Horror Short Film "Play Me" | ALTER
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Subscribe to ALTER on UA-cam: goo.gl/LnXRC3
A woman wakes in a car with no memory of how she got there, and a man tied up in the back seat. Stranger still, she finds an audio recording with her voice telling her what to do next.
"Play Me" by Caleb Phillips
Watch Caleb's other film on ALTER, "Other Side of the Box":
• Horror Short Film "Oth...
#ALTER #horror #shortfilm
Connect with the Filmmakers:
/ caleb.j.phillips
"Play Me" Credits:
Produced by:
Caleb J. Phillips
Lee Stobby
Tom Bond
Katie Cetta
CAST:
ELIZABETH - Lindsey Garrett
MAN - Josh Schell
CREW:
Director of Photography - Laura Jansen
First Assistant Camera - Maria Quintana Barbosa, Luis Quijano
2nd Assistant Camera - Simon Kincade
DIT - Simon Kincade
Gaffers - Jerry J. White III, Christopher Wehba
Key Grip - Gyasi Howard
Sound Designer - Sean Petersen
Production sound mixer - Oscar Aramburu
Script Supervisor - Simon Kienitz Kincade
Behind the Scenes - Patrick Schmaltz
CCO - Phillip Wiedenheft
Production assistants: Landon Stahmer, Adam Godard
DI Producer - Dillon Bentlage
Editor - Caleb J. Phillips
Assistant Editor - Brian Reilly
Composer - Jasper Van Dijk
Colorist - Caleb J. Phillips
Visual Effects - Landon Stahmer
About ALTER:
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Filmmakers should visit filmfreeway.co... to submit your horror shorts.
NOTE: Only completed horror shorts will be considered. Unsolicited scripts or pitches will be immediately deleted without review.
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Video Title
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Hey, I'm the writer/director of Play Me and would love to answer any questions you have. A few years ago I released Other Side of the Box on ALTER. So happy to be back! If you want to keep up to date with what I'm doing next, I just started a newsletter. Link on channel and IG bio!
This is a great one Caleb. Tremendous work.
😎❤❤❤
Too freaking good❤🎉
This was great I love cliffhangers but is this left to our imagination or ……. Or don’t tell me and let it haunt me anyway I loved it
The Alter people claim an whole movie !! 🙌🏼🤩
As soon as he said , cuz you closed the window , that shit was spine chilling
I had a feeling when he asked for it down he was planning the ole switcharoo
Am I stupid? Because I don’t get it at all. Why did he say she was a good person because she closed the window? And what switcharoo? I’m so dumb and confused 😂
@@JodyJuice he squeezed in the corner of his bag in between the window and when she closed it, the windows pinched it so he could take the bag off
@@java.bootcampmaybe u are him...how do u know this...pipo ruuuuuuuuuun😂😂
@@JodyJuice he said it was cold. being empathetic she closed the window. this allowed him to get the hood off.
I honestly love the satisfying yet unsatisfying ending.
She still completed her task but she’ll never know the context of why she had to even be there in the first place.
I saw this before watching it so during the scene where he's running around, I'm like, "At least she'll know he's a monster," but then she looked at his face before killing and broke the recorder, and was like, nvm, all she knows is she killed him
The actress really sold how conflicted she was in a short time. And she has this sort of natural gravitas, that makes it very believable that she could be a special agent.
Yeah I agree totally she could be
The absolute horror of not knowing why you just killed a man, absolutely love that ending
it isnt a man. it isnt human
@@deathandrebirth-y8x She don't know that anymore.
Hate that this was the comment under the video when I started watching it.
@@dinahbelmont1969Fr spoiled it
This is what short horror movies supposed to be: Straight to the point, no long build up, suspenseful, disturbing.
That’s exactly what I wanted to make. Thank you!
Been a while since someone did it right.
You’re not a fan of slow burns?
Some stories require build up..they can't be told straight and quickly.
@@cannanprasad783 yeah but alot of them be whack
The way I immediately thought he could use the window to pinch the sack and then quickly thought after that "Nah that won't happen"
😂 I thought the same thing
S A M E !! 😅
I was kinda hoping that "thing" acted more with not being able to breathe, wouldn't have seen that coming if "it" did hahaha
Same
you would definitely have good survival instincts if one day you get kidnapped ahah
felt so sad when she stepped in the recorder after losing her memory. so intense, so creative
The psychology behind this short was absolutely stunning. Loved every minutes of it. Oh my. What a great story with only two people. The lights, the camera angles... all was truly mesmerising.
