Father

R Apr 18, 2026 Horror · 34 minutes flies by, perfectly calibrated to unsettle without overstaying.
Hidden gem
8.9/10
IMDb
Before you watch

Documentary-style interviews with college students about a disturbing campus incident they investigated

Rewatch
one and done
Attention
full focus
Phone-check
low

The brief

Evan Maggit turns what sounds like a basic found footage premise into something genuinely unsettling, using the documentary interview format to build dread through what the students don't say as much as what they do. The 34-minute runtime works perfectly here - just long enough to get under your skin without overstaying its welcome, maintaining that queasy feeling of college kids trying to rationalize something that clearly shook them. Kaia Bonilla anchors the whole thing with a performance that feels completely natural, like you're watching real people process real trauma. If you liked Lake Mungo's slow-burn approach to supernatural horror or The Poughkeepsie Tapes' documentary style, this will stick with you long after those brief 34 minutes are up.

documentary-style horror college campus unease slow-burn dread found footage intimacy supernatural grief academic investigation

The verdict

If you appreciate slow-burn psychological horror that builds dread through implication and documentary-style realism, this 34-minute found footage gem will burrow into your head and stay there. If you need traditional scares or can't handle the ambiguous, unsettling approach of films like Lake Mungo, you'll find this more frustrating than frightening.

Watch with

  • 👥 Horror fans who appreciate slow-burn scares
  • 👤 Those seeking quick supernatural thrills
  • ⚠️ Viewers who dislike interview-style formats

Heads up

  • Supernatural/ghost encounters (moderate)
  • Grief and loss themes (moderate)
  • Psychological tension building (moderate)

Credits

Director
Evan Maggit
Cast
Kaia Bonilla, Claire Cimmiyotti, George Castin, Abba Pike, Genesis Mayberry, Angus Matheson
Official synopsis

During Thanksgiving week, two college friends interview a group of students who have seen the ghost of a deceased

The Double

Make a night of it
Poster for Backrooms

Pair this with Backrooms (2026)

Both explore supernatural encounters through found footage style investigation.

Total runtime: 34m + 1h 45m = 2h 19m

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