There’s undeniably no older fear for humans than that of the dark. It’s inherent in our DNA, dating back to the days of the caveman, when a lack of light meant probable death from what may be lurking in the depths. In most circumstances today, we determine it’s our eyes playing tricks on us, allowing our brains to create the most frightening scenario for what those shadowy shapes in the blackness might be. The Coat, a short film directed by Javier Damian Lopez, and written and produced by Kamara Pettway, examines this ancient fear, and how we try to convince ourselves that what we think we see is only an illusion…or is it?

Athena Saxon stars as Sally, a young woman who is in her room getting ready for a night out with friends. She’s busy fielding messages from them and looking at social media posts of someone she’s interested in as she paces the room. Her casual, content demeanor quickly changes, however, when she begins to see odd movement and shapes from the coat hanging in the corner of the room.

The Coat keeps the plot simple, while handling the chills with enough subtlety to keep the viewer in suspense. There’s plenty of playing around with the lighting to help create a quiet paranoia, as we don’t know what to expect from one moment to the next. Thanks to the camera work, we’re also placed to be guessing right along with Sally as to what, if anything, may be hiding in the shadows. 

Though it could have benefitted from another few minutes in the middle to add to the creepiness factor, The Coat is a fun short to watch with the lights on, unless you’re not afraid of what goes bump in the night.