Glad you liked it!
@@mr.phillipsHollywood, hire Mr Phillips immediately.
the glazing is crazy wallah
I think the scariest thing about this is that it wiped her memory already, and was probably playing with its food at this point
What do you mean?
@@Rose-kd8yb the short started while she had no memory. So, assuming it really was a monster, it was fucking with her already
U didn't get it at all
@@terzinjo024 shes mentally ill, right?
@@terzinjo024 explain then
this was very unsettling to watch, the atmosphere and the uncertainty of trusting her memory.. Love it
Never have i been more satisfied with a short horror movie ending
Same. Omg this might be my favorite horror short ever.
satisfied is a crazy use of word my guy
@@A123-z8k it’s a completely normal use
poor choice of words r/sadism
I think this is probably the best horror short I've seen in some time: no profanity, no sexual content, just horror. And it felt real, even with the very subtle supernatural elements. Well done.
Nah, the one with the 3 guys going camping and talking about ghost stories. The short is called we’re not safe here. No this one is pretty good with the total recall situation.
So glad you liked it!
check out their other work "other side of the box" you'll love it
Yes here to say watch his other movie "Other side of the box"
Oh brother
Honored to have worked on this awesome short!
Were you the actress? If so great job. The production team is equally talented!
@@TheDweeb002 No, but she was fantastic! We helped with the editing and overall post-production process.
@winsproductions Tell me the secret. So was that person an SCP/alien or was she just a schizo? Please tell me, I'll sub you and watch your videos.
@@ktpictures95please make more to this story! That was fantastic!
@@ktpictures95all u guys involved did an amazing job... as for the actress I hope to see more from her in the future I can see her doing big projects. Anyways wish u guys all the best & much ❤ to u all!!
If i ever was in a situation like this, i really dont know what to do. That fim got goosebumps all over my body. Great work ALTER!
You would know what not to do when you notice that your service weapon is a hammer and your car doesn’t work.
@@hollyperrin7353 well i guess yes😅
Well, firstly, in this day/age I would not have been without a mobile 📱
Secondly, I would have let the police sort it out and deal with the situation.
@@bigcityjunglecatenvisageth1422you would’ve died
@@bigcityjunglecatenvisageth1422i might do that too, but think again, that "thing" definitely try to do something before you could see the police
I was really worried she would end up being mentally ill. It would have been such a snooze of an ending. This one was so much better, especially her breaking the recorder so she doesn't even know why she did it.
We dont know . She still could has schizophrenia
@@Misu.Aif that was true her memory wouldn’t have gotten erased immediately after looking at his face.
@@Misu.AoHHHHH????
My heart dropped when she rolled up the window and seen the mask off
@SSVegita Yes! that's the moment I think I physically twitched.
i love how in the beginning i was convinced that the recording was legit and she really was in a life or death situation and that the “person” in the back seat was dangerous…. but as soon as she killed him, an inkling of doubt started to creep up on me… and then were left with no confirmation that the initial belief was true… amazing film! mindfuck for sure
I think the fact that her memory got wiped when she looked at him was confirmation. Also the backseat dude turning, um, rather non-brotherly.
I kept thinking she really was in danger ,and that the 'brother' was some imposter or something trying to hurt her. But i'm wondering now if it was true or not , was she losing her mind, was he really her brother.
Yep, unless a human can magically flip handcuffs from behind their back to in front of them to strangle someone... but also could be a dream, because when outside with the hammer, the claw position gets reversed
@@PauTorres-z6wthe claw is always on the left of the perspective of the character. Watched it 40 times to confirm this is BS.
@@PauTorres-z6w its simple i can do this too even you can do this its simple bro just bend slightly and through legs you can bring it infront
This was so good! The atmosphere, the doubt, the acting! 10/10
Yes so true!
How was your comment 4 days ago?
@amariguzman7086 lol I'm wondering that as well.
@@staceywebber8808 May be they republished?
@@amariguzman7086 shit my tardis malfunctioned
The sound design of him running around and hearing it on both sides was beautiful
Well he clearly wasn't her brother, given the way he taunted her in the darkness, forced her to look at his face and when she did, she lost her memory. Presumably when he died, his power went which mean she could look at his face without losing her memory again, but now she's lost in the woods with no idea how she got there and a dead alien!
Obrigada pela explicação!
