This little gem of 15 minutes absolutely scared the life out of me! Creepy, disturbing and dark. Low budget film that packs a punch! I just wish it was longer!
11 Reviews
Just wish it would have been longer
clairelou20089 December 2020
Suspense and Terrifying
MikeMvrd9 January 2021
It's an interesting approach of supernatural when Sean an old friend and former boyfriend of his now ex girlfriend brings a box that was meant for someone specific.
We learn Sean wanted a vengeance but got a more terrifying result of what you end up when going to great lengths for this.
I like the "don't keep your eyes off it" rule giving an awkward yet suspense feeling to the audience and characters. The acting is well performed on this type of story without under playing the situation. I would of liked to see more of that creepy suspense feeling from the man in the box instead of a brief moment.
It's a good scenario and a worthy of watching.
We learn Sean wanted a vengeance but got a more terrifying result of what you end up when going to great lengths for this.
I like the "don't keep your eyes off it" rule giving an awkward yet suspense feeling to the audience and characters. The acting is well performed on this type of story without under playing the situation. I would of liked to see more of that creepy suspense feeling from the man in the box instead of a brief moment.
It's a good scenario and a worthy of watching.
Gave unsettling chills as it played out
witra_as8 September 2021
Caleb J. Phillips totally gave audience unsettling chills as this short horror film played out. Tag & Rose had unexpected invasion from mysterious gift. Hopefully they'll expand those terrors into feature length movie someday.
Very effective horror (SUGGESTIVE SPOILERS)
bob the moo23 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is a very nicely creepy horror that doesn't rely on jump-scare moments so much as it delivers a constantly unsettling sense of threat, while slowly delivering on it. The concept is quite simple even though there is a lot of unknown elements. We start with a beautiful couple preparing dinner when someone they have some sort of history with delivers a Christmas gift. The gift is a cardboard box that appears to contain nothing - literally nothing, not even the bottom of the box which can be seen from outside. Nice use of visual effects show that not even light seems to do anything to it.
From here we quickly get to the reveal when something starts coming out, and we are told the basic rules. The unsettling idea and sense of fear help the viewer not ask too many questions in the moment, which helps the film move along without having to give all the answers. Visually it is a treat - really striking and very well setup. Some of the sound, the performances, and some exterior shots are a little lacking in polish, but as a whole the film is strong so such minor things are hardly noticeable. Well worth a look for the creeping sense of fear it produces throughout.
From here we quickly get to the reveal when something starts coming out, and we are told the basic rules. The unsettling idea and sense of fear help the viewer not ask too many questions in the moment, which helps the film move along without having to give all the answers. Visually it is a treat - really striking and very well setup. Some of the sound, the performances, and some exterior shots are a little lacking in polish, but as a whole the film is strong so such minor things are hardly noticeable. Well worth a look for the creeping sense of fear it produces throughout.
Alright but annoying decisions.
gileswh13 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Unrealistic decisions made by the characters. Call the police and ask for help, intruder in the house etc. Whack it with a bat or use the knife. Go to others for help, neighbours or whatever. Meme decisions.
When he returns home instead of contacting police he walks like an idiot into the basement alone with a torch.
Well done psych horror just the same. Makes you scared and concerned.
I just wish horror films had realistic decisions. It would be much better and relatable. A good example was the film 'event horizon', where the crew saw supernatural images on the found CCTV footage. The crew captain immediately states "we are leaving now!"
When he returns home instead of contacting police he walks like an idiot into the basement alone with a torch.
Well done psych horror just the same. Makes you scared and concerned.
I just wish horror films had realistic decisions. It would be much better and relatable. A good example was the film 'event horizon', where the crew saw supernatural images on the found CCTV footage. The crew captain immediately states "we are leaving now!"
Because there's no parents guide here u go:
doruksesli22 January 2021
No spoilers:
Sex and nudity: mild
One sex reference at the start and one short kiss
Violence and gore: none
A man sees a knife
Profanity: none
Alcohol drugs smoking: mild
Frightening intense scenes: severe
This short film is extremely terrifying and scary.
