David Lynch's Most Disturbing Horror Lasts Just 55 Seconds
True horror doesn't need a feature-length runtime, and Lynch is aware of that. Meet the shortest (and scariest) horror ever made.
To truly terrify the viewers, most filmmakers rely on a thorough run of at least 90 minutes, but not David Lynch. The master of surrealism proved that genuine horror can be made in its purest form in less than a minute.
Back in 1995, as part of a unique celebration marking the centenary of the Cinématographe's invention, Lynch joined 39 other directors in accepting an unusual challenge.
Each filmmaker would create a short film under strict constraints. It was pretty straight-forward: you had to honor cinema's origins while showcasing your distinctive vision, or was it?
The Restrictions Lynch Had To Face
Well, it wasn't that easy, of course. The project was as much a historical homage as it was a creative gauntlet. Plus, it had some pretty limited rules.
Lynch talked about the said rules in an explanation video. Funnily enough, the explanation is 3 minutes, which is 3 times longer than the movie itself.
Well, he explained:
“You had to use natural light. You couldn't shoot sync sound. And you couldn't stop the camera. Once you started cranking, you couldn't stop.”
With Lynch's work you keep longing to unravel all its mysteries even though you know you never will, and this movie is no exception.
Premonitions Following an Evil Deed (1995): 55 Terrifying Seconds
The short that emerged from this experiment was none other than Premonitions Following an Evil Deed.
The scene is set with a murder of a young boy, and follows with a disturbing fever dream mixed with brief moments of horrifying clarity.
Premonitions has Lynch's signature style: surreal visuals, emotional intensity, and a dreamlike narrative structure that blurs the line between reality and nightmare.
Mother's intuition is mixed with images so disturbing that you can feel the anxiety of a parent in a situation like this yourself. And the feeling is so real that by the end of it you sit motionless, still trying to process everything that you’ve just seen.
The impact wouldn't be that impressive if the movie was dragged out for too long. Lynch got it right, once again.
You can experience this short for yourself right now on YouTube, though you may prefer seeking out the higher-quality version available through the Criterion Collection.