10 Scariest Short Horror Films You've Probably Never Seen

10. Polaroid (2017)

Written, directed, produced, and edited by Joey Greene, and made in collaboration with roommate Paul Houston, this 2017 short sees Alex (Ethan Mikael) uncover an old Polaroid camera while combing through some cardboard boxes. Picking it up, he decides to snap some pictures of his small and empty apartment. However, things quickly take a sinister turn when a demonic figure is seen in the photographs.

Made on a budget of $500 and filmed in Greene and Houston's own apartment, this three-minute-long film squeezes every drop of tension possible out of this familiar horror set-up.

Suspense is everything in this short. From the agonising moments of stillness before Alex snaps each photograph, to the ominous sound design which gives the apartment a creepy and claustrophobic feel, these filmmakers don't waste a second when it comes to increasing the suspense.

And while viewers will have an idea of what's going to happen, Greene's masterful delivery of the final scare nevertheless catches viewers off-guard with a creature reveal which boasts some seriously impressive visual effects.

Proving how effective jump scares can be done when done right, Polaroid is an underappreciated gem.