She lost her memory after killing the hooded man, then stepped on her recording device. So she knows that she killed a "person", but she doesn't know why. I don't think it lost it's ability to make her lose her memory after it died.
Yep, unless a human can magically flip handcuffs from behind their back to in front of them to strangle someone... but also could be a dream, because when outside with the hammer, the claw position gets reversed
I questioned if she did have a mental episode, much like dementia patients, where once they see or feel or smell something familiar they're triggered out of their episode and back to reality. Makes me wonder. But the handcuff thing, made me think, then again, given time could someone figure it out? Lots of questions.
@@PauTorres-z6w Flipping handcuffs is surprisingly easy, just move them under your feet and to the front
The first questions I would’ve asked are “what’s my condition”, “when was I diagnosed”, and “what medications do I take”
That’s smart, I didn’t even think of that!
I started getting suspicious when he just said “you have a condition” like hello??? youre her brother and her caregiver at that point the name of the condition would be at the tip of your tounge 24/7 and would answer with its exact name out if habit
the way the record cracked at the end and she'll live with no idea why she did that is superb. everything was planned seamlessly.
“I know you can do it. Because you’re me…and this is not how we die.” 3:41
The acting was everything. It set the scene. Gave the atmosphere. Made my stomach clench & my heart race. 110% Amazing job guys✨️
The way she hit the hammer , it can definitely be assumed that she is a special agent and not a mental patient. Good work there Philips
That was good. Love it when its not just the narrator you can't trust, but the whole premise.
Thanks Caleb. Very good ! So you're the guy who made The Other Side Of The Box. That was suspenseful and terrifying. This film is somewhat different, but still well executed. I hope you're making good money from these little productions. People will pay to see a selection of short films like this one. All the best !
Bravo for not showing the monster's face.
Perhaps they did, and we just can't remember.
@@brettzforemani actually have a extremely bad memory 😭
I love Caleb’s films. He’s complex, concise, and every second is always so intense. Just mind blowing writing. I can’t believe this was only 10 minutes.
About as deep as a puddle
@@raypayasothank you kanye, very cool 👍
no hes not confusion and mystery alone doesnt make a story or horror
This was fantastic! I wanted it to be longer to be honest. It was a great story, the acting was awesome, and the suspense was amazing. This is one of the best ones I’ve seen.
One of my favorites things about this is the ending. It implies so much. If we’re privy to just a little of what she no longer knows, how much more is there that we don’t know about this entity? I feel like the best kind of horror leaves you with disturbing sense that you can’t know everything about the threat
I was on the edge of my seat from the very first second... total rollercoaster & and skillfully shot... what a rush
This short film is amazing! It's well directed, the lighting is perfect, the score is excellent and the story is fascinating! I would love to see more of this.
This was really great, I prefer this to any gorey/overly built up shorts. This wasted no time, straight to the point with an appropriate length. Great work!
That left me at wtf state of mind. Loved it!
Caleb's videos NEVER disappoint! Bravo once again, Mr. Phillips.
What scared me the most about this….is that it reminded me of my dad who has early rapid onset dementia and he forgets everything who everyone is and completely misremembers events. At first it was just putting his clothes on backwards or putting the milk on top of the refrigerator instead of in it, and throwing crab leg shells on the floor instead of on his plate at the seafood restaurant….but now he is in a more dangerous phase the last 8 months. We have to be with him at all times because he has gone to the restroom at the doctors office and when he is finished he will just walk out the door and leave whomever drove him there wondering where he went. We have had to call the police to help look for him several times and he doesn’t cooperate with them. For example if you hand him something, 45 minutes later he will just go into a rage and accuse the person of throwing it at him or hitting him with it instead and will want to fight. He is only in his late 50s so he has strength and isn’t frail like most dementia patients. Mom got rid of his guns and has locked up the knives and hides the keys. He will be doing fine all day and we will go somewhere and out of nowhere he will freak out and not know who I am and thinks he is being kidnapped or something and call the police or get out of the car and start running. Sometimes he does remember who we are but he will be convinced that we are the evil imposter of ourselves and will freak out and make us prove we aren’t. The last three years of his life has been a horror movie for him and it is too much for my mom but she doesn’t want to put him in a facility as he has never been violent with her. It breaks mine and my brothers hearts watching it but it scared the hell out of us that he will one day hurt someone or my mom thinking they mean him harm. He had an in home care aid that used to come and help my mom but she quit after she came in the door one day and my dad started screaming at her to get the hell out of his house because he didn’t know who she was and thought she just walked in off the street to steal. I keep begging my mom to do something before it’s too late and he hurts someone but she is stubborn and believes that he will never forget who she is.
