This is exactly the sort of horror I enjoy: Little to no jump scares (just that kid at the start), no gore, just a spooky atmosphere that gets creepier and creepier as a feeling of wrongness ramps up. Kudos.
Did the filmmakers actually say that was in reference to House of Leaves, or is it just your own assumption? That said, I'd believe it. I love House of Leaves. Truly terrifying.
"You're going to have to push through your terror and do exactly as I say. This can't wait until we get home in half an hour. Make sure not to find a flashlight, because candles are important to magnify your fears. Every awful terrifying step is for your own good." Way to impress the boss by being a great dad.
They got it right - 10 seconds of darkness with a few sounds is more suspenseful than anything you can see. Damn, this is old-school-thriller. She's only on step 3 and I'm stressed out. Clapped at the end. Fantastic work by all involved.
in my family if this happens then we will tell him to go to the brother's room and wait for mom and dad to come home. well of course life is not a movie. ha ha ha ha
@@RiekaAlma13 yeah, our versions wouldn't make very good horror movies. Actually, most horror movies wouldn't be very scary at all if the characters made slightly rational decisions.
The movie The Cellar (2022) is based off this! When I was watching that movie I was like yoooo I seen this before! The Cellar is the full length version of this!
@@M1ssign0 you sure? I thought it was 12345678901234567890987654321098765432166611122233344455566677788899900011001010101000111010101111010111101010101010011010001110101010100011100101011111011101101001010101001010101010010101010100101010101010101
This has to be the most frightening short horror movie I've seen on UA-cam, especially with that ending. I had a feeling that the father would hear her continue to count after the 10th step at the end but it still made me heart stop in fear when it happened, who would have thought that something as simple as the sound of someone counting steps out loud could be so unnerving.
I saw this film a couple of years ago and it still send chills through me.It shoul be used to show Hollywood on how to really make a horror film. No CGI effects. Just great storytelling and creepy atmosphere.
If Katie wasn't following a staircase that spirals downward towards "Hell" (or a bizarre stairway to another dimension entirely), then it's possible that her fear of the cellar triggered a mental breakdown of some kind. It depends on what way you would prefer to look at it. Still, it's enough to give a person chills & provoke thoughts... 💭
I mean, the other lady at the dinner said she heard rumors as a child that the devil lives in the cellar. Katie’s fear also shows in her voice when counting. Once she goes past ten, there is no longer hesitation in her voice. She begins to count faster and sounds robotic somewhat. I believe she was possessed
It absolutely does not depend on how you _prefer_ to view it. The only thing that matters is how the film's creators intended you to view it, and there's nothing in the film to support your breakdown hypothesis. If you're going to invoke a scenario without supporting evidence, you can fabricate any possible alternative explanation for any occurence in any film. You are not at liberty to invoke Death of the Author at your whim.
@@ForwardEarth During dinner, Katie is told that she had a panic attack in the basement. Being forced back to that place in complete darkness and alone is more than enough to cause her "a mental breakdown of some kind". As you can see, there is evidence for the mental exhaustion hypothesis. Wanting to be the devil's advocate (ironic), I'd like to ask you what evidence there is that those are stairs to hell, excluding neighborhood gossip. Not to mention that the disturbing reaction to mental exhaustion remains a good payoff of the short film, the death of the author has nothing to do with it. Let's avoid these bursts of presumption.
@The Very Least Person "A book read by a thousand different people is a thousand different books." -legendary filmmaker Tarkovsky "nooo you can't interpret movies any other way!!!" -random UA-cam commenter
For anyone that stumbles across this and enjoys it there's a full length film based off this short called The Cellar 2022. I found these in the opposite order but this short is still well done and effective.
A great horror short, but I do think the thing I found most unsettling was that the parents don’t step away from the table to talk on the phone. Don’t say you’re trying to impress the boss right in front of him!
Awesome short film, masterful way of handling the suspense and most important of all they leave all the horror to the viewer's imagination, there's no CGI or FX more powerful than that, everybody probably depicted in their heads where the girl is going, or what creature is down there, so that makes it even more personal and relatable for everyone.
The most creepy is there are two explanations, or she is just crazy or afraid and count like this or she goes to Hell...the absence of answer is creepy
It's so fantastic because it leaves so much more to the imagination. Sure, we all enjoy our jump scares, but what about imagining what was down those 40 stairs?
Being blind my entire life, I have memoried all the rooms in my aparement. My heart sank when I realised I don't own a gun nor a fake body. When I felt something wet touch my hand I realised this wasn't my room....
