Horror Short Review: Tabitha (2021)

Matt Sears is killing it at the moment. The writer and director brought us the phenomenal horror short, The Sky and the inventive lockdown horror short, Zoom and Doom in 2020.

Now, he brings us a new tale of terror in the form of Tabitha. Written and directed by Sears, the short stars Renee Sears with music by Oscar Fogelström.

Renee Sears is a grieving woman struggling to move on with the loss of her twin sister. The wounds are so fresh that she can’t bring herself to look at her sister’s belongings or the letter that sits inside the box.

The only thing she can bear to look at is a weathered teddy bear and her sister’s cat, Tabitha, who she has taken in now. They say twins have a deeper connection and grief passes with time but moving on is a lot harder when the presence is still there.

An incredible short, Tabitha is a horror with layers. Beginning with emotional heftiness (Renee Sears is fantastic), moving into effective creepy territory before descending into nightmarish and sickening horror. This won’t leave you feeling good, that’s for sure. It will leave you feeling a wide range of emotions though.

There are so many great scenes. From the expressions on Renee Sears’ face as she looks through the box at the start. To her attempt to warm to the cat even though she clearly doesn’t like it. To the impending dread that comes from investigating noises downstairs and of course, what she finds. Even writing the words, thus reliving the events, sends shivers down the spine.

Beautifully shot, some great effects, imposing music and a well-paced story, Tabitha is a must see. It’s not quite as great as The Sky (not many shorts are) but it’s definitely Matt Sears’ best film since. You can check it out yourself below.