Oh love, I'm so sorry. You and your family are so strong❤
Great short!! Also I have to say the comments in alter's horror shorts are so interesting to read! There's a huge contrast between comments here and comments on IG or tik tok, where people just want things explained to them. Over here people give their theories and they have such cool reflections. So refreshing to read, I must say.
Agreed, UA-cam comments are always the best compared to like every platform when it comes to things like this I swear🙏
This is a movie I'd watch the shit out of. One of the best horror flicks I've seen in the last three years. Good stuff happening at ALTER.
Great work ! Confusion, distrubing, perfect lights... I love that type of horror.
I love the lore of looking at it and losing your memory and needing a pen to write stuff, it’s so much like The Silence from Dr. Who and I’m digging it 🔥✨♥️
I've seen A LOT of these UA-cam horror shorts, and the amount I've actually enjoyed all the way I can count on one hand. This one here, this is perfect. This might be my new favorite. amazing work
Very good. Two great performances. Great atmosphere. You posed so many questions and answered none of them! Horror at its best.
7:07 my face went 😵 Haha fantastic short.❤
I think I get it, she killed him but then saw his face and forgot everything, and since the tape is broken she thinks she killed an innocent person?
Or not == we don't know if it is an alien (or villain) or if it was all a lie --
You got it!
@@therealJamieJoy I’m assuming it was true, considering her memory got wiped when she looked at it.
But it could have been from her possible "disorder?"@@-JaggedGrace-
@@therealJamieJoy Uhh... i guess, but massive coincidence that it triggered right when she looked at his face. Also there was also the rather sinister actions of her passenger.
The perfect horror short honestly. Such a satisfying ending aswell, leaving it open but still satisfying. Cant wait to see more from the director in the future hopefully
This feels like what an agent in the video game Control would experience out in the field. Loved every second of it.
I was searching a lot to find that one person who would realize this and point it out (there aren´t many of us). I thought I´m crazy for a moment.
She literally said "Control agent Elizabeth Armstrong." That is like it was straight up taken from that world into the point where I would argue it could easily be part of it. The way recording informed her, the way she operated throughout the movie.I wonder whether it is just a coincidence or they took an inspiration from the game.
other side of the box was a great film but this one is beyond amazing, i’m a sucker for physiological thrillers. you can truly see how this director improved and i can’t wait to see more amazing films by them!
I loved this short film!! I was trying to imagine myself in this situation and the doubt that would creep in. It would be hard not to be confused and think that maybe you're crazy. Maybe he is her brother. Or maybe he's not. The whole time I went back and forth with conflicting thoughts. So good!!!
This was really good!
Except for one thing: Her initial reaction to waking up with no memory in a car with a mysterious man in the seat behind her was wholly unbelievable to me. Same with her reaction to the "play me" message, she just took it all as though it was only slightly off the norm.
Well she had no memory so I guess she had to play along
Hm... maybe, just maybe... even if you have no conscientious memory your training, basic instincts and personality still there. In the heat they will kick in. An aggressive person with no memory stills, as basic behavior, aggressive... A soft one too.
I'm not sure about personality, because that revolves around experiences and lessons, none of which she even remembers but I was definitely expecting some more reactions out of her as to why there's a tied up person in her car, that's frightening!
Yeah I just wanna know how the hell she managed to handcuff him and bag him and then lost her memory
mind game galore .... like a dark twisted Memento, luv it
Exactly!👍❤
as opposed to the original memento, which was so light and airy
Mr. Phillips, you need to do full movies! This is way better than the cheap thrillers we see in theaters with very predictable outcomes.
I've watched this like 15 times, and I'd pay to see a sequel. It'd be very interesting, since she'll have no idea of who (or what) she killed and why, since the tape was destroyed.
Her acting was excellent too! She needs to be in a full movie you write and direct lol
Also, we need a Part 2!! Lol
LOVED IT! Now THIS is how you make a good horror short/movie👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👌🏾
What i know is that if you dont know anything, trust your instincts instead. Your body will go in a fight mode when in danger.
This was great, such a tense atmosphere! I was almost expecting it to actually be her brother and that maybe she was delusional but I loved this ending so so much more 👏🏻
But we still don't know for certain??
@@therealJamieJoy that’s what I was left thinking KINDA! I was like “do we have an unreliable narrator here??”
