Draft:Don't Look

  • Comment: Please add multiple critical reviews. RangersRus (talk) 19:00, 7 September 2025 (UTC)


Don't Look
Directed byDanny Murphy
Written byJovita Bodamer-Mac Gregor
Produced byYuki Neoh
Starring
  • Olly Rhodes
  • Danny Murphy
  • Valor Grey
  • Morgan Colqhoun
  • Liam Robertson
CinematographySamuel Ash
Edited byDanny Murphy
Music byAna Ortiz Wienken
Production
company
Ash & Murphy Films
Release date
Running time
12 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Don't Look is a 2025 British psychological horror short film directed and written by Danny Murphy. The story follows a group of friends who play a game called ‘Don’t Look,’ where opening their eyes summons deadly spirits. What begins as a thrill soon descends into terror as they unleash supernatural forces and must confront their darkest fears to survive.

The film premiered on 10 April 2025 at the Fantaspoa International Film Festival and is currently screening on the international festival circuit, including FrightFest.

Synopsis

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A group of four teenagers, Rowan, Abbie, Thomas, and Harris, venture into an abandoned Victorian house hidden deep in the woods, looking for a night of excitement and exploration. What begins as harmless curiosity quickly shifts into fear when a blind man emerges from the shadows, illuminated by their lanterns. Startling the group, he warns them that they must play a ritual known as “Don’t Look.”

The rules are simple but chilling: once three knocks are heard, an otherworldly entity will enter the house. From that moment, the teenagers must keep their eyes closed until dawn. If anyone opens their eyes, the consequences will be swift and deadly. To spare them from punishment for trespassing, the blind man offers this single chance at survival, stressing that obedience to the rules is the only way out.

Terrified yet compelled, the friends reluctantly agree. With their vision taken from them, the atmosphere grows more oppressive. Every creak of the floorboards, every brush of the wind, and every shift in the darkness heightens their dread. The uncertainty of what lurks around them gnaws at their sanity.

Inevitably, fear proves too much. Abbie opens her eyes and is immediately subjected to violent, supernatural punishment. The fragile trust between the group collapses as panic spreads, and the entity’s presence becomes more aggressive with each passing hour.

As the night wears on, the friends are picked off one by one in horrifying ways. To survive until morning, they must resist the primal urge to look, knowing that one mistake seals their fate.

Cast

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  • Olly Rhodes as Thomas
  • Danny Murphy as Harris
  • Valor Grey as Rowan
  • Morgan Colquhoun as Abbie
  • Liam Robertson as The Man

Release and reception

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The short film was first shown on at Fantaspoa International Film Festival on 11 April 2025 and then went around the British and American horror film festival circuit, premiering in England at FrightFest Film Festival on 25 August. During its festival run, it received acclaim from various horror publications, praising the film's atmosphere, cinematography, special effects makeup and performances.[1][2][3][4][5]

Festival selections

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References

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  1. ^ "Don't Look - Review". UK Film Review. 7 September 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Don't Look (2025) Review". Screen Critix. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Don't Look". Film Threat. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  4. ^ "'ALL THRILLS HORROR'". Take 2 Indie Review. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Rebecca A Withey: A review of 'Don't Look' – from Ash and Murphy Films (BSL)". The Limping Chicken. 17 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Fantaspoa Selection 2025". melies.org. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  7. ^ "7th August - FrightFest London 2025 Short Film line up announced". frightfest.co.uk. 10 July 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Dead Northern Part VI 2025 Horror Film Festival". deadnorthern.co.uk. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
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