Halfway Haunted (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

2025 HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!

What if your only hope at saving yourself from eviction was a ghost? When Jess (Hannan Younis) uses the ghost inhabiting her rental to her advantage, she quickly finds that not all is as it seems, and Halfway Haunted follows this desperate woman as she tries to right the ship that is her life. 

I say this every year, but HollyShorts regularly showcases a series of short films that are capable of expanding my horizon on what short films are capable of–and with Halfway Haunted, it’s business as usual. The film’s narrative is a silly concept, but Writer-Director Samuel Rudykoff manages to manipulate this script in a way that makes it accessible and wonderfully grounded–far beyond what I could have anticipated. 

The narrative is the strangest part of Halfway Haunted for sure–but beyond that aspect of the film I found it to be incredibly charming. The best part of this film is the cinematography, as it often feels claustrophobic, confining viewers to the eerie rental that houses Jess. The crumbling walls, the sketchy, colonial basement, and more play an integral role in developing a sense of discomfort and suspense. The old, creaky nature of the film’s set drives home the uncomfortable and disorienting nature of the film as a whole–and Halfway Haunted thrives as a result. 

It’s also important to note that the aforementioned set creates a sense of claustrophobia–a challenging feeling that mirrors Jess’ struggle throughout. The idea of being trapped transcends Halfway Haunted, and it allows viewers to better understand and appreciate Jess and her unique predicament. As someone who doesn’t subscribe to the occult, I can sometimes find it challenging to immerse myself in a film that deals with such–and it appears that Halfway Haunted takes this into account. It refuses to close itself off to half of the population, and finds a series of brilliant ways to incorporate realism into the unnatural spectacle that is Halfway Haunted. 

The elephant in the room is the fact that this interestingly grounded drama features a ghost. The capacity and backstory of the ghost should remain under lock and key, as this aspect of the film plays a pivotal role in the mystery and excitement present in Halfway Haunted. What I can say, however, is the fact that this film is gorgeously edited–brilliantly incorporating the scintillating specter into the film organically. The spirit in question, credited only as “Ghost” (Kristian Bruun), fits in seamlessly with the rest of the film–transending the narrative and interacting with Jess in a flawless and grounded way. 

One of my biggest struggles of late is that blockbuster films often find it difficult to blend drama and comedy in a way that feels organic–often stealing from the intended emotion. Again, Halfway Haunted takes this tidbit into account, blending genres in a way that doesn’t steal from the intended emotion, but rather adds to that aspect with an unsuspecting aplomb. Intense moments are just that, but Rudykoff allows himself the opportunity to insert comedy in a way that juxtaposes that aforementioned suspense, all while providing a level of levity that is both welcome and necessary. Halfway Haunted incorporates a series of storytelling techniques, as to appeal to a wide-range of viewers. Beyond the technical aspects of Halfway Haunted, it seems abundantly clear that Rudykoff possesses a level of cinematic knowledge that extends beyond the confines of his film.

Halfway Haunted is the first film that I watched from the 2025 HollyShorts Film Festival, a festival that I desperately hope to attend in person one day, a festival that has, time and time again, produced shorts that seem to exceed any and all expectations of the niche corner of cinema. Halfway Haunted is aesthetically brilliant, wonderfully immersive, a stunning blend of genres, and the perfect representation of what this festival has to offer. 

Directed by Samuel Rudykoff. 

Written by Bryn Pottie & Samuel Rudykoff. 

Starring Hannan Younis, Kristian Bruun, & Sugar Lyn Beard.

8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING