Horror Short Review: 048 (2024)
From Shadow Pond Productions, and writer/director/editor, Luke Cloarec, comes 048. A horror short that stars Mason Sturgess, Lee McLeod, Charlie Bettesworth, and Emma Ljunggren.
It’s late at night, in some form of student-style accommodation block, and Jake is trying to go to sleep. Just as he begins to drift off, he is disturbed by a knock at his door. Initially, more than happy to ignore it, more knocking forces him out of bed. As he approaches the door and the spyhole, there is an ominous vibe, but on the other side is a young woman he recognises.
This is Sydney, and they know each other, so he lets her in, even if his body language suggests he’d prefer not to. Once inside, she explains that she came back to her room, and saw someone inside peering at her from a corner. Terrified, she ran away and came to Jake, claiming she had nowhere else to go.
Jake, unwilling to let her stay (the vibe suggests they might have been a couple until recently), offers to go and check out her room and make sure it’s safe for her to go back, which she agrees to.
On route, the short does a great job of showcasing the awkwardness between the pair, and once again, begins to build up an ominous vibe as they approach Sydney’s room. Of course, once inside, nobody is there. However, this horror short is just getting started, and if you want to know what happens next, you’ll have to check it out yourself below.
It’s well worth it as this is a very well made short. The characters are surprisingly fleshed out, the acting is strong, the music is used to really enhance the creep factor, and it has some strong scare moments too. To cap all of this off, it has a really impressive ending too that leaves you feeling satisfied, and able to use your imagination regarding what happens next.
048 (2024)
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The Final Score - 8/10
8/10