The Horror Shorts That Made The Cut For Fangoria's 2023 Chainsaw Awards
2023 marks another year where the Academy Awards have shuttered horror from the competition, but genre fans know better than to expect anything less. Although there have always been exceptions in the past, such as "The Exorcist," "The Fly," and "Get Out," the Oscars' track record speaks for itself. But the truth is that horror folks don't really need the attention of the prestigious awards body when they have a better outlet to see their favorites receive some industry recognition.
If you're a horror nerd, then the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards is where you want to be paying attention. Although the famed magazine started this back in the '90s, it's only been in the past few years that they've started making it a yearly tradition. On top of that, the one-hour ceremony, which usually airs on Shudder, is curated for horror folks by horror folks. Where else are you going to find an awards ballot that features something as traditional as Best Cinematography next to Best Kill? Some of this year's nominees include "Nope," "Pearl," "Orphan: First Kill," "Terrifier 2," and "Speak No Evil."
Among the heavy hitters, however, are the categories that maybe don't get as much attention as they should, such as Best Short. This year's roster includes a wide array of short-form horror that range from psychological to absurdist. What's even cooler is that you can see all of them online for free right now. With that said, let's take a look at this year's nominees.
Blink
Where to Stream - YouTube
First up on the block is "Blink," which comes from Spenser Cohen, the screenwriter behind "Extinction" and "Moonfall." The 10-minute short sees a frightened young woman wake up in the hospital after being pushed out of a window. The lurking entity that gave her the near-fatal nudge has followed her. Unfortunately, the only way she can communicate with the hospital staff is through blinking, leaving her in an even more vulnerable position.
One of the most exciting things about this short is that, according to a report from Deadline, it comes from the new subsidiary of Sony's Screen Gems. Partnering with Ground Control, the aptly named Scream Gems will act as a horror lab for young filmmakers in the horror sphere to test out proof-of-concept shorts that could potentially be turned into feature films. You can tell a studio was able to put some money behind this. It even features "Yellowjackets" star Sophie Thatcher as the bed-bound Mary, who really made me want to see this expanded into something more.
Seeing how "Lights Out," "Skinamarink," and "Smile" have all proven to be successful experiments in their transitions, it's no wonder a program like this was born. I give it about a year or so until "Blink" gets greenlit into a feature film.
Close Your Eyes
Where to Stream - Vimeo
Next up is "Close Your Eyes" from director Andy Chen, who also wrote and shot the horror short. Vincent (Vinny Balbo) wakes up to find his roommate Martin (David L. Bennett) with his ear against the door. He invites Vincent to listen and knock at the door, which invites a mysterious figure inside. Coming in at three minutes, "Close Your Eyes" keeps things very simple, while presenting a good deal of atmosphere. It's currently won two awards at some indie horror conventions. Given how brief it is, there's not much else to say that wouldn't spoil the outcome, so turn off the lights and go check it out for yourself.
Guts
Where to Stream - Vimeo
The appropriately titled "Guts" comes from writer-director Chris McInroy, who helmed the "One Time in the Woods" segment from the horror anthology film "Scare Package." Kirk C. Johnson plays Horace, a man whose guts stick out of his body. He just wants a promotion at work, but his unsightly stomach makes it difficult for his co-workers to take him seriously. Horace is going to prove, however, that his guts are what make him valuable to the company.
It's a pretty clever and hilarious spin on a toxic workplace culture that somehow goes even more off the rails. A lot of these faces involved, such as Jeremy King and Carlos Larotta, should be familiar to anyone who's seen the "Scare Package." The cast also features Mike Carreon, Sydney Huddleston, Brant Bumpers, Stephanie Vasquez Fonseca, and David E. McMahon. It's gross, funny, and surprisingly touching. What more could you ask for?
Meat Friend
Where to Stream - YouTube
"Meat Friend" is where we get really weird. It comes from writer-director Izzy Lee, who is known in the horror sphere for her award-winning festival shorts. After microwaving raw hamburger meat in the microwave, Billie (Marnie McKendry) makes a new buddy with the sentient Meat Friend, who imparts some really bad words of advice on the child. Her mother (Megan Duffy) tries to separate the two, but you don't just throw away friends.
I have a feeling that Meat Friend and "Psycho Goreman" would make a great pair. The 8-minute short plays like something that would fit right at home during a 4 am slot on Adult Swim. The puppet is cute, but it's McKendry's hilarious delivery that brings it all home. Definitely go check this one out for a good laugh.
O, Glory!
Where to Stream - Fangoria
Last but not least we have "O, Glory!" from writer-directors Charlie Edward-Moss and Joe Williams. Taking place in the late '70s, psychiatric doctor Thewlis (Sam Spurell) and his assistant Sylvester (Jonathan Livingstone) travel to an isolated country home to check on their latest. Deborah (Emily Stott) has been seeing things, which has led her to slowly lose her mind. The pair initially chalk up her behavior as female hysteria, but the more time they spend with her, they fall into the same state of paranoia.
The 35mm hallucinatory dreamscape keeps you on edge, as you almost never feel as if you're walking on solid foundation. You feel as if you're losing your minds along with them, as whatever embraced Deborah has spread throughout the ether of the house. Each of these shorts tackles a different brand of horror, which makes for a pretty fun marathon. In case you need another incentive, you can knock them all out in just about an hour.