ShortFilmsMatter.com
ShortFilmsMatter.com
SUBMIT
submit

Kiara

Synopsis

Von visits his sick sister back home but soon finds out that something dark has taken hold of her.

Review

4/5
A spine-chilling horror about a brother’s guilt and regret.
Written and directed by Brandon Espy, ‘Kiara’ is a short horror film that delves into a man’s penitence surrounding the ill-health of his beloved sister. Von Roburts leads the cast as Von – a brother ravaged with guilt, regret and sorrow for deserting his sister, Kiara, at her time of need. Daijah Peters co-stars as the eponymous character. Stephen Barrington portrays Von’s childhood friend, Pook. The bone-chilling narrative is fraught with suspense and trepidation.

The 11-minute horror opens with Von in the process of writing a mercy letter to Kiara – his younger sister currently crippled with an undisclosed illness. Von, now home from New York, is crushed with regret for turning his back on his sibling – which plays disturbing tricks on his psychology. Perplexed with what is reality and fiction, Von is constantly haunted by a Kiara’s sinister existence.

Kiara Short Film
Brandon Espy has crafted a neat production, with outstanding production quality. Cinematography, make-up artistry and lighting are meticulously crafted, which is certain to keep the audience engaged with the baleful tone. Von Roburts and Stephen Barrington deliver highly captivating performances throughout – as does Daijah Peters (albeit limited). ‘Kiara’ is an indisputably hair-raising watch with a multitude of unforeseen startles that will keep viewers on tenterhooks. Highly recommended.

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Brandon Espy
Writer(s): Brandon Espy
Cast: Daijah Peters, Stephen Barrington, Von Roburts
Producer(s): Brandon Espy
Director of Photography:
Animation (if applicable):

Specifications

Genre: ,
Subjects: , , , , , , ,
Collections: , ,
Country:
Language: English
Year: 2021
Runtime: 11 min

Recommended

5/5

Fifteen Years Later

The film explores the lived realities of those impacted by bias and violence in a post-9/11 era. Two young and once promising men independently…
  • Drama, Thriller
  • United States
  • 2018
  • 18 min
2/5

Crazed Conveyance

Hayley Anders gets a strange wooden box delivered to her door in the middle of the night. “A gift for you” is written on…
  • Horror, Thriller
  • Canada
  • 2020
  • 27 min
4/5

Our Fathers

Two undercover Metropolitan Police officers are called to a crime that questions their responsibility as fathers….
  • Drama, Thriller
  • United Kingdom
  • 2022
  • 21 min
4/5

Can You Help Me?

Two girls, a trunk, a flat, does anyone help them up? What is inside that trunk? A comedy where appearances are deceiving….
  • Comedy, Thriller
  • Spain
  • 2021
  • 11 min
4/5

Cinephile

A young man, exhausted by his quarantine loneliness, follows in the footsteps of his favorite cinematic hero and tries to live his neighbors’ lives….
  • Drama, Thriller
  • United States
  • 2021
  • 8 min
4/5

The LloydPergs

A young filmmaker enters a local film competition, and his stepdad, who is also a filmmaker, has the “perfect” idea for an award-winning movie,…
  • Comedy, Horror
  • United States
  • 2023
  • 10 min

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Brandon Espy
Writer(s): Brandon Espy
Cast: Daijah Peters, Stephen Barrington, Von Roburts
Producer(s): Brandon Espy
Director of Photography:
Animation (if applicable):

Specifcations

Genre: ,
Subjects: , , , , , , ,
Collections: , ,
Country:
Language: English
Year: 2021
Runtime: 11 min

Recommended

4/5

Thames

  • Drama, Thriller
  • United Kingdom
  • 2021
A Counter Terrorism police detective interrogates a strangely familiar suspect, on the eve of Brexit. However, what he discovers will change the course of history forever….
5/5

#Fullmethod

  • Drama, Thriller
  • United States
  • 2021
Preparing to play a serial killer for a new television drama series. Two friends accidentally become killers themselves. Hiding the body of their strangled friend inside an Ottoman, moments before party guest show up….

Kiara

Synopsis

Von visits his sick sister back home but soon finds out that something dark has taken hold of her.

Review

A spine-chilling horror about a brother's guilt and regret.

4/5
Written and directed by Brandon Espy, ‘Kiara’ is a short horror film that delves into a man’s penitence surrounding the ill-health of his beloved sister. Von Roburts leads the cast as Von – a brother ravaged with guilt, regret and sorrow for deserting his sister, Kiara, at her time of need. Daijah Peters co-stars as the eponymous character. Stephen Barrington portrays Von’s childhood friend, Pook. The bone-chilling narrative is fraught with suspense and trepidation.

The 11-minute horror opens with Von in the process of writing a mercy letter to Kiara – his younger sister currently crippled with an undisclosed illness. Von, now home from New York, is crushed with regret for turning his back on his sibling – which plays disturbing tricks on his psychology. Perplexed with what is reality and fiction, Von is constantly haunted by a Kiara’s sinister existence.

Kiara Short Film
Brandon Espy has crafted a neat production, with outstanding production quality. Cinematography, make-up artistry and lighting are meticulously crafted, which is certain to keep the audience engaged with the baleful tone. Von Roburts and Stephen Barrington deliver highly captivating performances throughout – as does Daijah Peters (albeit limited). ‘Kiara’ is an indisputably hair-raising watch with a multitude of unforeseen startles that will keep viewers on tenterhooks. Highly recommended.

Recommended

Frequently Asked Questions

Short Films Matter is an online short film platform that reviews independent short films from across the globe.

We are proud to feature the work of up-and-coming talent as well as established filmmakers.

Unlike other curated short film platforms, we never reject short films. All films submitted are guaranteed to be showcased on our website.

 

You can submit your short film for review using our submission form. Our submission fee is $50. 

Any submissions received via email or social media will be not be accepted.

No. Short Films Matter is a short film platform that reviews and promotes short films via our website and social media. We do not hold live screening events or competitions.

All short films on our platform are publicly available. Filmmakers can request we showcase a trailer instead.

If you would like to make any changes to your review page/or request deletion, you can do so via email.

1. All short films must be publicly hosted on YouTube or Vimeo. If your short film is currently in a festival season. you can submit a trailer. This can be and changed later once your festival season has concluded.

2. Short Films must be 40 minutes or less.

3. You can submit a film that was produced/released in any year, country or language.

4. We accept all types of short films, including: Action, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Documentary, Experimental, Horror, LGBTQ+, Music, Mystery, Sci-Fi and Thriller.

5. We do not refund submissions.

6. Subtitles are required if the film is not in the English language.

© 2023 Short Films Matter

Instagram Envelope