Ever work totally alone? I’m not talking independently on a project. I mean you’re completely solo, with no one around you. Ever do that at night? Even if you have a strong constitution, it’s still a bit unnerving. It’s not fun. Especially if you start hearing things and the lights start going (not that I’ve ever had that happen to me while working overnight in a remote corner of a creepy, run-down hospital, no sir). It’s the perfect scenario to tap into for a short horror film. Bearing that in mind, here’s Mitchell and Taylor Kerby’s Occupied.

I have to praise this film for its technique. The Kerbys worked primarily through lighting and sound on this one, placing the bulk of the tone on the reactions of lead actor Lee Silva. We get darkness and flickering lights in the right spots, as well as gutteral, animalistic grunts. Best of all: they didn’t show us the Big Bad Wolf, and they didn’t have to. We’re left to wonder if this is a demon, a vampire, a werewolf, or any other horror our brains can dream up. There was no parting shot of the monster at the end, to which we’ve become accustomed. Nope. With confidence, they left that to our imaginations, including mode of death, right down to the puddle of blood. We didn’t even get to see what was done to the guy. It added an air of voyeurism to the horror story, as though it’s not ours to see.

Personally, I like to think that it’s some kind of demon that got our main guy. And with that, happy Saturday, and sweet dreams.