LIGHTS OUT SHORT FILM REVIEW

LIGHTS OUT (2013) Directed by David F. Sandberg, 2-3 minutes short film.

Lights Outis a short horror film by David F. Sandberg that shows how scary things can be with just a simple idea. The film is only a few minutes long and doesn’t use much sound or dialogue but it still manages to be very frightening. The whole story is about what happens when the lights are turned off. Using just two rooms and two light switches, Sandberg creates a lot of fear.

Each time the lights go on and off, the shadowy figure in the hallway gets closer. The repetition builds more and more tension. As viewers, we start to expect the figure—and we get more scared every time the light flickers. The first time we see the silhouette is very quick, but it’s extremely effective.

The camera work and sounds also add to the fear. The hallway is shown in a very tight frame, the sounds are quiet and realistic, and the darkness feels heavy. The final jump scare, when the figure suddenly appears in the bedroom, is shocking and unforgettable. It’s no surprise that ScreenCraft called it one of the scariest horror short films.