Winning the Grand Jury Award for best midnight Short at SXSW in 2019, Other Side of the Box offers all the intensity that we expect in a horror, as the hair builds upon the backs of our necks.

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We are quickly introduced to a couple who are given a curious present by a guy Shawn, who they’ve clearly had an awkward fallout with.

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Within the first three minutes, we are already thrust into exploring the peculiar object which is the catalyst of the short film. A creepy black void inside an empty box, that also resembles a dark version of a “Mary Poppins bag”, as it doesn’t appear to have a bottom. Five minutes in and a man is peeking out, his head dripping wet with intrusive, gaping eyes that are the driving force of creepiness that this short offers.

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The main conflict the protagonists are faced with is not being able to look away from the man. Immediately, this appears comparable to something like Doctor Who’s weeping angels, yet the unique elements of it being a man not a statue and being in a box creates a unique set of unanswered questions. The psychological effects of an uncanny figure, the fact we see the man in the box as a human being yet at the same time as a completely bizarre object, creates an uneasy sense of confusion to the viewer. Uncanny figures are always a source of intrigue and terror and this is a real driving force for this short.

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The first shot we see of the man in the box is jarring. What does let the short down after this shot is quite weak acting from the couple. Whilst a short film plunges us straight into the action rather than always delving into the characters, it is still worth noting that Ben and Rachel aren’t particularly interesting. There is also an irritating element of stupidity when Ben states; “I don’t know what it is, it could be harmless,” and then proceeds to leave his partner alone with it.

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Other than this weak element, the short is clever in teasing the viewer with small facts. Rachel declares “I really don’t want to see him right now,” in relation to Shawn, yet we are never given an explanation as to why. This is a great tactic that horror shorts can make use of, creating unanswered questions which adds to the intrigue.

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Other Side of the Box is mostly a successful example of a horror short that uses the short length as an advantage to the genre; drawing the viewer straight into the intensity and adrenaline of being scared within fifteen minutes, and leaving us with several unanswered questions. Who is the man in the box? Why have they fallen out with Shawn? Why did Ben leave his partner alone with it?!

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Like the sinister character in the box who can’t keep his eyes off the couple, the viewer is transfixed to the screen. Essentially, it does its job as we are left thinking; what on earth IS on the other side of the box?