Apparently once you get past 10 the rest are easy. All BS aside, this was a brilliant film......goddamn brilliant. Jill Harding will be an actress we hear from many times over, and she will be fortunate to have parts in anything Muldowney does. Stephen King talks about it over and over and over when asked what makes scary. It not yelling boo at the right moment, nor is it the big monster. It's the thought of what's under the bed in the middle of the night, or, in this case, in the basement. Well done
Watched this as a 10 year old in me grannies. Alone in the living room by myself and this came on as an intermission, no warning. Scared the shit outta me
I'm here after watching "The Cellar", such a shame that they did not maintained the atmosphere, the movie was full of jumpscares.. still was a good movie
I remember watching this on recommedation from a friend. It was creepy as hell. I don't know if that girl is going to Hell, but i think she's going to a dimension that isn't to nice
She should have listened to her dad word by word...go down 10 steps...look straight for a switchbox...if not found, return back 10 steps.... On a lighter note, if 10 steps down a basement takes you to hell, how many stairs up will take you to heaven (and where)....lol
And This Masterpiece gave birth to another masterpiece "The Cellar". If you haven't watched that movie, you are missing something huge. Don't watch the trailer, just watch the movie. Thank me later.
I mind being told about this film years ago, it must've been around 2007. A work mate and myself were talking about horror films and he mentioned (as it turns out) this one. The concept of it absolutely fascinated me. I've gone on to mention this to a few other over the years, even though i'd never seen it. Then, i found a film on 'Shudder' called 'The Cellar', starring Elisha Cuthbert and started watching it... Well, would you believe it, it's a feature length horror based off of this short by the same Director. It's only taken 16 years but here i am, through sheer chance discovered this amazing short and it's every bit as good as i had hoped.
When this film was made, the Irish network RTE played it as part of a series of short horror films by Irish producers, one film at the same time each night between shows. I was 12 and I remember watching a few of them including this. This might be a long shot but if anyone can remember any of the others or knows where to find out, please tell me. The Ten Steps wasn't even the scariest of these films for me. There was one about a creature in a woman's attic that left me unable to sleep with the light off for quite a while
Ever since youtube has been shoving "the celllar" ads at my face, I always think they ripped their idea off this. This short blew my mind as a kid when it was on tv
I believe this is the finest short film I have ever seen. No bullshit. From cinematography, to pacing, to mis direction to foreshadowing. Plus not one single drop of blood or gore (I like those too). My one question what is the movie Katie is trying to watch. I'd drop dead if it was Hitchock's The 39 Steps. Hope if the director follows these comments he or one of you can answer. I am not a fan gurl, slash fiction kinda woman. I am 62 and have always been a horror/psychological thriller/noir fan. And help would be appreciated.
Im south african and in our country blackouts are such a regular occurrence that you can print a schedule of blackouts for your suburb off the municipality website.
Amazing film...Kinda' like a modern 'Ghost Story for Christmas'. Better than ANYTHING Hollywood has put out over the last few years! As shaunoc said...WHAT AN ENDING!! Bravo to all involved!
The problem with this idea is that it's clear she is still taking steps and over time, if you listen, you can hear that the stairs are no longer the same material. This implies a literal journey to the nether world.
Katie, you missed the fuse box. You're making your way to hell, turn back, luv. You can do this, you're a brave lassy.
lol! Love it!
This got me too good just snorted coffee out of my nose xP
Yassssss
Welp, thanks for making my nose hurt after accidentally snoring my fizzy drink -_-'
How old are you
This is exactly the sort of horror I enjoy: Little to no jump scares (just that kid at the start), no gore, just a spooky atmosphere that gets creepier and creepier as a feeling of wrongness ramps up.
Kudos.
🗣️I can't stop winning
I literally came form that reel
Yoo me too
Oh man gawd me too
If you listen through the credits, the stairs start getting... /squishy/.
nice touch
I think she's stepping on leaves, in reference to 'House of Leaves', a book with a similar concept of a house with impossible lengths.
Did the filmmakers actually say that was in reference to House of Leaves, or is it just your own assumption? That said, I'd believe it. I love House of Leaves. Truly terrifying.
Serine1002 Games I thought it sounded like she was stepping on bones......
@Atomic Scarecrow Bodies doofus
counting has never been so scary in my entire life
Listen to Hamilton it's worse
@@mudpumpkin ur a degenerate ong bru. Stfu ur opinion doesnt matter
@@mudpumpkin vile. You for saying such a thing and Hamilton for existing 💀
This really creeped me out on a deeper level considering my terrible fear of counting
+Opiv337 you better not watch sesame street
iheartJ B4evrXxX lmao
Welcome to Count Von Count's special hell.
