Final Girls Berlin Film Festival 2021: ‘Cyber Horror’ Horror Shorts Block Review

I remember when I was younger and the internet first became a thing and chatrooms were all the rage. Everyone was so cautious and nervous about who may be on the other side of the screen. With smartphones, Zoom, and several social media platforms popping up every day, you may be less likely to be catfished, but the cyber world is still a scary place. I had the privilege of checking out the Final Girls Berlin Film Festival 2021 horror shorts block – It’s Coming From Inside The Screen: Cyber Horror!

SPYGLASS

This short was directed by Javi Prada and stars a young girl who will do anything to get views including risking her own life. Spyglass was very dark and disturbing because honestly, it’s not far off from reality. Young influences have been known to risk it all for fame and fortune. Sadly, this story doesn’t end well for and it haunted me quite a bit. 

DON’T TEXT BACK

This short was directed by Kaye Adelaide and Mariel Sharp. In Don’t Text Back, a young woman seeks the help of an energy healer to rid herself of a mysterious cursed necklace. The necklace strangles her every time she doesn’t text back a dude she met through a bad tinder date. The short is creative, dark, funny, quirky, and entertaining. I think it delivered an important lesson about internet dating and how men are always finding “creative” and “sneaky” ways to control us. It was brilliant. 

FRAGILE.COM

This short was directed by Alison-Eve Hammersley. In Fragile.com, a young high school student is sought out by a site owner that wants her to participate in Zoom calls where all she has to do is cry. Easy money, right? Maybe so, but profiting off young women’s insecurity is never okay. Plus, what do you do when the tears no longer come? Purposely cause yourself pian? This one was also painfully accurate and scary. Every day on TikTok, I see people crying on videos and they often have 1000’s of views and many of the comments are horrible. I enjoyed this story and it felt like a modern-day Carrie without the telekinesis. 

SWIPE UP, VIVIAN!

This short was directed by Hannah Welever. Swipe Up, Vivian! centers around a virtual dating app that opens a unique window of possibility for two agoraphobic women. I thought this was one of the most creative shorts in Cyber Block and had great special effects. it was quite charming and sweet, and more of a sci-fi love story than horror. I know so many people who suffer from mental illness including agoraphobia, and I thought this was a beautiful concept.

KALLEY’S LAST REVIEW

This short was directed by Julia Bailey Johnson. Kalley’s Last Review may be my favorite one out of the short block. It was so over the top and ridiculously fun. Another prime example of a social media influencer going too far and left with emotional and physical scars. I’ve actually heard horror stories about certain face masks, which has made me hesitant to try them, and after watching this short… I don’t know if I ever will. Just kidding. Maybe. But I got to give it to Kalley, for holding her head high and rocking that new meaty skeleton look! 

All of the shorts for It’s Coming From Inside The Screen: Cyber Horror were fantastic and it’s always a pleasure doing coverage for the Final Girls Berlin Film Festival.