Filmmakers Stun with 80-Second Horror Short "Dead Grandma"

The chilling short film is set to premiere at the 2026 Slamdance Film Festival.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A modern horror short film titled "Dead Grandma," written and directed by Rachel Kempf and Nick Toti, is generating buzz for its unsettling premise and remarkably concise 80-second runtime. The project marks the latest from the duo, who previously achieved viral success with their 2023 indie horror film "It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This." "Dead Grandma" is set to premiere at the 2026 Slamdance Film Festival in Los Angeles, which will run in-person from February 19 to 25, 2026, and virtually from February 24 to March 6, 2026.

Why it matters

The success of "Dead Grandma" highlights a growing trend in short-form horror and the potential for impactful storytelling within extremely limited constraints. The film's dark comedic take on a chilling scenario has prompted discussion about the power of brevity in storytelling, and its selection for Slamdance's new "99 Special" program showcases the festival's commitment to supporting independent filmmakers and emerging talent.

The details

The inspiration for "Dead Grandma" stemmed from a peculiar thought Toti had during his 2015 employment as a preschool teacher, where he had the urge to lie down on the floor as if he were dead, just to see what the babies would do. Kempf and Toti drew a parallel to a famous anecdote about Ernest Hemingway, where he was said to have written a short story using only six words: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." The filmmakers aimed to match the spirit of this story with their film, but with an even darker sense of gallows humor and appreciation for the macabre.

  • The 32nd edition of the Slamdance Film Festival will run in-person from February 19 to 25, 2026, and virtually from February 24 to March 6, 2026.

The players

Rachel Kempf

The co-writer and co-director of "Dead Grandma" and the upcoming feature film "Scary New Year."

Nick Toti

The co-writer and co-director of "Dead Grandma" and the upcoming feature film "Scary New Year."

Uwe Boll

A director who offered a succinct assessment of "Dead Grandma."

Alex Ross Perry

A director who described "Dead Grandma" as "an entire saga of humor, dread, and discomfort somehow squeezed into the length of a commercial."

Anna Lee Lawson

The Slamdance film festival & screenplay competition manager, who stated that the "99 Special" program "embraces affordable technology, apps and DIY filmmaking methods to unleash your imagination into 99-second (and under) moving image gems."

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I thought it was a photo, not a film. But then it ended up surprisingly...and dark.”

— Uwe Boll, Director

“an entire saga of humor, dread, and discomfort somehow squeezed into the length of a commercial. The final reveal is a real gut punch.”

— Alex Ross Perry, Director

What’s next

Kempf and Toti have already begun pre-production on their next project, a feature film titled "Scary New Year." The script, penned by Kempf, will be produced by Liane Cunje and Divide/Conquer, and will star Lauren Viteri, Sam Hook, Amelia Ann, Beck Nolan, and Zach Schnitzer, with cinematography by Adam J. Minnick.

The takeaway

The success of "Dead Grandma" highlights the growing trend of short-form horror and the potential for impactful storytelling within extremely limited constraints. The film's dark comedic take and the filmmakers' creative approach to the medium have generated significant buzz and critical acclaim, showcasing the power of brevity in the horror genre.