@@iheartjb4evrxxx758 mana mana
nooooooooo maths
"You're going to have to push through your terror and do exactly as I say. This can't wait until we get home in half an hour. Make sure not to find a flashlight, because candles are important to magnify your fears. Every awful terrifying step is for your own good."
Way to impress the boss by being a great dad.
They got it right - 10 seconds of darkness with a few sounds is more suspenseful than anything you can see.
Damn, this is old-school-thriller. She's only on step 3 and I'm stressed out.
Clapped at the end. Fantastic work by all involved.
"Okay, Katie, you're just have to sit in the dark until Mum and I get home..." Problem solved.
Don’t ever become a writer.
Or become a writer of "How it should have ended" clips.
in my family if this happens then we will tell him to go to the brother's room and wait for mom and dad to come home. well of course life is not a movie. ha ha ha ha
@@RiekaAlma13 yeah, our versions wouldn't make very good horror movies. Actually, most horror movies wouldn't be very scary at all if the characters made slightly rational decisions.
The movie The Cellar (2022) is based off this! When I was watching that movie I was like yoooo I seen this before! The Cellar is the full length version of this!
Some say she is counting to this day.
Now she is at 84899200059188557481919048477758891020049588482991939848585877769301049485858 steps...
@@BastienStudio and now at 947226285616475829992746386666666666662747583821628448371748848466666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 steps..
@@M1ssign0 you sure? I thought it was 12345678901234567890987654321098765432166611122233344455566677788899900011001010101000111010101111010111101010101010011010001110101010100011100101011111011101101001010101001010101010010101010100101010101010101
Until she gets an integer overflow and snaps out of it.
Good flick! But, has that dad never held a phone before?
HA!
I was thinking abt the same thing!!!
Look how ancient this phone is. No one really has in this time.
🤣 🤣 🤣
Pacsi Otherworld-től
Ugyanezt akartam írni
This has to be the most frightening short horror movie I've seen on UA-cam, especially with that ending. I had a feeling that the father would hear her continue to count after the 10th step at the end but it still made me heart stop in fear when it happened, who would have thought that something as simple as the sound of someone counting steps out loud could be so unnerving.
Do not forget about the footsteps becoming progressively squishy sounding.
I saw this film a couple of years ago and it still send chills through me.It shoul be used to show Hollywood on how to really make a horror film. No CGI effects. Just great storytelling and creepy atmosphere.
"The Ten Steps"(2004) is one of the best short horror films ever! The ending scene was creepy, inspiring, and very unpredictable!
If Katie wasn't following a staircase that spirals downward towards "Hell" (or a bizarre stairway to another dimension entirely), then it's possible that her fear of the cellar triggered a mental breakdown of some kind. It depends on what way you would prefer to look at it. Still, it's enough to give a person chills & provoke thoughts... 💭
Listen to her footsteps past 20. They're squishy sounds.
I mean, the other lady at the dinner said she heard rumors as a child that the devil lives in the cellar. Katie’s fear also shows in her voice when counting. Once she goes past ten, there is no longer hesitation in her voice. She begins to count faster and sounds robotic somewhat. I believe she was possessed
It absolutely does not depend on how you _prefer_ to view it. The only thing that matters is how the film's creators intended you to view it, and there's nothing in the film to support your breakdown hypothesis. If you're going to invoke a scenario without supporting evidence, you can fabricate any possible alternative explanation for any occurence in any film. You are not at liberty to invoke Death of the Author at your whim.
@@ForwardEarth During dinner, Katie is told that she had a panic attack in the basement.
Being forced back to that place in complete darkness and alone is more than enough to cause her "a mental breakdown of some kind".
As you can see, there is evidence for the mental exhaustion hypothesis.
Wanting to be the devil's advocate (ironic), I'd like to ask you what evidence there is that those are stairs to hell, excluding neighborhood gossip.
Not to mention that the disturbing reaction to mental exhaustion remains a good payoff of the short film, the death of the author has nothing to do with it.
Let's avoid these bursts of presumption.
@The Very Least Person "A book read by a thousand different people is a thousand different books." -legendary filmmaker Tarkovsky
"nooo you can't interpret movies any other way!!!" -random UA-cam commenter
Legend says she is still counting up to this day
For anyone that stumbles across this and enjoys it there's a full length film based off this short called The Cellar 2022. I found these in the opposite order but this short is still well done and effective.