Because she is unreliable even to herself I must assume we as the viewer are meant to be left with that tension. @@Bubblemice-s2g
@@therealJamieJoywdym we dont know, when she looked into the mirror the creature had no hair, later he did
@@exoplace hmmm I only saw that she looked into the mirror and he had a cloth bag on his head? Perhaps i missed that part?
I knew the second he was breathing out the window that the window would remove his sack. Still was creepy as hell when it happened. Loved this and the short film with the box
Hey all Alter fans 🙋♀️
😊
Hello
Hi There!!! 🤗
Here after Haunting Tube recommended it. Nice movie ❤
Damn! Very impressive short film. I was locked it from the jump. The filmmaking is top notch. I’ll definitely be following your career Caleb. 🤘🏼
I Have so many questions. I need a prequel.
we need a prequel. this was awesome!
strong psychological horror when both interpretations work and neither reality is confirmed or contradicted. reninds me fondly of "They Look like People" in that way
That was damn good! BRAVO!!!
Bravo...real scary short film, thanks!💯👍👀!
Anybody here from Instagram reels?😂
When you see a short horror film shot by ALTER, you know its going to be good
Excellent! This is how it's done. Great work by all involved.
Fantastic mind-blowing direction ❤
That was amazing!
This was very good! And I love the ambiguous ending❤
Keep making things like this! Psychological horror is the best horror.
What was ambiguous about it?
@@-JaggedGrace-he could still be a good guy, and it could just be a psychological condition.
@@leonadrian7257 I really doubt it... I don't think there's ever been a case of somebody reliably losing their memory every time they look at a particular person's face. Not only that, why did they guy let go of her so he can toy with her now that he thought she was helpless? If he were really worried about her, I think he'd want to properly restrain her and get her help.
Not unless he is really bendy... his cuffs went from behind him to in front of him@@leonadrian7257
it's 1am n i came from Instagram, here goes nothing 🤞🏻
OK, easily one of the best shorts around. Punchy and powerful.
Other Side of the Box was incredible! Thank you for another great short film, they just get better and better. Hope to see more soon.
i actually really liked this one!!!
this short film evoked a visceral feeling in me that any regular horror movie has yet to do.
Very good! Thanks for the content!
The way this had me more frightened than most feature length horror films I've watched from the last few years!!
I loooveedd this! I need a full length film just like I need a full length Other Side of the Box! Im not sure y u dont have more films out but I’ll definitely be waiting!
Love your short films
That thing was not her brother. It knew nothing about her and put very little effort in convincing her that the recording was fake or that she was forced to record that tape or anything at all, really. Plus, she first said she did not have a brother, so somehow she knew it even with the memory loss.
I’m so proud of her for trusting herself at the end!!! Love this movie!!
The ending is so cool!!!!!!!!
This whole scenario reminded me of the final scene of They Look Like People. I feel like it was an inspiration for this.
Anyway, good movie. Not nearly as good as Other Side of the Box, but that one was amazing so the bar was very high.
I hope you keep making more videos!
seems like an Scp of some kind! Great film! feels very professional.
Whoever scored this thing is an absolute GOAT.
That was a very cool premise...
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Even though it seems that what was on the tape was true and his face did make her forget everything, I like that there’s just enough ambiguity left to make you wonder if he was telling the truth.
That’s what I was thinking as well like was he telling the truth?
@@Oscarlopez12456👂👂5:01 was the early dead giveaway
@@Oscarlopez12456how could yall possibly think he was telling the truth if he started running around like a serial killer, unless that was her hallucinations
@@Oscarlopez12456he literally started choking her with his handcuffs ☠️
I was COMPLETELY absorbed into this!!!!
This is the best I’ve watched on Alter in a while. Fantastic job. This could be a full length.
Claw hammer to the side of the neck was absolutely brutal!
This reminds me of Christopher Nolan's 'Memento'. Brilliantly done.
I would assume that was the inspiration
I agree.@@PauTorres-z6w
This was beautifully created
Incredible! I was on edge the whole time
This is the best short film I’ve seen
From a girl's point of view, the guy playing her brother or demon had a really nice deep voice. So mesmerising.
Great movie too. Acting was good and suspenseful. Very much liked 😆
This was a really good short movie!!!! I was stuck watching it!!! Good actors and crazy story line! Need a part 2
Asap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Crazy people horror is scarier than paranormal horror
This was sooooooo good!
The fact that the recorder broke, she will never know the reason why he killed that guy 😦😦😦😦