9 horror films under 9 minutes

This Halloween, you can enjoy zombies, demons, madness, and suspense all in delicious bite-size pieces. Though short, these 10 films are well-made, real horror movies, which include all the terror and gore you demand from your Halloween viewing. Just take note: None of the below are suitable for children.

1. Cargo (7:15) (Mild gore)

Cargo is a peculiarly warm-hearted zombie film that has taken the internet and the short-film community by storm. It involves a man who knows his time is limited, and who uses a balloon, a stick, and a Sharpie to help him ensure his cargo continues on safely without him.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

2. The Facts in the Case of Mister Hollow (6:09) (Gore, terror)

It's a daring approach to filmmaking to make a movie with only one frame. In this case, that one frame is a snapshot of what appears to be the start of a picnic or a campfire. But look more closely and you'll find the tiny mysteries that reveal themselves against the film's brilliant soundtrack. Some of the image changes are so subtle you're not sure they're really there.

3. Dark Times (4:42) (Language, gore)

Bad things are happening, and fast. You're in this. You're not the hero, but you're still in for a hell of a ride.

4. The Cat With Hands (3:30) (Monsters, terror)

Have you heard the story about the cat that lived at the bottom of the old well? This beautiful, terrible mix of stop-motion and live action might make you wish you hadn't.

5. Suckablood (6:47) (Mild gore, monsters)

Suckablood is a dark, down-the-rabbit-hole nursery rhyme about a little girl who needs to stop sucking her thumb. Besides being the most beautifully filmed short on the list, Suckablood is one of the few to offer a happy ending. Sort of.

6. Alma (5:25) (Psychological thriller)

If any movie on this list could be considered appropriate to show a child, it would be Alma. Alma is an animation about a little girl who finds a doll that looks just like her. It delivers chills without words or violence. It might even teach children an important lesson: When things don't seem quite right, they probably aren't.

7. Inside (5:08) (Psychological thriller)

Inside is about a man trapped in a mental institution, who wants to get out. But he's not alone in there. The question is whether or not his companions will help or hinder him.

8. The Sleepover (5:25) (Gore, language)

The people of Derry have a slasher. They've come to accept that's just the way things are. Luckily, all teenage babysitters are proficient in martial arts and are crack shots with numerous firearms.

9. Bedfellows (2:31) (Terror)

Not only is Bedfellows is the shortest film on this list, but it's also the one with the simplest theme (a phone call in the night!). You'll surely remember this one when you turn out the light tonight.