That's exactly what the short film "UNSAVED" (2025) by Kirk Mihelakos answers - and it looks like an expensive studio project but was shot entirely on an iPhone 16 Pro.
Fast, scary, and with a final twist that'll make you watch it all over again.
What it's about
An office. A regular desk - until objects start "glitching": a flower changes to another one, a lamp switches to something new, interfaces flash with errors that can't be fixed.
Frame from "UNSAVED"
A phone call - and suddenly the protagonist (Tia Juppi) along with her desk gets transported to a forest. The camera pulls back... and we see (spoiler alert) that everything happening is just a simulation on someone else's computer.
Four minutes, one building sense of dread, and one simple thought: who's really holding the "mouse" of our world?
Viewer reactions
The short was posted on YouTube in 2025 and immediately collected tons of positive comments:
"Black Mirror vibes but shot on iPhone. Absolutely brilliant."
"Best iPhone video I've ever seen."
"Stayed for the story: it pulls you in, holds you, won't let go."
"Mixed 'Severance' vibes with retro nostalgia - it works."
Viewers especially praise the sound ("sound is the second screenplay") and the unsettling "vintage" visuals.
Why you should watch
Because "UNSAVED" proves the golden rule of digital filmmaking: a camera won't save a weak idea, but a strong idea only needs a phone. Everything's here - concept, rhythm, anxiety, and a punchline in the final frame. You'll hit play, hold your breath, rewind to the beginning. And maybe glance at your own monitor - just in case it starts flickering too. Earlier on zoomboola.com we covered "LD50": the lowest-rated but most terrifying Tom Hardy film.
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