Film of the Day: "Peephole" — A 4-Minute Horror Short That'll Make You Want to Seal Up Your Door's Peephole

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What could be more terrifying than hearing a knock at your door in the middle of the night? Only one thing: seeing yourself standing on the other side...

The horror short "Peephole" (2018) can terrify you in just 4 minutes of runtime. But trust me, that's more than enough. I tested it myself.

The film's creator, Jaron Henry-McCree, manages to frighten without a single drop of blood or dialogue. Just one actor (Tim Luke) and one apartment.

What the film's about

The plot is simple: a man's about to go to sleep when knocking at the door wakes him up. He approaches and looks through the peephole. And there he is — himself. Exactly the same. Same pose. Same movements. And from that moment, all peace crumbles.
A man looks through the door peephole, behind the door stands a man in a white tank top and underwear
Frame from the film "Peephole"
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The hypnotic atmosphere, strange black-and-white footage playing in the background, music that sounds ripped from an old nightmare — all of this makes "Peephole" frighteningly alive.

By the way, I believe the visual effect of the actual door peephole was achieved using a fisheye lens. This is pretty common practice in filmmaking, because I've used this technique myself when shooting my own videos.

McCree's film is a perfect example of how short format can stick in your memory for a long time. It plays with themes of doppelgangers, the uncanny valley, and fear of yourself.

What viewers think

The IMDb rating is 6.2. Some find the plot predictable, while others call it one of the creepiest shorts in recent years. And honestly — if you love atmospheric horror without screaming jump scares, fights, and crazy action on screen, "Peephole" is worth taking a look.
A man looks at another man who is standing in a white tank top near the television
Frame from the film "Peephole"
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One of the creepiest short films I've seen. Very effective and original. Can't wait to see what else this director has in store for us, — wrote user stephenherman in his IMDb review.

And user emwee609 adds: Even though this short film runs less than four minutes, it sends chills down your spine. P.S. Watch "Peephole" before bed like I did — the immersion will hit much harder that way. And while you're enjoying the short, we at zoomboola.com will hunt down more interesting horror films for you.