitely one of the best short films that have come out in recent years and although it only lasts a couple of minutes, it should keep even the most established Horror fans on their toes, guessing what will happen next.

11 Peter The Penguin

Peter The Penguin Short Horror FIlm

There is something terrifying about an otherwise normal situation turning into something truly unsettling. Peter The Penguin is a great example of this type of twist, starting out with something rather wholesome and quickly devolving into pure insanity. It's the type of short that completely subverts a viewer's expectations and by the end of it, watchers are left trying to sift through the wreckage of what they've actually just witnessed. Peter the Penguin features some parts Comedy, some parts Horror, and underlines all of it with a tense and rapidly building tension that culminates in a twist that will leave viewers confused and horrified.

10 Bedfellows

Bedfellows Horror Short

This one gained notoriety around the internet shortly after it was created, with many people scaring their friends and family with the incredibly unsettling reveal. It is incredibly short but builds tension like a feature-length movie.

A woman receives a phone call late at night and answers it in a tired stupor. The voice she hears on the other end is the last person she'd expect, causing the seemingly innocent story to tumble down a dark and sinister path rapidly. It's edge-of-your-seat Horror in a bite-sized format.

9 Alexia

Alexia Horror Short Film

Easily one of the most alarming (and topical) entries on this list, Alexia is a Spanish-made (and spoken) short tale of one man's unhealthy obsession with the memorial of a loved one via social media. There are so many people around the world that are closely connected with their social media accounts, with some doing the same things as the main character in this short film.

It's gripping, slow at the start, but quickly devolves into something truly horrifying. This one is sure to make viewers jumpy.

8 The Black Hole

The Black Hole Horror Short Film

Horror doesn't need to feature monsters or supernatural creatures to be terrifying. Sometimes, all it takes is a seemingly playful concept and a twist that turns things from Sci-Fi fantasy to thrilling Horror short.

The man in this video finds himself in possession of an incredibly useful (albeit a bit Looney Tunes) object that has him helping himself to some snacks from a vending machine. Things take a dark turn, however, when the man gets a bit too greedy and learns a valuable lesson he'll take to the grave.

7 White With Red

White With Red Horror Short

Some of the best Horror shorts are adaptations of famous folk stories or Creepypastas. The concept of White with Red has been floating around Internet forums and campfires for years as its own chilling tale but turns into something truly horrific in this beautifully crafted short film.

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When it comes to Horror, visuals can make or break a story and the creators did a fantastic job in capturing the essence of this iconic legend. The end result is just as visually unsettling as it is through spoken word.

6 Behind The Door

Behind The Door Short Horror

This one tosses audiences directly into the thick of things, starting with a look at an unknown entity frantically trying to gain entry into a young boy's house. What follows is a tense exchange between the terrified boy and whatever evil lurks outside the doorway.

This short less-than-three-minute film is smart, paying homage to a classic Horror trope while simultaneously teaching viewers an important lesson. People should always think before they speak, even if their hearts are racing.

5 Alma

Alma Horror Short

There are few things more terrifying than the naivety of children. Too young to understand some of the dangers that lurk around each corner, kids finding themselves embroiled in danger is a big trope in the Horror genre.

Alma, an animated short film, showcases this naivety to great effect, when a young girl wanders into a seemingly empty shop to grab a doll that's caught her eye. There's no dialogue or immensely scary monsters. This one is simply a horrific prospect brought to life through masterful storytelling and beautiful visual design.

4 Doppelganger

Doppelganger Short Horror Film

Daywalt Horror has been crafting scares for years now, bringing their interesting and entertaining brand of spooks to their dedicated YouTube audience. Doppelganger is easily one of their best, taking a seemingly normal trip home and twisting it into something truly sinister.

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When a woman receives a call from her husband and instructions not to go home, she begins to have an inward struggle with herself and must come to grips with what's the truth and what's a lie. It's smart, engaging, horrifying, and comes complete with a few great twists.

3 Ripped

Ripped Short Horror Film

Those looking for something a little lighter, but still pretty creepy, should check out Ripped. This short film follows a man that's ready to "get ripped" by joining his local gym. He heads there late at night (or very early in the morning in this case) in order to avoid the crowds.

What seems simple and innocent evolves into a clever and hilariously entertaining story that features solid acting and a twist that most won't see coming. It's a fun and funny ride that will break up some of the other chilling tales on this list.

2 Sucka Blood

Sucka Blood Horror Short

Fairytales weren't always as happy-go-lucky as they appear in most children's media today. In fact, the Brothers Grimm helped to create some of the most chilling works of fantasy the world had ever seen, with powerful folk tales that taught lessons through horrific experiences. Some Fairytales were downright devastating, serving as nothing more than a cautionary tale in which a character meets a wicked demise.

Sucka Blood follows this model, presenting viewers with a fantastically shot and designed short film complete with an engaging narrator that rhymes his way through a tale of deceit and karma.

1 Behind Closed Doors

Behind Closed Doors Horror Short Film

Another animated short film, this one was so popular it managed to spawn a remake (featured here) that saw the creator revamping all of the visuals within the story to make for a much creepier tale.

A young boy believes there is a monster living in his room, much to the anger of his less-than-friendly father. This one is incredibly well made, featuring a story that twists and turns despite its short runtime.

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