Vimeo is home to some of the boldest cinematic experiments, and nothing captures that spirit better than the one-take film. These are stories told in a single shot, unfolding without cuts or edits, pulling both filmmakers and viewers into a raw, immersive experience. From the virtuosity of classics like Birdman and Russian Ark to daring shorts inspired by Hitchcock’s Rope or the iconic tracking shots of Goodfellas and Touch of Evil, the tradition of continuous shots has always been a benchmark of cinematic ambition.
On Vimeo, a new generation of creators is reinventing the one-shot movie format for dramas, thrillers, and experimental films. Whether it’s a heart-wrenching character study, a pulse-pounding suspense sequence, or an inventive slice of life, these one-take shorts prove that limitations spark creativity. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best you can watch on Vimeo right now.
Thunder Road
Creator: Jim Cummings
Categories: Comedy, Narrative, Narrative Comedy
Jim Cummings’ Thunder Road is a masterclass in balancing comedy and heartbreak. Performed entirely in a single take, the film follows Officer Arnaud as he attempts to deliver a eulogy for his late mother. What begins as a solemn tribute quickly spirals into a raw, awkward, and often hilarious emotional breakdown. The brilliance lies in its unpredictability, shifting effortlessly from absurdity to poignancy within the same breath. Cummings’s fearless performance exposes both vulnerability and absurdity, and the one-take format heightens the tension of watching someone unravel in real time. Thunder Road didn’t just captivate audiences on Vimeo, it went on to inspire a feature-length adaptation, proving how a simple continuous shot can resonate on the world stage.
Watch “Thunder Road” now →
Patision Avenue
Creator: RADIATOR IP Sales
Set on the bustling streets of Athens, Patision Avenue follows a mother caught between pursuing her dream and caring for her child. Shot in a single unbroken take, the short thrusts us into a swirl of traffic, protests, and personal conflict. The continuous camera work immerses us in her experience, blending the chaos of urban life with the intimacy of her inner struggle. Described as “tense & clever” by Sight & Sound, the film is a gripping demonstration of how one-take storytelling can heighten realism and urgency.
Watch “Patision Avenue” now →
At The End Of The Cul-de-Sac
Creator: Paul Trillo
Categories: Narrative, Drones & Aerials
Paul Trillo reimagines the one-take with At The End Of The Cul-de-Sac, filmed entirely with a drone. A man’s public meltdown unfolds as the camera glides seamlessly above, circling through the suburban streets as neighbors gather to watch. The aerial perspective makes the audience complicit, creating an eerie sense of surveillance and spectacle. Both technically dazzling and emotionally haunting, this short pushes the possibilities of continuous-shot filmmaking.
Watch “At The End Of The Cul-de-Sac” now →
Night of the Slasher
Creator: Shant Hamassian
Categories: Comedy Narrative, Narrative, Comedy, Horror & Thriller, Drama
Night of the Slasher is both a loving homage and a playful send-up of 80s horror classics. At its core is a teenage girl who deliberately commits every “sin” in the slasher rulebook, drinking, dancing, and flirting, but not out of ignorance, but as a trap to lure a masked killer. This clever subversion flips the genre’s tropes on their head, allowing her to reclaim agency while still embracing the thrills of the format. Filmed in a single take, the short sustains a breathless intensity as suspense collides with campy fun. Each moment is meticulously choreographed, heightening the tension while slyly winking at horror’s clichés. Bold, inventive, and gleefully self-aware, Night of the Slasher earned Oscar qualification and became a cult hit, proof that one-take horror can be as smart as it is scary.
Watch “Night of the Slasher” now →
Nursery Rhymes
Creator: Studio Goono
Why is a metalhead belting out “Old MacDonald” in the dead of night? That’s the surreal entry point for Nursery Rhymes, a one-take short that turns childhood innocence into something disquieting. What starts off humorous quickly evolves into a hypnotic and unsettling exploration of absurdity, leaving viewers caught between laughter and unease. The continuous shot refuses to give us an escape, intensifying the surreal energy of the scene. Every second feels like it could tip further into comedy or horror, which is precisely what makes it so compelling. Strange, stylish, and layered with irony, Nursery Rhymes is both a dark comedy and an experimental piece that sticks in the imagination long after it ends.
