Sometimes it is the simplest idea that ends up scaring us the most. Stories may not always need intricate plot, significant character development, grotesque violence, or special effects to be an effectively frightening yarn. Flash fiction is one terrific medium for horror. It is fast and frightening and gets to the point. Short film is the same way. If I can manage to be scared by a video that is less then five minutes, then I am significantly impressed.
"Lights Out" is one such horror short. It may in fact be one of the best horror short films I've seen on the internet thus far. This short movie by David Sandberg and Lotta Losten manages to capture that undying childhood fear of the darkness. I remember many late nights as I lay alone in bed and thinking I could see things hiding in the darkness. I swore that as soon as the lights went out there would be some demonic ghost standing near my bed. Images of witches, zombies, and burned-up men often haunted my waking nightmares before I finally fell asleep.
In "Lights Out" we have a normal everyday woman, in a normal everyday suburban house, getting ready for bed. As she heads down the hall and turns off her lights she is pauses because it looks like there is a figure of a person standing at the end of the hall. She turns the lights on and the figure goes away. But as she turns them off it is there again.
"Lights Out" is one such horror short. It may in fact be one of the best horror short films I've seen on the internet thus far. This short movie by David Sandberg and Lotta Losten manages to capture that undying childhood fear of the darkness. I remember many late nights as I lay alone in bed and thinking I could see things hiding in the darkness. I swore that as soon as the lights went out there would be some demonic ghost standing near my bed. Images of witches, zombies, and burned-up men often haunted my waking nightmares before I finally fell asleep.
In "Lights Out" we have a normal everyday woman, in a normal everyday suburban house, getting ready for bed. As she heads down the hall and turns off her lights she is pauses because it looks like there is a figure of a person standing at the end of the hall. She turns the lights on and the figure goes away. But as she turns them off it is there again.
Those ARE just shadows right? That was always the question we asked as children staring at the dark figures in our hallways, at the top of the stairs, and in our bedrooms.
To tell any other details about this little film would be to do it a disservice. Let me just say that I was afraid to turn out my lights for a week after watching this one for the first time. So watch it for yourself below.
To tell any other details about this little film would be to do it a disservice. Let me just say that I was afraid to turn out my lights for a week after watching this one for the first time. So watch it for yourself below.
Summing it Up
"Lights Out" is one of the simplest and yet most frightening short films I have ever watched. It is well made, well conceived, and scary as hell. And it does it without any extensive gore or special effects. It brings back those childhood fears we all felt during those dark lonely nights. Go ahead and check it out by watching it below. And remember. . . turn out the lights before you begin.
Deaths: ?
Language: 0
Gore Factor: 0
Sex Factor: 0
Scare Factor: 4
Fun Factor: 5
Overall Rating: 5
Deaths: ?
Language: 0
Gore Factor: 0
Sex Factor: 0
Scare Factor: 4
Fun Factor: 5
Overall Rating: 5