What do you do when you can’t even trust your own ears?
That is the question that drives the horror short “Last Words,” by Teal Greyhavens & Nikolai von Keller. It is now streaming on Alter’s YouTube channel, and you can also watch it at the end of this article. It might inspire you to get your own script ready for the next Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition.
The Plot
We open on a young woman named Kira in the split second after suffering from a nasty fall while hiking. Quickly after that, she goes to reunite with her hiking buddy, Max, on the ledge above. She can’t see him, so she’s going to have to follow the sound of his voice. But then, his calls to her turn into screams for help. And soon, she begins to realize that things may not be as they seem.
Ché March as Kira in “Last Words”
Follow the Sound Of My Voice
This short wastes no time getting to the horror, starting right after the fall, and immediately beginning her journey back to Max. She’s injured and just a little lost, which is already a pretty scary situation to be in. But when it appears that Max is hurt or in danger, a whole new level of fear is introduced into the equation. The audience can only imagine what is happening to him. But all those expectations are thrown completely out the window with a terrifying revelation that completely changes the way that both the audience and Kira view the situation.
At this point, it brings out its scariest idea: the idea of something evil being able to replicate somebody you trust so perfectly. This short is fueled by the same level of disturbing uncertainty that turned John Carpenter’s “The Thing” into a horror classic. And even after the revelation, it is still unclear which version of Max is the real one, so it is understandable that she would continue to reluctantly follow the voice.
It all culminates in an intense and unsettling climax, where she faces the source of the voice. The atmosphere is eerie, made even scarier with the appearance of several mysterious figures who appear to be as afraid of the voice as Kira is. And the design of the monster is exceptionally creepy looking, and it only gets more unsettling in its final moment on screen.
Kira also makes a great main character. She’s played by Ché March, who does a convincing performance as a scared, lost young woman, thrown into a situation where she has no idea what is going on.
What Makes It Killer
“Last Words” is a very creepy short about not being sure whether or not the people around you are really even there. It might make you a little skeptical the next time you hear your friend’s voice.
Watch it below.
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