The Chair

22 minutes of pure, haunting disorientation—the kind that grips you and leaves behind a lingering sense of dread that won’t easily fade.

This short film speaks to all of us in some way, touching the deepest corners of our inner selves.

I have to admit, on first viewing, I was left stunned—overwhelmed with questions about what I had just witnessed. It dives headfirst into a theme that strikes a deeply uncomfortable nerve: the human mind, and the terrifying prospect of its cognitive decline over time. It’s unsettling because it taps into one of our greatest fears—losing control of our thoughts, no longer being able to distinguish reality from illusion.

There were moments that genuinely made me jump out of my seat—and as someone who’s not a fan of jump scares, I appreciated every single one of them. Each was crafted with precision and originality, never feeling clichéd or forced.

Directed by Curry Barker and released on March 23, 2023, this short has made the rounds at numerous festivals, earning several nominations and awards. Without a doubt, it’s one of the most impactful releases of the year.

This kind of storytelling is exactly what I gravitate towards—films that twist your mind and leave you shaken by how brutally honest they are about human life and its cruelty. In some ways, it reminded me of Speak No Evil—both for its psychological weight and the emotional toll it takes once the credits roll.

All I can say is: watch it. The link is below:

The Chair