Watch “Nursery Rhymes” now →
The Jog
Creator: Joseph Lee Anderson
Categories: Cameras & Techniques, Narrative, Drama
The Jog begins with a moment of triumph: a young Black man, newly accepted into the police academy, sets out for an early morning run to celebrate. What unfolds in a single, continuous take quickly turns devastating. Along the way, he sees a woman in danger and rushes to her aid, but when the police arrive, they mistake him for the attacker. The one-take format keeps us rooted in his perspective, building tension through its real-time immediacy and forcing us to witness the tragic consequences of bias. Poignant and urgent, the short captures both the exhilaration of possibility and the heartbreak of how quickly it can be stripped away.
Watch “The Jog” now →
Post-Party
Creator: Jeff Chan
Categories: Comedy, Comedy Narrative
Post-Party is a sharp and witty one-take short that tracks a group of friends cleaning up after a messy night and the lingering drama they can’t seem to leave behind. The camera weaves through a chaotic house, alternating between laughter, awkward silences, and frank, messy reminiscing. These thirty-somethings debate bridesmaids, hookups, and regrets while boxing up party debris and recriminations. Far from a typical “morning-after” reflection, the film captures the complicated dynamics of friendship and aging. It's naturalistic and humorous, giving us an inside look at how minor tensions and shared history resurface when your guard and your hangover is down.
Watch “Post-Party” now →
Whiteout
Creator: Lance Edmands
Categories: Narrative, Horror & Thriller
In Whiteout, a young couple driving through a blizzard encounters an elderly man wandering alone in the storm. What should be a simple decision of whether to help or not becomes a tense moral standoff as the snow closes in and visibility shrinks to nothing. Shot in one unbroken take, the film captures the suffocating silence of winter, where every gust of wind and flicker of movement feels like a threat. By refusing to cut away, Edmands keeps us locked in the uncertainty, forcing the audience to share in the couple’s dread. The result is a chilling meditation on trust, fear, and the fine line between compassion and danger.
Watch “Whiteout” now →
BALCONY
Creator: N'ART FILMS
Categories: Narrative, Narrative Comedy
BALCONY begins with a 10-year-old boy perched on the edge of a fourth-floor ledge at dusk. As word spreads, neighbors, police, and firefighters descend, and what starts as a crisis quickly mutates into a chaotic spectacle. Shot in one continuous take that glides through the courtyard, the film balances humor and biting social commentary as a community’s concern gives way to gossip, judgment, and hysteria. The unbroken shot keeps us immersed in the mounting frenzy, making us both observers and participants in the crowd’s unraveling. The effect is tense, satirical, and uncomfortably real.
Watch“BALCONY” now →
PUNCH-DRUNK
Creator: Liam White
Set in a Marseille café, PUNCH-DRUNK begins innocuously enough: a man eating lunch is approached by a stranger who insists on conversation. What follows is a steadily intensifying exchange that peels back layers of memory, shame, and hidden pain. Filmed as a nearly unbroken take, the camera never lets us escape the suffocating immediacy of the encounter. Longlisted for a BAFTA, the short thrives on raw performance and the claustrophobic energy of its staging. With no edits to relieve the pressure, the film builds to an emotional climax that feels both inevitable and devastating.
Watch “PUNCH-DRUNK” now →
Vimeo is your destination for daring cinematic experiments
From comedies to thrillers to surreal experiments, these one-take short films highlight the boundless creativity thriving on Vimeo. They demonstrate that a continuous shot can carry enormous emotional and visual power, sustaining tension, intimacy, or spectacle in ways that multiple cuts often can’t. Just as Birdman and Russian Ark pushed the boundaries of the long take on the big screen, these Vimeo shorts demonstrate that the spirit of the tracking shot and single-take filmmaking is alive and evolving online.
So next time you want to see filmmaking pushed to its limits, dive into these one-shot wonders. You may just discover your new favorite creator.
