Each year, Portland Horror Film Festival showcases numerous short horror films. It’s one of the only festivals I go to in which I actually make a point of watching the shorts. This year, PHFF has outdone itself. On the first night of the festival, the first block of short films might be the best I’ve ever seen. As with most short film blocks, it’s usually a mixed bag depending on your taste. Some will stand out while others will quickly fade from memory. This first block was filled with absolutely outstanding stories, great performances, and memorable visuals.

NIGHT SPIDER – Written and Directed by Joey Koenig

A couple in post-wedding bliss have their evening interrupted by strange noises coming from upstairs. This was such a fun, unexpected short film. When it begins, audiences will likely have an idea of what they think will happen. Yet Koenig manages to keep the surprises coming one after the other. The end result is a delightfully demented creature feature with a twist. There are strong performances from the two leads, Dane Larsen (Wonder Man) and Rebecca Gomberg (The West and the Ruthless). What really makes Night Spider a standout are the effects. While there is some CGI used, the main creature design is entirely practical. Not only does the creature look fantastic, even though much of it is kept in shadow, but it also makes for a spine-chilling viewing experience. Overall Rating: 4/5.

HIDE – Written by Justin Kohlas and Directed by Cory Pratt

Hard up for cash, a handyman breaks into a client’s home to rob them, but he quickly learns the house isn’t quite as empty as he thought it was. This short horror film is absolutely dripping with pitch black humor. It blends perfectly with the tension, which keeps the audience at the edge of their seat as more and more horrors are revealed. It’s quite an unexpected tale, which even manages to bring up interesting conversations around ethically sourced foods. This short has one of the larger casts, each actor giving a great performance. The two standouts are Matthew Mikita (Euphoria) as the handyman and Lara Clear (Bombshell) as one of the homeowners. Plus, there are some gruesome practical effects to make audiences squirm. One thing is for sure, this short film will undoubtedly have people debating if they are on the side of the handyman or the homeowners. Overall Rating: 4/5

SWEETHEART – Written and Directed by Anisha Savan

This short film follows a young woman caring for and attempting to exorcise her possessed mother. Of all the short horror films in this block, Sweetheart is certainly the most emotionally charged. Savan beautifully tells a story of familial abuse and passing down generational trauma. The addition of demonic possession only helps to enhance this story and use the possession as a metaphor for the very real horrors. Aside from the demon, this very grounded plot is brought to life by a small cast of three actors. While they’re all great, the emotional weight is carried by Brock Looser as the daughter doing her best to care for a mother who could either be viewed as abusive or demonic. While the ending might leave some a tad confused, it’s still a tragic tale dealing with heavy themes that still delivers on the horror. Overall Rating: 3.5/5

SAMPLING (aka Echantillonnage) – Written and Directed by Jeremy Arné

A musician is on a quest to record a voice for every note on his keyboard. The only problem is, he collects those notes in a rather unconventional way. This French Canadian film is completely twisted and has hilariously dark humor. It doesn’t shy away from showcasing just how demented the main character is, all while making his wild antics entertaining and funny to watch. Christian Lemieux (Ababooned) is perfectly sinister as Joey and audiences will also fall in love with the laugh out loud performance from young Gabrielle Bruyère as Lina. Because the film is so focused on finding the perfect notes, it also has fantastic sound design. Especially when Joey plays his keyboard, the sound plays a vital part of the story being told. Sampling definitely delivers a memorable viewing experience. Overall Rating: 4/5

THE BARGAIN – Written and Directed by Alec Patchin

The Bargain follows a young woman who attempts to summon a demon in order to exact revenge on her former abusive foster dad, and stop him from harming anyone else. This is one of the most haunting, emotional short horror films of the festival. It immediately lets the audience know the why behind the protagonist’s actions without the need to explicitly show the trauma. Leana Gardella (Acting Out) delivers a gut-punch of a performance as Ruth and Michael David Wilson (Acting Out) is phenomenal as the demon. As if the story and performances weren’t enough to make this a great short, it also has breathtaking visuals including the cinematography and lighting choices. Not only was this a memorable short film, but it’s also one this film critic would love to see turned into a feature-length film. Overall Rating: 4.5/5

THE BONES EXIST – Written by Matthew DuVall, Directed by Kelsey Bollig and Matthew DuVall

In 1850s California, a group of gold prospectors come face to face with the sins of their past, plus an unexpected danger lurking in the wilderness. This short was so unexpected. The story starts out rather ominous, but the mystery only grows before the truth comes to light. While the performances and the story of this short horror film are very well done, what really makes this a standout are the visuals. First, the costume and production design go a long way to transport the audience to the 1850s. Second, and arguably even more important, is the CGI. The effects bringing the horrors to life in The Bones Exist are truly brilliant. Watching this short, one might think it’s actually a multi-million dollar feature film. While it’s not, yet, audiences will definitely want to see this short expanded into a feature. It’s a suspenseful, exciting, and entertaining tale that will stick with audiences long after it ends. If it looks this great now, just imagine what the filmmakers could do with a bigger budget. Overall Rating: 5/5