Last year, we did a bunch of horror short films that were presented at the Palm Springs International Shortfest, and guess what? They’re back again this year for more great shorts. We’ve got nine great shorts this time around. Unfortunately for us, they’re all still on the festival circuit, so we can’t include links to watch them, but if you keep your eye open for them, you may be able to spot a few of these later this year!
All this, as well as the latest issue of “Horror Monthly,” issue #58, for July 2026, is releasing soon! Check out all the back issues, as well as our other books, with one easy link: https://horrormonthly.com
Short Films:
2025 Short Film: Hand
Directed by: Jennifer Winterbotham
Written by: Jennifer Winterbotham
Stars: Sharlene Cruz, Dario Vazquez, Emma Ramos
Run Time: 18 Minutes
Submitted as an entry in the “Palm Springs International ShortFest”
What Happens
Amber and Justin are in the process of breaking up, and she’s taking it badly. As she walks back to her car in a daze, she accidentally cuts her hand on a cactus. Out of the blue, Justin slits his wrists, but that’s OK because she’s got bandages. Or maybe that was a dream.
Later, she talks to her friend on the phone, and we see the cut on her hand and the breakup are real. At work, her hand starts bothering her, and she continues to hallucinate Justin.
What exactly is going on here?
Commentary
So many horror movies could simply be avoided if people actually went to the doctor! Anyway, on to the important question— does mustard expire?
We know something is off about Amber right from the beginning, but finding out the specifics takes some time, and it’s all very suspenseful. The hallucinations are really well done with the accompanying special effects.
Great!
2026 Short Film: The End is at Hand
Directed by: Japhet E. Velazquez
Written by: Sam Gallen
Stars: Efren Ramirez, Richard Kind
Run Time: 9 Minutes
Submitted as an entry in the “Palm Springs International ShortFest”
What Happens
Frank calls the phone repair place, and he’s not happy about how long it’s taking to get his phone back. Meanwhile, the repairman gets to work on his phone and pulls out something gooey.
Wait— is that blood?
The repairman’s never had a job like this before!
Commentary
Richard Kind is getting up there in years, but his voice is still identifiable and hilarious. The creature and body horror effects are very good, and it’s obvious exactly what’s going on at all times. And be sure to continue watching (and listening) through the closing credits.
2025 Short Film: Ce qu’on laisse derrière / What We Leave Behind
Directed by: Jean-Sebastien Hamel, Alexandra Myotte
Written by: Jean-Sebastien Hamel, Alexandra Myotte
Stars: Jack Jackel, Jean-Sebastien Hamel
Run Time: 11 Minutes
Submitted as an entry in the “Palm Springs International ShortFest”
What Happens
Dan tries to watch TV, but his neck has a huge hole in it, so his head won’t sit up straight. He gets drunk and breaks into the hockey rink, where he hallucinates getting beat up. The guard comes in and sees the hole in his neck.
What’s going on here?
Commentary
It is animated in a very psychedelic, dreamlike way, and it’s interesting to watch one thing develop into the next. Dan is remembering his tormented, bullied youth, and it’s not pleasant. We eventually find out about his neck-hole, and it’s not a fun trip.
2025 Short Film: MANTIS STREAM! LIKE & SUBSCRIBE
Directed by: Sarah Maerten, Lincoln Robisch
Written by: Sarah Maerten, Lincoln Robisch
Stars: Joseph Anthony Carroll, Sarah Maerten, Donald Inn
Run Time: 9 Minutes
Submitted as an entry in the “Palm Springs International ShortFest”
What Happens
A man proposes to a woman dressed like a praying mantis. It’s all a part of their livestream show. Craig is all very serious, but Mandy is only in it for likes and subscribes. He asks her for a mantis egg, and she pours them down his throat.
Craig, on the other hand, chokes on the egg. She can’t help him because of her costume. The paramedics show up, and they’re into the “likes” again. Craig staggers outside, where the police are filming a thing, and he’s dying the whole time.
Will Craig be OK? Will he get enough likes?
