Hidden

Directed by Matthew P. Camacho

WARNING! This review contains spoilers.

“Hidden” is a short film that captures the terror of isolation, focusing on the idea that fear often strikes hardest when we’re alone. The plot centers around a woman named Jewel, trapped in a closet, seemingly hiding from an unseen presence. The story aims to explore how fear can become overwhelming when there’s no escape and how the mind can play tricks in such situations.

If I were to program this film, I’d place it in a screening block emphasizing its focus on psychological horror and the fear of the unknown. The film opens with impressive visuals—lighting is dynamic, creating a haunting atmosphere that sets the stage for a tense experience. The sound design starts strong, enhancing the unsettling mood with ominous echoes and reverberations that echo Jewel’s growing fear. Despite these strong technical elements, the film struggles to maintain its initial momentum, as the cinematography becomes repetitive, relying on medium-close shots with color shifts that add little to the narrative. Editing also feels unmotivated, with the pacing failing to build the kind of suspense expected from a horror short.

As for the story, Hidden presents a straightforward scenario of fear manifesting in isolation, but it’s hard to grasp the broader narrative or deeper meaning behind Jewel’s plight. While the film does capture the essence of terror in a confined space, it falls short of delivering a satisfying or clear conclusion. I found myself wondering about the nature of the threat, what Jewel was truly hiding from, and whether there was more to her backstory. Audiences looking for a more layered psychological experience may feel underwhelmed by the lack of story progression.

Personally, the film resonated with me on the basic level of fear—no one enjoys feeling trapped or threatened, especially in darkness. It does a good job of encapsulating that raw, uncomfortable emotion. However, without a clearer plot or deeper character development, it’s hard to maintain that connection throughout. Hidden succeeds in capturing the initial fright but struggles to sustain its impact beyond that moment.