Friday, June 9th was the third day of the 2023 Portland Horror Film Festival. Along with two feature films, the festival showcased a block of four short films. Because the theme of the day was “Satanic Panic,” each short film fits into that theme with demons, haunted items, the occult, and maybe even the devil. There’s a little something for everyone between these varied short films, and the audience was not disappointed.

HOW TO SUMMON A DEMON (Bumper Contest) – Directed by Steven K Jackley

This is the second year in a row Steven K Jackley (Spunk’s Not Dead) has won the bumper contest to be featured in the PHFF. How to Summon a Demon is a 60-second short telling the story of a witch performing a human sacrifice to summon a demon. Even with no dialogue, this short manages to tell a complete story with really fantastic visuals. Overall Rating: 3.5/5

THE HAUNTED BABY CARRIAGE FROM HELL – Written and Directed by JT Seaton

Making it’s world premiere at PHFF, this delightful short horror comedy follows a young couple as they move into an old house that happens to have a haunted baby carriage. What could be a horrifying premise is instead turned comedic as the couple is more annoyed by the presence of the baby carriage rather than fearful of it. The writing is very clever and definitely got a ton of laughs from the audience. Plus the short has wonderful performances from Dylan Wayne Lawrence (Intertwine) and John Reddy (Pillow Party Massacre) as the couple, as well as a delightfully hilarious appearance from horror legend Kelli Maroney (Chopping Mall). Overall Rating: 3.5/5

ODDITIES – Written and Directed by Tyler Savage

Tyler Savage (Stalker) brings to life the story of two young addicts planning to rob a woman’s antique shop to make a quick buck, but the shop owner has a few tricks of her own. This short film is delightfully creepy with a dash of humor as it tells a sort of modern day fairy tale, warning youngsters the dangers of choosing the wrong path in life. The small but mighty cast includes Logan Miller (Escape Room), Ariela Barer (How to Blow Up a Pipeline), and horror fan-favorite Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog). Even though Oddities works quite well in its current 15-minute format, this is one I would love to see expanded into a feature film. Overall Rating: 4/5

RINGING ROCKS – Written and Directed by Gus Reed

In what is the most cerebral of the short films at PHFF, Ringing Rocks follows a young man taking his boyfriend on a remote getaway after a traumatic event, but his recovery is cut short as the laws of reality begin to change. Writer and director Gus Reed (Hellmouth) intentionally leaves this compelling short somewhat ambiguous, leaving it up to the audience to draw their own conclusions. Are these bizarre events real? Is it imagined? Or perhaps this couple is manifesting the horrors with their own dark thoughts. This short includes powerful performances from Hunter Doohan (Wednesday), Max Sheldon (Nighthawks), and Rhian Rees (Halloween 2018), as well as stunning cinematography. Ringing Rocks might not appeal to all audiences, but it is sure to leave a lasting impression. Overall Rating: 3.5/5