Writer-director Bryce McGuire of the upcoming Night Swim is already off to one hell of a start in 2023. In addition to that title being announced, McGuire also has a highly anticipated short film coming to this year’s SXSW. “Every House Is Haunted” will be a part of the festival’s Midnight Shorts Competition. Delivering “bite-sized bits for all of your sex, gore, and hilarity cravings.” Don’t sleep on the shorts programs, folks! Perhaps you’ve heard of a little feature film making the rounds and blowing box office estimates— we’re talking about Smile, which started out, you guessed it… as a short. Parker Finn’s “Laura Hasn’t Slept” won the Special Jury Recognition Prize for SXSW’s Midnight Short category in 2020 before being developed into a feature film that absolutely dominated the box office.
This year’s festival is offering up some promising fare you’re going to want to keep an eye on! “Every House Is Haunted” written and directed by Bryce McGuire, executive produced by Votiv Films, and produced by Zay Smallman, is based on a short story also written by McGuire. The short film is being developed into a feature film with Zay Smallman and Votiv Films producing and will be co-written with Bryce’s partner Kait McGuire. It already sounds like SXSW Midnight Shorts is going to be a treasure trove of very good shit. Take a peek at the poster for “Every House Is Haunted” and some more of the Midnight shorts titles below. You can also find the list (so far) of SXSW Midnight features right here.
Every House is Haunted
Director/Screenwriter: Bryce McGuire, Producer: Isaiah Smallman
A struggling couple moves into a haunted house… on purpose. (World Premiere)
Dead Enders
Directors: Fidel Ruiz-Healy, Tyler Walker, Screenwriters: Fidel Ruiz-Healy, Tyler Walker, Jordan Michael Blake, Conor Murphy, Producers: Raven Jensen, Amanda Crown, Gregory Barnes, Conor Murphy, Nico Alvo, Jordan Michael Blake, Eduardo Ruiz-Healy
A disaffected gas station clerk finds out why they call it the “graveyard shift” after oil drillers set loose an ancient race of mind-controlling parasites.(World Premiere)
The Flute (Ireland, U.S.)
Director: Nick Roney, Screenwriters: Nick Roney, Ed Leer, Producers: Brendan Garrett, Ryland Burns
Fleeing a long-term relationship, a young man seeks refuge with his best friends. After discovering their strange instruments, he’ll learn the bachelor lifestyle is not as sweet as it sounds. (World Premiere)
Kodama
Director/Screenwriter: Brian M Tang, Producers: Penny Lin, Brendan Bennett, Norrie Palmer, Brian M Tang
Arthur, a member of an elite SWAT Samurai team, embarks on a rescue mission into the spirit world in order to recover his father from vengeful Japanese Yokai spirits. (World Premiere)
The Mundanes
Directors/Screenwriters: Nicole Daddona, Adam Wilder, Producers: Eric Hendricks, Nicole Daddona, Adam Wilder
Get to know the Mundanes, a faceless suburban family with an unusual appetite. (World Premiere)
Vibrator Girl
Director: Kara Strait, Screenwriters: Morgane Ciot, Zoe Mintz, Producers: Morgane Ciot, Zoe Mintz
A young woman suffers the eerie consequences of her compulsive vibrator use. (World Premiere)
We Forgot About The Zombies
Director/Screenwriter: Chris McInroy, Producers: Kris Phipps, Jarrod Yerkes, Stacey Bell
Two dudes think they found the cure for zombie bites. (Texas Premiere)
You’re Not Home (Ireland)
Director/Screenwriter: Derek Ugochukwu, Producer: Gregory Burrowes
When an ominous mould appears in their room, two African brothers seeking asylum are faced with a dark entity lurking within their direct provision centre. (Texas Premiere)
