Dive into âCurve,â Tim Eganâs intense 2016 horror thriller short film. A woman fights for survival on the edge of a terrifying abyss.
Picture this: you wake up on a slick, sloping concrete wall, your fingers raw and bleeding from gripping it, with a pitch-black abyss staring up at you. One wrong move, and youâre gone. Thatâs the heart-stopping setup of Curve, a 2016 short horror thriller by Tim Egan thatâs only 10 minutes long but feels like a lifetime of dread. Itâs raw, itâs real, and itâs absolutely unforgettable.
The story follows a nameless woman (played by the incredible Laura Jane Turner) stuck in a literal life-or-death situation. Sheâs clinging to this curved, unforgiving surface with no clue how she got there or how to escape. Her hands are shredded, her bodyâs trembling, and the void below is calling her name. Itâs a slow-burn panic attack on screen, and youâre right there with her, feeling every second of it. đŹ
Curve 2016 short film horror thriller, it doesnât mess around with fancy effects or a big castâitâs just one woman, one set, and a whole lot of fear. Itâs like the film is daring you to look away, but you canât. It digs into those primal instincts we all have: the need to survive, the terror of falling, the loneliness of facing the unknown. In a world full of over-the-top horror, this minimalist gem proves that sometimes, less is way scarier. đ
Tim Egan, an Aussie filmmaker, cooked up Curve based on a real-life scareâhe once got hit by a car and found himself clinging to the ground, terrified. That moment became the seed for this film. His direction is tight and focused, using close-up shots and a bare-bones style to trap you in the characterâs headspace. Itâs his first stab at writing, and he knocked it out of the park. đŻ
Laura Jane Turner doesnât say a word in Curve, but she doesnât need to. Her eyes scream panic, her hands claw at hope, and her every move pulls you into her fight. Itâs a performance thatâs all guts and no fluffâshe makes you feel the weight of every slip and scrape. Youâre not just watching her; youâre rooting for her like sheâs your best friend. đ
Sure, itâs about a woman trying not to fall, but Curve is also about us. Itâs that stubborn spark inside that refuses to give up, even when the odds are trash. Itâs the fear of being alone, with no one to save you and no answers in sight. Some say the abyss is death; others think itâs despair. Whatever it is, itâs personalâand thatâs what makes it stick. đłïž
With a shoestring budget, Curve turns simplicity into strength. The curved wall feels alive, like itâs taunting her. The sound designâthose raspy breaths, the eerie quietâcranks the tension up to 11. And the abyss? A slick bit of CGI that looks so real, youâll swear itâs bottomless. Itâs indie filmmaking at its scrappy, brilliant best. đ„
Curve took the festival scene by storm, snagging Best Short Film at Sitges and Best Director at Fantastic Fest, plus more shiny trophies. Critics called it ânerve-shreddingâ and âa masterstroke of suspense.â Itâs the little film that could, proving you donât need a big budget to make a big impact. đ
You can find Curve on YouTube or Vimeoâ10 minutes of your time for a thrill that lingers. Pro tip: maybe keep the lights on. đ
Clinging to a smooth, curved surface high above a sentient abyss, a girl tries to cover the few feet back to safety without losing purchase and falling to her death.
What would you do on that curve? Got a wild theory about what it all means? Hit me up in the commentsâIâm dying to chat about it! đŹ
The Rundown:
Inspired by Indie Shorts Mag, IMDb, and The Movie Buff.
Experience Hept 2025, the breathtaking new stunning animated short film from creator Jorge Baldeon. Watch…
Watch the acclaimed 2020 unforgettable animated short film O Black Hole! by director Renee Zhan.…
Watch Michael Rees's new comedy short film, Love Machine (2023), and see what happens. A…
Watch Kylie (2022), the intimate and moving documentary short film by Sterling Hampton IV. Discover…
Watch it here "The Me Bird (2013)", a unique and beautiful journey in this captivating…
Experience "Familiar," the tense new drama short film by Marco Novoa / ThĂ©odore Hugonnier (2024)…