10 of the best psychological‑thriller short films to give you chills tonight

<p>Beau Farrell is one of the Curators for Vimeo Staff Picks. He was previously an Associate Short Film Programmer for SXSW.</p>
Beau Farrell
Image still from the film She (Snake)

If you’re a fan of suspenseful storytelling, dark character studies, and edge-of-your-seat twists, these short films are for you. Vimeo is home to some of the best thriller content in short form — from crime dramas to eerie mystery thrillers that rival full-length thriller movies in intensity. Each film on this list taps into the unsettling corners of the mind, where fear, obsession, and the unknown collide. Whether you’re drawn to slow-burning psychological tension or horror-tinged narratives featuring serial killers and distorted realities, this is where mystery meets impact. These short films prove that the best thriller films don’t need 90 minutes, it just needs a brilliant concept, chilling execution, and a hint of danger.

Shé (Snake)

Creator: Renée Zhan

Categories: Narrative, Drama, Horror & Thriller

Fei, a 16-year-old British-Chinese girl, is the top violinist in her elite youth orchestra, until a new Chinese student arrives and threatens her position. As competition escalates, Fei’s insecurities and internalized racism begin to manifest as something darker, morphing into physical creatures that whisper cruel ambitions. Her obsession with being the best consumes her, twisting self-doubt into something monstrous. Shé (Snake) is a chilling, psychological portrayal of pressure, identity, and the cost of perfection. This short premiered at Sundance and has been praised for its bold blend of surreal horror and social commentary.

Watch “Shé (Snake)” now

A Lien

Creator: Sam Cutler-Kreutz & David Cutler-Kreutz

Categories: Narrative, Drama, Horror & Thriller

On the day of their green card interview, a couple’s hopeful facade crumbles as civil immigration officials spring a terrifying setup. Panic, bureaucratic power, and fear collide in a razor‑sharp crescendo of parental risk and institutional dread. The story is raw and suspenseful, with handheld tension that grips from start to finish. It’s a disturbing, meditative reflection on love, survival, and systemic injustice. A Lien was an Oscar nominated Short Film, earning praise for its emotional intensity and urgent relevance.

Watch “A Lien” now → 

Lamb

Creator: Sinéad O'Loughlin

Categories: Narrative, Drama

A quiet moment with a child takes a dark turn in this minimalist, dread-filled drama. Every hesitation, hum of silence, and slight shift becomes loaded with unknown intent. The buildup is slow and unsettling, wrapped in domestic calm that feels just one step from collapse. It explores fear in ordinary life and the fragile bond between protector and protected. Lamb is an understated, atmospheric thriller that rewards patience with emotional weight.

Watch “Lamb” now

Rat!

Creator: Neal Suresh Mulani

Categories: Comedy, Narrative, Horror & Thriller

A music journalist's critique of a pop star's identity label sets off a chain reaction of masked fan retribution. What begins as satire spirals into a grotesque, surreal home‑invasion nightmare with dark humor and visual absurdity. Fans in plaster masks stalk him; reality warps with every knock on the door. It’s as sharp as it is unsettling—performing paranoia with a sly grin. RAT! has hit festivals worldwide, praised as a satire-turned-swoon of digital-age fear.

Watch “Rat!” now → 

Bits

Creator: Lilliya Reid

Categories: Narrative, Drama

A young woman in rural Montana becomes the target of a lurking serial killer, turning a mundane environment into a landscape of shadows and dread. The film builds tension through minimal sound, isolated setting, and subtle shifts in her awareness. Fear creeps in with every glance and flicker, proving suspense doesn’t need high stakes to resonate. A compact and chilling portrait of suspense and solitude. Bits is a raw thriller that proves hometown stillness can conceal terror. 

Watch “Bits!” now

Get Ready With Me

Creator: Jonatan Etzler

Categories: Narrative, Drama

Vendela, a high school outcast, posts a shocking suicide video disguised as a makeup tutorial. Her teacher finds herself unexpectedly pulled into the situation when asked to explain it, forcing both characters into a tense psychological confrontation. As the media buzz grows, personal motives and generational divides begin to twist the story. Etzler delivers a tight, disturbing look at manipulation, performance, and truth in the age of viral media. This award-winning short earned the Student Academy Award for its bold take on youth and influence.

Watch “Get Ready With Me” now

See It Say It

Creator: nez

Categories: Comedy, Narrative, Horror & Thriller, Drama

A hopeful Arab actor lands a gig as a terrorist, only to get caught in a real-life misunderstanding. What begins as satire slowly turns chilling as reality and performance collapse into paranoia. The story cleverly critiques racial profiling and cultural fear in modern urban life. With tight editing and an escalating sense of unease, it turns a funny premise into a genuinely harrowing ride. This short screened at BFI London Film Festival and was praised for its tension and dark irony.

Watch “See It Say It” now

Tight

Creator: Jessica Barr

Categories: Narrative, Drama

A woman grapples with sexual discomfort and strained intimacy after giving birth. As she attempts to reconnect with her husband, her unease grows culminating in a devastating discovery during a gynecologist visit. Told with unsettling restraint, Tight explores the impact of bodily autonomy, silence, and betrayal in intimate relationships. The imagery of packing boxes mirrors her internal fracture, building to a haunting finale where she chooses departure over denial. Jessica Barr crafts a tense, intimate portrait of postnatal trauma and marital rupture.

Watch “Tight” now

The Pass

Creator: Pepi Ginsberg

Categories: Narrative, Drama

Ben visits a friend in the countryside and encounters a stranger with a secretive request, sending the weekend spiraling into unexpected psychological terrain. What seems like an innocent favor becomes a moral and emotional test. The story quietly builds dread through awkward silences, shifting power dynamics, and slow-burn suspense. Pepi Ginsberg’s direction grounds the surreal undertone in recognizable emotions. This film originally premiered on The New Yorker’s screening platform for narrative shorts.

Watch “The Pass” now

Killing Boris Johnson

Creator: Musa Alderson-Clarke

Categories: Narrative, Drama, Horror & Thriller

A grieving Black man descends into his own psyche, where rage and reality blur. As he faces his trauma head-on, the story dives into politically charged surrealism. The inner monologue is sharp and painful, challenging viewers with layered meanings and striking visuals. The result is a dreamlike, devastating portrait of grief and resistance. This short premiered at Cannes 2023 and received strong critical attention for its intensity.

Watch “Killing Boris Johnson” now

Vimeo is your destination for spine-tingling thrills and chills

Vimeo is the perfect place to explore thriller storytelling in short form, where every scene counts and nothing is as it seems. These shorts push the boundaries of what a film can do, distilling the most gripping elements of mystery, horror, and crime into unforgettable moments. Whether you’re into sharp psychological tension, atmospheric dread, or surreal detours, these are some of the best thriller shorts from emerging voices and bold filmmakers. The next time you crave a quick burst of suspense, surprising twists, or a chilling encounter with a serial killer, these mystery thriller short films will deliver the punch of a full-length movie in a fraction of the time.

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