Same, love it
This chilling short leaves much to the imagination. Great art poses questions 👻
It's honestly more disrupting to be on the phone with her like that than to actually leave the restaurant lol
A great horror short, but I do think the thing I found most unsettling was that the parents don’t step away from the table to talk on the phone. Don’t say you’re trying to impress the boss right in front of him!
I absolutely love the ending, you can hear the sound of stairs change in sound and texture as she slowly descend the stairs 👍👍
Awesome short film, masterful way of handling the suspense and most important of all they leave all the horror to the viewer's imagination, there's no CGI or FX more powerful than that, everybody probably depicted in their heads where the girl is going, or what creature is down there, so that makes it even more personal and relatable for everyone.
I CANT STOP WINNING!
My Teacher's Friend is the creator of this movie we watched it in class yesterday their both from Ireland
The most creepy is there are two explanations, or she is just crazy or afraid and count like this or she goes to Hell...the absence of answer is creepy
Watch after the credits, she isn't crazy
theonly_J how could she not be crazy? (I don't see it)
Because through the credits you can hear the sound of her footsteps change to dirt stairs and also you can hear ‘hellfire’
Years after my initial watch through, I am still not over it.
2019 and still watching. Classic story i tell my friends
Thank heavens! A short horror with an actual creepy, clever twist. Instead of all being one big build up to a cheap jumpscare.
Unlike most short films, this actually scared me! Fantastic!
I remember watching this short movie,back in school during French class. 7 years already! 😲
Refúgio cult ❤️
Tbm vim por ele ❤️ mas infelizmente não entendi direito por conta da legenda rsrs
Para quem não entendeu, o porão só tem 10 degraus!
Os 10 passos!
Gotta love that understated horror! So well done.
I love this short. I first saw it quite a while ago and it is still VERY creepy. Hollywood could take a lesson from this.
Still my favorite horror film even though I get scared easily. So eery and yet so well written. It feels real and yet still fictional
A here , Have you watched many
Congratulations on this becoming a movie. 👍
This was a gem in every way. Quite well done!
One of my favorite shorts of all time, horror or otherwise.
It's so fantastic because it leaves so much more to the imagination. Sure, we all enjoy our jump scares, but what about imagining what was down those 40 stairs?
In case you haven't found it there's a full film now
@@BeepBeepJohnnywait what's it called I can't find it
@@Faulk425 The Cellar
Being blind my entire life, I have memoried all the rooms in my aparement. My heart sank when I realised I don't own a gun nor a fake body. When I felt something wet touch my hand I realised this wasn't my room....
Wdym u memorised your rooms but how u were in someone else room and what was wet? And y you need a fake body,,? And how you type this comment???
This was used in latest movie "the cellar", pretty much same scene bit by bit. I was like huuuuuge dejavu
This short is f*ucking amazing. Congrats!
Apparently once you get past 10 the rest are easy. All BS aside, this was a brilliant film......goddamn brilliant. Jill Harding will be an actress we hear from many times over, and she will be fortunate to have parts in anything Muldowney does. Stephen King talks about it over and over and over when asked what makes scary. It not yelling boo at the right moment, nor is it the big monster. It's the thought of what's under the bed in the middle of the night, or, in this case, in the basement. Well done
so has anyone seen the trailer to The Cellar? because there are some obvious similarities
lol me too.
They adapted this short into a movie on Shudder called The Cellar. Looking it up, it sounds like the director of this short directed it! Way to go!
I watched that movie. I loved it
it was great!
Nice one! Didn't notice the change from steps to cracking of bones before. Thanks a lot :)
Watched this as a 10 year old in me grannies. Alone in the living room by myself and this came on as an intermission, no warning. Scared the shit outta me
Mentioned by one of them "diregentleman" types
Good short film. I will no longer be able to go down stairs.
I'm here after watching "The Cellar", such a shame that they did not maintained the atmosphere, the movie was full of jumpscares.. still was a good movie
who else came from looper?
I did.
yaaassss
Dana Rosario Yeah, thanks to Looper
Me too
me
after years finally a movie gives me goosebumps
Brilliant. One of my all-time favourites.
Use to watch this in film camp and everyone went crazy over this as kids. Perfect horror movie for kids too as it's not gory
I love this film.
I remember watching this on recommedation from a friend. It was creepy as hell. I don't know if that girl is going to Hell, but i think she's going to a dimension that isn't to nice
I'm glad their was some sort of satisfying end, cause I kept thinking "Why the fuck am I watching some tween count to ten?"
I had to watch this short movie at school in drama 😂 my friends (and me) were all holding hands a squeezing them
I showed this to my little sister i got grounded for a week but it was worth it! Lol
Anyone else remember the FEARnet days? Before xfinity?
+Analogmp3 haha same here! i found out about it on there.
+g medrano me too!
***** Good times!
Careful, your age is showing😉😊
Yes! I miss it 😩
She should have listened to her dad word by word...go down 10 steps...look straight for a switchbox...if not found, return back 10 steps....
On a lighter note, if 10 steps down a basement takes you to hell, how many stairs up will take you to heaven (and where)....lol
And This Masterpiece gave birth to another masterpiece "The Cellar".
If you haven't watched that movie, you are missing something huge. Don't watch the trailer, just watch the movie. Thank me later.
I mind being told about this film years ago, it must've been around 2007. A work mate and myself were talking about horror films and he mentioned (as it turns out) this one. The concept of it absolutely fascinated me. I've gone on to mention this to a few other over the years, even though i'd never seen it. Then, i found a film on 'Shudder' called 'The Cellar', starring Elisha Cuthbert and started watching it... Well, would you believe it, it's a feature length horror based off of this short by the same Director.
It's only taken 16 years but here i am, through sheer chance discovered this amazing short and it's every bit as good as i had hoped.
When this film was made, the Irish network RTE played it as part of a series of short horror films by Irish producers, one film at the same time each night between shows. I was 12 and I remember watching a few of them including this. This might be a long shot but if anyone can remember any of the others or knows where to find out, please tell me. The Ten Steps wasn't even the scariest of these films for me. There was one about a creature in a woman's attic that left me unable to sleep with the light off for quite a while
let me know if u ever find out
oooh this is a good one.. thanx great great show loved it
Watched this at school today in drama - freaked me out 😂😖😫😅
Ever since youtube has been shoving "the celllar" ads at my face, I always think they ripped their idea off this. This short blew my mind as a kid when it was on tv
I believe this is the finest short film I have ever seen. No bullshit. From cinematography, to pacing, to mis direction to foreshadowing. Plus not one single drop of blood or gore (I like those too). My one question what is the movie Katie is trying to watch. I'd drop dead if it was Hitchock's The 39 Steps. Hope if the director follows these comments he or one of you can answer. I am not a fan gurl, slash fiction kinda woman. I am 62 and have always been a horror/psychological thriller/noir fan. And help would be appreciated.
Still one of the scariest films after all these years! ❤👿❤
Saw this in the states during a film marathon. Didn't win that one but I voted for it.
Best scenes from The Cellar 2022.
A straight-up classic!!!
wooowww, they really DID make a full movie out of this lol!
Amazing! My seal of approval and quality mark are on their way. 11/10
Saw this online years ago and remembered it, very atmospheric
Im south african and in our country blackouts are such a regular occurrence that you can print a schedule of blackouts for your suburb off the municipality website.
brilliant.... I like it AND I'll never go into my cellar any more!! ;)
How many came here after seeing "The cellar"?
I searched it forever! Finally!
GPS: “Make a U Turn and proceed 53 steps... You have reached your destination.”
Amazing... unsettling... 😮
I think she found the never-ending staircase from Super Mario 64
Legend has it she's still counting.
I learned about this in school my teacher takes a classical approach to everything and thats what he told us so i'm just using my newly learned skills
I love this story! One of my favorites!
Amazing film...Kinda' like a modern 'Ghost Story for Christmas'.
Better than ANYTHING Hollywood has put out over the last few years!
As shaunoc said...WHAT AN ENDING!!
Bravo to all involved!
The mom's ringtone tho lol
😂😂😂
Awsome! what a twist!
this whole thing feels like a middling episode of are you afraid of the dark
welp it looks like i'm never getting my dog out of his kennel late at night. a whole lotta nope steps to be taking....
MORE. I WANT MORE!
Also I totally saw the endless staircase thing coming.
finally watching the full length version of the film
The scariest thing was how the father was holding the cellphone
She is passing 79056004th step now, I think.....
Who is here in 2020?
Who's here after the movie 'Cellar' ?
this film got an award because of its esoteric meaning
So the movie The Cellar is the full length version of this??
I remember watching this on Fearnet over a decade ago. It scared me then and it's still scary now.
The problem with this idea is that it's clear she is still taking steps and over time, if you listen, you can hear that the stairs are no longer the same material. This implies a literal journey to the nether world.
branovices so why is that a problem?
@@JAG3003 I think I was responding to someone's attempt at a non-supernatural explanation and UA-cam messed something up at some point.
Y'all alive?
@@LEYTHLEGACY I hope so, otherwise this is a pretty spooky post I'm writing.