Co-writer and director Samuel Rudykoff‘s “Halfway Haunted” is a terrific short film that feels like a complete, fully realized idea instead of just a proof of concept. It’s clever, funny, a little spooky, and surprisingly sharp in what it has to say. Best of all, this strong storytelling is packed into a tight and efficient runtime.
Jess (Hannan Younis) lives in a haunted apartment, not because she wants to, but because it’s the only place she can afford. At this point, the ghost she shares her abode with is less of a terrifying entity (Kristian Bruun) and more of an annoying roommate who likes to mess with the plumbing, rearrange the magnets on her fridge, and make the lights flicker. But when a developer (Sugar Lyn Beard) swoops in to tear the place down, the film flips the script in a great way. Suddenly the ghost isn’t the problem, but he is the solution.
What follows is a genuinely fun supernatural horror comedy where Jess and her spectral co-tenant form an uneasy alliance to save their home. It’s a terrific concept, and Rudykoff executes it with a ton of charm and confidence. There’s humor, there’s tension, and there’s just enough weirdness to keep things unpredictable, especially as the story starts to hint that not everything is quite what it seems.
There’s a lot of social commentary that’s done really well. Underneath the comedy and ghostly antics, there’s a clear, pointed take on the affordable housing crisis. It never feels preachy, but it’s definitely intentional. And who wouldn’t respond to the idea that a literal haunting is more tolerable than predatory development?
Rudykoff does an impressive job balancing tone here. The film moves easily between humor and commentary without losing momentum, and it makes smart use of its limited scope. Nothing feels wasted, either. Every moment is doing something, whether it’s building character, delivering a joke, or pushing the story forward.
Short, sharp, and genuinely memorable, “Halfway Haunted” is a terrific short film. It’s darkly funny, thoughtful, and is a well-executed idea that’s brought to life with creativity and care.
By: Louisa Moore
