From here on out, when y’all think of a “short film,” Dead Grandma is the standard you need to be thinking about. Period.

Normally, when we talk about short films, we’re thinking anywhere from five to 20, maybe even 30 minutes. But this? 80 seconds. A minute and 20 seconds is all it takes for this film to completely wreck your headspace.

The Art of Being Concise

One of the most difficult things about short filmmaking is being concise and coherent at the same time. You have to give the audience the “before” and the “after” while jumping right into the middle of the action. You’re trying to paint the whole picture on a tiny canvas, and let me tell you—it’s not easy. I’ve tried my hand at writing short films, so I know the struggle.

But what they did in 80 seconds here? That is a straight-up Masterclass.

One Shot, Total Terror

I don’t know who the creators are yet, and I haven’t even found their full catalog, but I need more. On top of the tight writing, this entire film is one shot. No multiple scenes, no cuts to hide behind—just one continuous take that is absolutely terrifying.

And I’m not even talking about “horror movie” terrifying. I’m talking about the pure, raw energy of the situation.

• You know exactly what happened before the camera started rolling.
• You see exactly what is happening now.
• And you can feel the potential disaster that’s coming next.

Re-Igniting the Spark

It’s crazy, yo. I haven’t been on a “short film rant” like this since Lights Out came out back in 2013. It’s been a long time since a project really reignited that trip for me, but Dead Grandma is top-tier.

The Verdict: It’s on YouTube. It’s only 80 seconds of your life. Go watch it, then come back and let me know if we’re in the same headspace. Because I know it just can’t be me.

Expand your mind past the big-budget features for a minute and witness what real filmmaking looks like when you’ve only got a minute to spare.