Commentary
It’s really dumb, but it’s also a representation of streamer culture, doing anything for likes. It gets weirder and weirder as it progresses, and it’s all really well done. The special effects are really impressive once it gets going as well.
If you agree with my review, LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE!
2026 Short Film: Don’t Puke
Directed by: Daniel Chisholm
Written by: Daniel Chisholm
Stars: Janka Horakova, Claire Uicker, Mitra Adib-Moghaddam
Run Time: 9 Minutes
Submitted as an entry in the “Palm Springs International ShortFest”
What Happens
It’s Charlie’s birthday, and she’s out with her friends drinking… heavily. She leaves the bar looking for food and staggers around trying hard not to puke. As she walks up to Kebab Castle, she watches as another woman pukes and barely manages not to join in.
Will she succeed?
Commentary
When that room starts spinning, there’s no getting off the ride. Anyone who’s tried to avoid barfing knows the terror involved. It’s fun, and fairly effective body horror at that!
2026 Short Film: Imago
Directed by: Ariel Zengotta
Written by: Ariel Zengotta
Stars: Didi Romero, Josh Plasse, Denise Blazer
Run Time: 13:20
Submitted as an entry in the “Palm Springs International ShortFest”
What Happens
It’s Ana’s birthday, and everyone sings. She sees a bug on the table and just stares at it. Later, she laughs at Billy’s gringo accent. Things soon devolve to him admitting that he loves her. Ana’s mother calls, and they both panic ridiculously.
Ana’s mother is having some kind of emergency, so Ana has to leave in a hurry. When Ana pulls back the covers, we see that her mother is turning into a big bug— that doesn’t keep her from arguing with Ana. “I’ve got like sixteen fucking legs now!”
And then it gets weird…
Commentary
The bug creature is really well done. The mother-daughter dynamics are more than a little on-the-nose.
It’s very funny, and very well done.
2026 Short Film: Scissors
Directed by: Hanna Alline
Written by: Hanna Alline
Stars: Ethan Embry, Jenna Kanell, Georgia Bridgers
Run Time: 12 Minutes
Submitted as an entry in the “Palm Springs International ShortFest”
What Happens
A woman buys beer in a convenience store and flashes the clerk. A stranger, Terry, watches her do it, and he follows her out. Terry calls his ex on the phone, and she hates him so much it’s on her answering machine.
Terry’s a stalker/serial killer, but he’s chosen the wrong house…
Commentary
Don’t mess with the lesbians!
Terry’s maybe the worst stalker ever; he talked himself right out of the whole thing. Then again, sometimes a stalker isn’t the worst guy at the party.
Very well done!
2025 Short Film: I have A
Directed by: Rory WT
Written by: Rory WT
Stars: Nathan Rizwan (animated)
Run Time: 5 Minutes
Submitted as an entry in the “Palm Springs International ShortFest”
What Happens
An animated man decides to list all the good things in life. Somehow, this goes terribly wrong.
Commentary
Horror? Well, it’s life and death; sometimes it’s pretty horrific.
The animation is fun, and the rhyme is amazing. It kept reminding me of the “Pen Pineapple Apple Pen” from a few years ago.
2025 Short Film: What Are Grandchildren Made Of?
Directed by: Lindsey Susor
Written by: Lindsey Susor
Stars: Mike Gassaway, Jeanine Henry, Loralei Godwin
Run Time: 12 Minutes
Submitted as an entry in the “Palm Springs International ShortFest”
What Happens
Lilly’s grandfather forgot and left her in the car for many hours, and now she’s dead. Or is she? No, she’s back alive again. She can respawn after death. “You think this can help us pay off our car?” asks Grandma.
Grandpa takes her out back and shoots her in the head. Then he goes inside, grabs, and does it again. Soon, there’s a whole pile of dead Lillys in the backyard.
Yes, Grandpa’s found a way to pay off the car.
Commentary
So THAT’s how organ harvesting works. This is really clever and funny, and it actually makes sense, in a twisted way.
The ending is great as well. Oops!
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