A woman’s rage comes in many forms. It’s quiet as a mouse, devouring you before you know it. Other times it uses what you think women are like to achieve their goals. And other times, it’s a violent and cathartic release of everything you’ve been holding back. Hell, even a ghost from the past can be tied to a woman’s rage. Chances are that if you’re a woman, you’ve felt that rage inside. And you will absolutely understand the women in this horror short films list. These women rage. They simmer. And they either conquer their foes or get let loose something that has been trying to free itself from inside your check.
That’s where this list comes in. Because as someone who really doesn’t want to watch another Hollywood sequel or remake this Halloween, these horror short films on YouTube are perfect. Most of these picks were found on Alter “an ever-expanding platform for the most daring storytellers in the world of horror.” And some of them are also featured on the Screamfest channel, home of the Screamdest Horror Film Festival. So, prepare for spooks and make sure to send the creators all the love if you enjoy their work!
1. Snake Dick (2020)
Directed by David Mahmoudieh, Snake Dick stars Poppy Drayton from The Shannara Chronicles and Sierra Pond from Reckless Juliets. According to the synopsis, “Jill’s got the snake. Julia’s got the flute. Alone, they have nothing. But together, they have a secret weapon to fight the darkness.”
2. Hangry (2021)
Directed by Bola Ogun, Hangry stars Ellie Gall from A Place to Call Home. According to the synopsis, “When teenage Rae realizes her stepfather has been stealing her mother’s medication as her mother inches closer and closer to death, she has to make a decision regardless of her morality… Quiet. Calculated. Strong. And now fearless. LeRoy will find out who his stepdaughter is when her back is against the wall… literally.”
3. Leash (2018)
Directed by Harry Lighton, Leash stars Angharad Berrow as Kasia. This one is a little bit twisted because we get to see the rage of the bully and the one being bullied. The big difference is that those who seem weak, always have secrets to hide. That’s especially true under full moons.
4. Slut (2014)
Directed by Chloe Okuno, Slut stars Molly McIntyre as Maddy. According to the synopsis, “Maddy is 16 years old. She lives alone with her sick grandmother in a rundown farmhouse off a highway in Nowheresville, Texas. She does her best to take care of her mute, wheelchair-bound grandmother, but life at home is lonely and depressing. So, like everyone else within a 20-mile radius, Maddy spends her free time at the only place with half a pulse- the local roller rink. With her shabby clothes, large glasses, and dangerous naivete, Maddy is a hopeless misfit amongst her peers. Determined to embrace her inner vixen, Maddy looks to a girl named Jolee- beautiful, blonde, and unapologetically promiscuous- as a sort of model for what attracts men. Unfortunately for Maddy, it’s just at this time that an older, charismatic Stranger enters her life, a man whose charm masks the impulses of a murderous, misogynistic psychopath.”
5. The Retreat (2020)
Directed by Marcus Anthony Thomas, The Retreat stars Iniki Mariano as Mia. According to the synopsis, “When Mia, a distraught single mother, arrives at a retreat that uses revenge as a form of therapy, she must face her pain and decide which path is right for her.”
6. Deep Tissue (2021)
Directed by Brian L. Tan, Deep Tissue stars Mike Lewis, Cynthia Regina A. Chung, Ayu Norma Ilahi. According to the synopsis, “Upset with his girlfriend, Adam finds himself avoiding her apology calls as he explores the nightlife of Bali. There’s food, music, and a massage parlor that piques his interest. Soon Adam finds himself trying something new as an alluring masseuse does her best to have him forget his troubles. Little does he know, something sinister is afoot.”
7. Hydrangea (2022)
Directed by Jonas Schmidt & Kris Kurku, Hydrangea stars Loretta Müller as Janina and Yasmin Münter as Emilia. According to the synopsis, “At dinner, Janina finally manages to articulate her concerns about her girlfriend’s increasingly strange behavior – with devastating consequences.”
9. Maggie (2022)
Directed by James Kennedy, Maggie stars Shaun Scott (Marvel’s Moonknight) and Lukwesa Mwamba (Carnival Row). According to the synopsis, “A young care worker unleashes a supernatural force when she attempts to put a widower into care.”
10. Two Devices Connected
Directed and Written by Mark Mazur, Two Devices Connected stars Rachel Weber. According to the synopsis, “In a desolate parking garage, a woman grows wary when a second device connects to her car’s Bluetooth.”
Before you go, make sure to check out 13 Horror Short Films to Watch Starring Well-Known Actors!
