The Killer of Grassy Ridge is a ten minute short about a backwoods Shenandoah killer and at no risk of being hyperbolic, I can confidently say this is one of the best shorts I have seen in a long time. This short has won awards for Best Short Film, Best Debut Short, Best Thriller, Best Horror, and Best First-Time Director and after viewing the film, it is no surprise why. The story is simple, strong, and powerful. The actors are talented and don’t overdo it. The scenery is incredible. What more could you ask for? More movie perhaps… but that’s only because I enjoyed it so much.

First off, the cinematography was phenomenal. Gorgeous scenery and dynamic actors provided the good subjects for shooting, but director Johnny K.’s wide array of shot types is what ties everything together. It is the icing on a most delicious horror short film cake. This is what a short film should be and so much more: quick ‘n’ dirty, but gripping, engaging, entertaining, and memorable. Trust me, this one sticks with you. This short is an incredible stand-alone film, but I could also see it being a phenomenal opening sequence to a fantastic feature film.

The two characters featured in The Killer of Grassy Ridge were exceptional thanks to the acting talents of Heather Stone and Michael Stumbo. Stone is poised and a joy to watch. In just a short amount of time, she takes us on a whirlwind of emotional surprise. Stumbo has no lines in this short and quite frankly he doesn’t need them. Everything about him from his posture, gait, facial expressions, and mannerisms are so engaging and expressive that you gain everything you need to know from just his being. I sincerely hope to see him in more productions, with or without lines, because I know it will be good no matter what.

Johnny K. set out to make a masterpiece with minimal equipment on a shoestring budget. I would say he more than met that goal. This was a beautifully written story that was flawlessly executed. Everything from the cinematography to the storyline came together and made a short I won’t soon forget. The Killer of Grassy Ridge is included with Amazon Prime Video and is ABSOLUTELY worth your time or you can watch on Youtube at the link below!

9.5 out of 10