The Chair 2023 Short Film by Curry Barker

Watch ‘The Chair 2023,’ a terrifying horror short film by Curry Barker. Brace yourself for bone-chilling scares. Stream the official short now!

🪑 The Chair (2023) — Horror Short Film by Curry Barker

Some furniture is just uncomfortable. This one is… hungry.

Curry Barker’s The Chair isn’t your average haunted‑object horror — it’s a 24‑minute descent into paranoia, fractured memory, and the creeping dread of not knowing whether the monster is in the room… or in your own head.

🧭 Overview

• Genre: Supernatural / Psychological Horror
• Writer & Director: Curry Barker
• Producers: Curry Barker · Adlih Torres · Anthony Pavone
• Cinematography: Justin Phillip 🎥
• Composer: Curry Barker 🎼
• Production Design & Makeup: Adlih Torres
• Sound: Garrett Easterly
• Editor: Curry Barker
• Runtime: ~24 minutes
• Country: United States 🇺🇸
• Language: English
• Premiere & Recognition:
  • Nominated for Best Film — Los Angeles Short Film Festival 🏆
  • Semi‑Finalist — Burbank International Film Festival 🎬
• Available on: YouTube

Watch full short:

🎭 Cast

• Anthony Pavone as Reese 🧠
• Haley Schwartz as Julie 💔
• Jonnathon Cripple as Old Man Franklin 👁️
• Seth Goodfellow as Officer Rodgers 🚔
• David Alan Graf as Officer Morgan 🚨

📖 Story in Brief

Reese finds an antique chair abandoned by the roadside. Against his girlfriend Julie’s protests — “It’s dirty, it’s creepy, get rid of it!” — he brings it home.

From there, reality starts to warp:

• Days vanish from Reese’s memory.
• The chair creaks at night, as if shifting under an invisible weight.
• A strange figure, Old Man Franklin, appears in visions and in the house itself, whispering and screaming, “Don’t forget about me.”
• Reese begins to suspect the chair is possessed… or that he’s losing his mind.

The narrative fractures — time skips, conversations loop, and we’re never sure if we’re watching supernatural horror or the unraveling of a man’s mind.

🎨 Creative DNA & Style

• Psychological ambiguity: Is it a ghost story or a portrait of dementia? The film refuses to answer.
• Fragmented editing: Mirrors Reese’s disorientation.
• Muted, shadow‑heavy lighting: The chair often lurks in half‑darkness, daring you to stare.
• Sound design: Creaks, whispers, and sudden silences keep tension high.
• Minimal jump scares: Fear comes from atmosphere, not cheap shocks.

🧠 Themes & Resonance

• Aging & Alzheimer’s: Reese’s memory loss and confusion echo the disintegration of identity in dementia.
• Fear of being forgotten: Old Man Franklin’s plea — “Don’t forget about me” — hits like a gut punch.
• Possession as metaphor: The chair could be a cursed object… or the physical embodiment of mental decline.
• Unreliable perception: We’re trapped in Reese’s point of view, never sure what’s real.

✅ Pros & ❌ Cons

Pros

• 🌀 Layered horror: Works as both supernatural and psychological.
• 🎭 Strong performances: Pavone’s unraveling feels painfully real.
• 🎬 Festival polish: Cinematography and sound design elevate the short.
• 🧩 Interpretive depth: Invites post‑viewing discussion.

Cons

• ⏳ Non‑linear structure: May frustrate viewers wanting clear answers.
• 🪑 Ambiguity overload: Those craving a definitive “monster” might feel unsatisfied.

💡 Humanized Takeaway

The Chair 2023 short film isn’t just about a haunted piece of furniture — it’s about the horror of losing control over your own mind, and the terror of fading from the memories of those you love. Barker uses the chair as a vessel for both ghost story chills and deeply human fears, leaving you unsettled long after the credits roll.

🔍 Where to Watch & Learn More

• Watch The Chair on YouTube — full short film.
• IMDb page for The Chair — cast, crew, and trivia.
• Why The Chair is such an unsettling horror short — 1428 Elm — thematic analysis.