A.J. Briones’ The Smiling Man is one of those few horror short films that has achieved cinematic excellence in every aspect. With just a run time of seven minutes, the film is a visual treat for the horror movie buffs.

First, I must make it clear that The Smiling Man is not for faint-hearted. It has things that would frighten you to the core. So, watch it, if you are fond of horror films.

A.J. Briones, who has also written the story, presents the tale with the simplest objects like balloons and interesting use of colors. With intelligent camera work and crisp editing, the film has achieved much compared to any modern-day feature-length horror film.

Interestingly, the film has neither jump scares nor any ear-piercing sound effects. It is the visual, the make-up of the smiling man’s character, also the build-up to the point when the child first encounters the face of the monster, together makes it one of the scariest films.

The short film stars Abby Chally as the little girl, Strange Dave as the Smiling Man, and Melissa Chally as the mother. As far as acting is concerned, all three characters have offered expressions that are apt for the moments. The little girl was a true professional with performance laced with innocence and realistic expression.

Strange Dave who is playing the titular character has played a great job with his creepy look and weird expressions. So, in the end, that is a smiling man, not a ghost.

Watch the Film – The Smiling Man

Written/Directed/Edited by A.J. Briones
Starring: Abbi Chally, Strange Dave, Melissa Chally
Cinematography: David Holechek
Composer: Vivien Villani
Supervising Sound Editor/Re-Recording Mixer: Jamey Scott
Running Time: 7 minutes, 3 seconds