I've been a fan of short horror films for a while now, and Dylan Clark’s Portrait of God really stands out as something special. This seven-minute horror short shows you don’t need a huge budget to make something seriously creepy. It’s about a girl, Mia, working on a presentation about a painting called Portrait of God, but things get really unsettling pretty fast. It’s all about atmosphere and tension without relying on gore.
The BTS video is awesome. Dylan walks through how they shot the whole thing in just a few days at Ithaca College, handling all the little challenges that come up when you’re working with limited gear. It’s a cool peek behind the scenes if you’re curious about how short films get made.
What’s really impressive is how Dylan maximizes the horror in every frame. He uses lighting, shadows, and sound design to make the tension feel almost tangible. The way he builds suspense from seemingly ordinary moments shows how effective minimalism can be when done thoughtfully. It’s all about making the audience feel something without overloading them with visuals.
Watching his process is super inspiring. Portrait of God shows how creativity, planning, and dedication can turn a small idea into something unforgettable.
Here's a link to both his short film and BTS video: