STRANGE CREATURES begins as A woman (Quinn Jackson), shaking with fear, pulls up to a trailhead at night deep in the forest. Her headlights do little to pierce the inky darkness of the forest outside of her car. She glances to the left of her at a nearby cabin to a single payphone where her brother had just called her for help. Now the scene is silent, dark, and foreboding. The woman’s phone rings again and it’s someone calling to ask where she is. The woman explains that her brother called her from a payphone here, asking for help. What we discover next is downright chilling. Nicholas Payne Santos writes and directs this exceptional short with ruthless efficiency and a keen understanding of suspense to deliver a wonderful piece of horror.

When watching STRANGE CREATURES, I was reminded of the ingenious short Lights Out from then-unknown director David F. Sandberg. With a careful build and simple setup, both of these shorts rely on mystery and anticipation, creating unbearable suspense. Sounds, clean visuals, and a simple story are the ingredients used to deliver nerve-jangling tension.

It also helps that we are treated to Jackson as the distraught, confused, and understandably frightened woman. If you have ever driven in the forest at night, alone, there comes a certain sense that you are being watched. It could be anything from the animals hidden in the undergrowth to nature itself. It could also be something far worse. Outside, blinded by the headlights of her vehicle, and terrified, Jackson’s performance convinces us to be afraid before we even know what we are afraid of.

Please, do yourself a favor. Stop what you are doing and watch this delicious little 6-minute nugget of horror. Santos’ STRANGE CREATURES is a well-crafted short that promises the successful career of a talented filmmaker.