Chair Horror Short Film Explained
In the South, a small town is devastated by a deadly toxic mold, and The Chair tells the story through the eyes of a teenager trying to come to terms with the situation after losing his mother. The protagonist grapples with grief, anger, and the immense complexity of it all. “The Chair” tells a powerful and deeply moving story that delves into the conflict between nature and humanity. The film creates an immersive, eerie atmosphere that immerses viewers in a haunting dreamscape while exploring timeless questions.
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Writer-director Grainger David drew inspiration for his NYU graduate thesis project from his experiences growing up in South Carolina. Curious about how childhood memories can become distorted over time, especially those stemming from dark and tragic events, David revisited his mother’s removal of black from his bedroom ceiling in 1989 after Hurricane Hugo , memories of sinister mold stains. While it may have changed over time, the film effectively conveys a variety of emotions and raises questions about the relationship between life and nature, particularly the unique and ever-present humidity of the South.
Shot on location in South Carolina, “The Chair” captivates viewers with its striking opening shot. The real-life scenes inject an authentic atmosphere into David’s films, and the photography enhances the visual appeal, making the audience feel as if they are right next to the protagonists and experiencing the story first-hand. Despite the tragic nature of the narrative, the score remains understated, never overshadowing the power of the images. The film’s editing and pacing allow the viewer to fully absorb each moment, providing emotional space for reflection and processing.
Once the atmospheric foundation is established, the film’s emotional impact relies on its effective storytelling. The script feels raw and authentic, and the choice to tell the story from a child’s perspective adds another fascinating layer of depth as we witness the protagonist’s gradual loss of youthful innocence. The narrator and main actors portray different sides of the same character, bringing different perspectives to the screen. The actor unspokenly conveys the character’s inner turmoil, immersing the audience in his experience. On the other hand, the narrator is slightly distant from the events and tells the story with a calm demeanor that heightens the emotional resonance.
Although “The Chair” was not recently released, it recently premiered online, allowing viewers to finally experience the film after many years. In 2012, the short film was a festival success, gaining recognition at prestigious events such as the Telluride Film Festival, Cannes Official Competition, and the 63rd Berlin Film Festival. It also won awards at SXSW, Aspen ShortsFest, and LAFF (RIP). Granger David is currently working on his feature film The Wall at the End of the Road, which is loosely extrapolated from The Chair.
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Chair Short Film Curry Barker Explained
When you watch this movie, less than 23 minutes pass by in a blur in your mind. It’s disorienting, engrossing, and makes you wonder if the Chairman has somehow rubbed off on you too. The story follows Reese (Anthony Pavone), who discovers an antique chair on the curb in front of what appears to be a well-kept suburban house. Out of curiosity, he decided to take it home for his six-month anniversary, not realizing the huge difference it would make.
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This chair looks like a regular wooden dining chair with original green upholstery and well-preserved wood. Nothing particularly striking at first glance. However, Reese’s girlfriend found this strange and expressed her discomfort. While she wasn’t overreacting, she suggested Reese should throw it away. Despite his reservations, Reese found the place “homey” and at the same time creepy.
She felt a negative energy coming from the chair. He sits in the chair, promising her that he will return it, but suddenly finds himself sitting in front of the house from which he took the chair, confused as to time and place. Reese inadvertently left the chair with the car door open, and upon returning home discovered that the chair was now his girlfriend’s.
She claims to have found it on the side of the road and has changed her mind, thinking it was “so sweet”. Strangely, Reese has no memory of the past week. During that lost time, he lost his job, his friends, and his memories. He believed the chair was to blame and felt a negative energy that made him anxious and mean.
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However, his girlfriend accused him of avoiding responsibility, claiming he became aggressive and racist and was fired. Despite their arguments, the chairs remained. The chair had now been moved to the bedroom, and during a sleepless night Rhys turned it towards the wall. To his horror, it turned back to reveal a smiling older man sitting inside.
The disturbing sight frightened both Rhys and Julie. Julie screamed until the man disappeared, seemingly satisfied, and then they both fell asleep. However, the next day, Julie lost memory of the incident. At this point, Reese was convinced that he was either sick or brain-damaged. At breakfast, he recounted the previous night’s experience, and Julie suddenly blurted out: “Dead Man Franklin? He came with a chair.”
Chair short film cast list
throw |
Role |
| Jonathan Cripple | old man franklin |
| David Allen Graff | Officer Morgan |
| Seth Goodfellow | Officer Rogers |
| Haley Schwartz | juliet |
| Anthony Pavon | Rees |
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Chair Short Film: Where to Watch?
The “Chairman” short film has received numerous views on YouTube. Notably, recent blockbusters such as Parker Finn’s “Smile” and David F. Sandberg’s “Lights Out” were short films . With that in mind, it got us thinking about whether The Chair might be making its way to the big screen in the near future.
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“The Chair,” directed by Curry Barker, made a huge splash at the Los Angeles Shorts Festival and was nominated for Best Picture. Additionally, it reached the semi-finals stage at the Burbank International Film Festival. The talented team behind the short film includes Adlih Torres, Anthony Pavone and Curry Barker who serve as producers.
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