My Work
THE QUEUE
Horror, 11 min
An internet content moderator confronts an increasingly disturbing series of online videos that seep into his psyche.
Winner:
-"Grand Prize" + "Best Writing", StokerCon's Final Frame Horror Short Film Competition
Official Selection:
-Beyond Fest
-Brooklyn Horror Film Festival
-HollyShorts
-FilmQuest
-Panic Fest
-LA Shorts International Film Festival
-St. Louis International Film Festival
“The Queue from Michael Rich is a disturbing and brutally scary take on voyeurism, our fascination with violence, and the cruelty we’re capable of simply because." - Cinema Crazed"Out of all the shorts in this segment, Michael Rich‘s The Queue is the short that left me truly unsettled. Even thinking back to it brings the uneasiness of my stomach rushing back. It is not what is shown but rather what is not." - Film Inquiry
CABIN KILLER
Horror comedy, 10 min
A couple goes on a weekend getaway to work on their relationship - but the remote accommodations aren't what they expected.
Winner:
-"Best Super Short Film", 18th Annual Shriekfest
"I love a film that manages to show a love for the horror genre without taking itself too seriously, and the film-makers here clearly love horror." - HorrorNews.Net
VIRAL
Horror, 13 min
An auto repairman fights to survive the night - and increase his online following - after hitting a mutant creature in the road.
Winner:
-"Best Recurring Nightmare", Nightmares Film Festival
-"Best Horror Short", Haunted Garage Horror Fest
Official Selection:
-Dances With Films
-Panic Fest
-St. Louis International Film Festival
AMBULANCE
Thriller, 13 min
A young EMT and her veteran partner fight to keep an unexpected patient alive in the back of their ambulance.
Made before the Michael Bay one...
Official Selection:
-Shriekfest
-St. Louis International Film Festival
Michael Rich - Director, Writer
Cabin Killer
"Hey now, you're listening to K-C-O-W, the Moooo..."
-BEST SUPER SHORT FILM - 18th Annual Shriekfest (Los Angeles, CA)
-BEST COMEDY - St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase (St. Louis, MO)-NOMINATED: BEST HORROR COMEDY SHORT - Nightmares Film Festival (Columbus, OH)
Directed & Written by Me
Produced by Rachel Collins
Cinematography by Dave Cortez
Sound Design by Michael Cullen
Production Design by Katarina Kushin
Starring:
Chris Orlandi as Adam
Gabi Van Horn as Sherri
Jose De Jesus Martinez as The Cabin Killer
Michael Rich - Director, Writer
Ambulance
"Get him in the back of the ambulance"
Directed & Written by Me
Produced by Jacob Braunstein
Cinematography by Ben Stanziale
Edited by Michael Yuan
Sound Design by Michael Keane
Starring:
Kendall Chappell as Reagan
David Preston as Warren
Chris Orlandi as Chris
Jose De Jesus Martinez as Victor
Michael Rich - Director, Writer
Viral
"Miguel, who wants to watch our busted asses?"
-BEST RECURRING NIGHTMARE (alumni film) - Nightmares Film Festival (Columbus, OH)
-BEST HORROR SHORT FILM - Haunted Garage Horror Festival (St. Louis, MO)
Directed by Me
Written by Nicholas Barragan & Toby Canto
Produced by Kory Kleppe & Juliann Gammon Kleppe
Cinematography by Dave Cortez
Sound Design by Michael Cullen
Starring:
Jose De Jesus Martinez as Miguel
Juan Magana as Daniel
Cammie Middleton as Mia
Tim Simek as Lyle
Adam Meir as The Creature
Michael Rich - Director, Writer
The Queue
"Thank you again for the opportunity"
-GRAND PRIZE WINNER + BEST WRITING - StokerCon's Final Frame Horror Short Film Competition (Pittsburgh, PA)
-SHORT FILM SPECIAL MENTION - A Night of Horror International Film Festival (Sydney, Australia)
-BEST SHORT FILM + BEST ACTOR (BURT BULOS) - Haunted Garage Horror Festival (St. Louis, MO)
-BEST HORROR/THRILLER - St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase (St. Louis, MO)-NOMINATED: BEST HORROR SHORT FILM - iHorror Awards 2024 (iHorror.com)
-NOMINATED: BEST HORROR SHORT - FilmQuest (Provo, UT)
-NOMINATED: LEAD PERFORMANCE, SHORT (BURT BULOS) - Nightmares Film Festival (Columbus, OH)
-NOMINATED: BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE (BURT BULOS) - Nevermore Film Festival (Durham, NC)
-NOMINATED: SCARIEST FILM - HorrorFest International (St. George, UT)
-NOMINATED: BEST HORROR - Smodcastle Film Festival (Atlantic Highlands, NJ)
Directed & Written by Me
Produced by Rachel Collins
Executive Produced by Kory Kleppe & Juliann Gammon Kleppe
Cinematography by Dave Cortez
Sound Design by Michael Cullen
Starring:
Burt Bulos as Cole
Jeff Doba as Rick
Nova Reyer as Kevin
Stacy Snyder as Betty
Benjamin Hardy as Bert
Michael Rich - Director, Writer
Hey now, my name’s Michael. I am a proud St. Louis, Missouri native and graduate of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film & Media Arts.Genre movies are my passion. As a devoted admirer of dark and macabre stories, I make what I would want to see on the screen as a fan. I aspire for engaging characters, twisty turns, and unforgettable moments. Blood... monsters... defibrillators to the face... I've done it all.My latest horror short THE QUEUE played at 25 festivals worldwide, including Beyond Fest, HollyShorts, Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, FilmQuest, and St. Louis International Film Festival. It was also awarded the “Grand Prize” by an industry jury at StokerCon’s Final Frame Horror Short Film Competition and received a nomination for “Best Horror Short Film” as part of the 2024 iHorror Awards.When not stressing over my latest project, I enjoy 90s alternative rock, California burritos, and attending double features at LA's New Beverly Cinema.
Michael Rich - Director, Writer
Selected Press
“The Queue from Michael Rich is a disturbing and brutally scary take on voyeurism, our fascination with violence, and the cruelty we’re capable of simply because."
- Cinema Crazed"Raising some interesting questions about the spectre of mondo, snuff and other hazy, but undeniably disturbing facets of filmmaking and footage which have been further raised by the internet itself, this is a well made short film."
- Warped Perspective"The Queue conveys a real atmosphere, blurring the lines between reality and something else, getting under the viewer’s skin."
- Bloody Flicks"Out of all the shorts in this segment, Michael Rich‘s The Queue is the short that left me truly unsettled. Even thinking back to it brings the uneasiness of my stomach rushing back. It is not what is shown but rather what is not."
- Film Inquiry
“In less than 11 minutes, the short worked in a fully formed relationship, a legit serial killer, and real terror mixed with comedy. The actors are great and have fun in their roles. The director gets out of their way and makes them look good."
- 1428 Elm"I love a film that manages to show a love for the horror genre without taking itself too seriously, and the film-makers here clearly love horror."
- HorrorNews.Net“In addition to the performances, a lot of credit goes to Rich as both the writer and director. The dialogue is sharp, and the film is well staged."
- Horror Buzz“Cabin Killer manages to increasingly outdo its own goofiness and makes for a brisk, yet satisfying ride."
- Film Threat
Michael Rich - Director, Writer