A brand new horror sensation is making waves, and it’s solely 99 seconds lengthy. Titled Lifeless Grandma, this chilling brief movie by filmmakers Rachel Kempf and Nick Toti is about to debut on the 2026 Slamdance Movie Pageant in Los Angeles, however fortunate viewers can get an unique sneak peek proper now.
The duo behind final yr’s viral indie hit It Doesn’t Get Any Higher Than This promised followers that their newest venture can be a restricted festival-only expertise—till now. Regardless of its transient runtime, Lifeless Grandma has already garnered notable reward from fellow filmmakers, with Uwe Boll calling it “surprisingly darkish,” and Alex Ross Perry describing it as “a intestine punch of humor, dread, and discomfort.”
From Darkish Inspiration to Quick Movie
The concept for Lifeless Grandma was born from Toti’s days as a preschool instructor. Working in a nursery with crawling infants, he playfully questioned what would occur if he lay down on the ground as if he had been lifeless. “This made me chuckle, and I assumed it could make a superb brief movie,” Toti defined in an announcement.
Kempf added a macabre twist to the venture’s idea, referencing the legendary six-word story attributed to Ernest Hemingway: “On the market: child footwear, by no means worn.” “We wished to seize that very same spirit—darkish, succinct, and impactful—simply with a bit extra gallows humor,” she stated.
A Pageant for the DIY Spirit
Lifeless Grandma will likely be a part of Slamdance’s “99 Particular” program, which celebrates inexpensive, DIY filmmaking utilizing accessible know-how and apps. As Anna Lee Lawson, Slamdance’s movie competition supervisor, famous, this system goals to “break down the associated fee barrier of manufacturing,” encouraging creators to unleash their creativeness inside a 99-second restrict.
Crucial Acclaim and Future Tasks
Even earlier than its official premiere, Lifeless Grandma has impressed trade insiders. Director Uwe Boll remarked, “I assumed it was a photograph, not a movie. However then it ended up surprisingly… darkish.” Perry praised it as “a whole saga of humor, dread, and discomfort squeezed into the size of a industrial,” with a ultimate reveal that delivers a robust punch.
Whereas Lifeless Grandma makes its rounds, Kempf and Toti are already shifting ahead with their subsequent venture, Scary New Yr. Written by Kempf and produced by Liane Cunje and Divide/Conquer, the movie includes a forged together with Lauren Viteri, Sam Hook, and Amelia Ann, with Adam J. Minnick set to deal with cinematography.
For horror followers craving a fast, intense scare, Lifeless Grandma is a must-watch—proof that generally, much less actually is extra.
- E mail: neill@outloudculture.com