Spoilers: Sex and nudity: a man is seen naked near the end but any nudity is obscured
Spoilers: Sex and nudity: a man is seen naked near the end but any nudity is obscured
Perfectly eerie.
desirekay27 July 2022
A perfectly eerie short film. As you watch you wonder how and why. *Slight spoiler* they never show you exactly if/how the couple dies, leaving you to wonder if and how they did. Which because of the creepy imagery and tone leaves you unsettled. Watch this a year ago and still think about the ending. Watched it again a few days ago, and it still gave me fear. Made me wonder what I would do if I was in that situation. Definitely worth watching.
Well crafted horror with real thrill momentum
shide_8514 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
In short:
Similar to what has "finally" happened to the horror movie genre, some have picked up actually scary elements to make horror movies not gore fests but actually scary subliminally, creepy, using the pauses and the sound of silence to create well crafted horror movies. This short falls into that category, similar (to give one example of another similar short) Night Swim or the longer movie Deep Dark (2015) which isn't a horror but has a similar (possible) use of the black hole.
End notes (spoilers) The subplot which could/oughta be introspection into your own history (making the person in the box be someone key in his history, or related to some child hood trauma, and the family'esque shadows would then be his previous family members who might have passed on - the light going out is then depression/suicide after loosing his last light in his life - the gf).
The black hole (the abyss) is something often related to in movies, and can symbolise everything from at large the struggle as a whole within, infinity or glue to hold together plots for those who aren't that careful about wha they put out.
End notes (spoilers) The subplot which could/oughta be introspection into your own history (making the person in the box be someone key in his history, or related to some child hood trauma, and the family'esque shadows would then be his previous family members who might have passed on - the light going out is then depression/suicide after loosing his last light in his life - the gf).
The black hole (the abyss) is something often related to in movies, and can symbolise everything from at large the struggle as a whole within, infinity or glue to hold together plots for those who aren't that careful about wha they put out.
Fantastic
jkmcgee-508343 April 2024
Very well done, genuinely creepy. I'd love to see this get a feature length but I wouldn't want it to be ruined by the Hollywood treatment like the feature length version of Lights Out .
The tone and acting are fantastic, the director gives you just enough information to make you uneasy but not enough that you truly understand the situation. Sometimes it feels lazy to not provide an explanation, that isn't the case here, the ambiguity is absolutely perfect. It's unnerving and genuinely frightening. I love the horror genre, it's really difficult to even kinda spook me, this short managed to accomplish what most full length movies can't. I was scared and I want to see more.
The tone and acting are fantastic, the director gives you just enough information to make you uneasy but not enough that you truly understand the situation. Sometimes it feels lazy to not provide an explanation, that isn't the case here, the ambiguity is absolutely perfect. It's unnerving and genuinely frightening. I love the horror genre, it's really difficult to even kinda spook me, this short managed to accomplish what most full length movies can't. I was scared and I want to see more.
admirable
Kirpianuscus6 May 2020
A couple. And the gift from a friend . A box having as contain a sort of black hole. But only at the first sigh. The film propose a long chain of memories, thrills, old pieces , maybe too familiar from other horror films but its virtue is the admirable craft, the precision of details and the great construction of story. So, just admirable job.
A sense of impending doom
BaphometDreams28 January 2024
An old friend returns out of the blue to give Ben and Rachel a gift. A seemingly empty box with no bottom. Inside is something that wants to get out. Something that could very well have sinister intentions.
Directed by Caleb J. Phillips and running at a little over fifteen minutes, The Other Side of the Box is one of the best short films that I've seen thus far on the ALTER YouTube channel. A sense of dread is built up constantly though the majority of the film as the strange "thing" looms over the young couple. What is it? What does it want? Why was is passed on to them? Those questions may or may not get answered by the excellent conclusion but it's definitely worth the fifteen minutes to find out.
Other Side of the Box is an awesome little horror short that doesn't try to do too much and succeeds at delivering a sense of impending doom. It's proof of how you don't always need much of a budget to hit a home run.
Directed by Caleb J. Phillips and running at a little over fifteen minutes, The Other Side of the Box is one of the best short films that I've seen thus far on the ALTER YouTube channel. A sense of dread is built up constantly though the majority of the film as the strange "thing" looms over the young couple. What is it? What does it want? Why was is passed on to them? Those questions may or may not get answered by the excellent conclusion but it's definitely worth the fifteen minutes to find out.
Other Side of the Box is an awesome little horror short that doesn't try to do too much and succeeds at delivering a sense of impending doom. It's proof of how you don't always need much of a budget to hit a home run.
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