Michael Rich is a film director living in St. Louis, Missouri, Los Angeles, California. He really likes horror movies and telling stories touching on the darker sides of life.Learn more about him here, or scroll down to watch some cool stuff.

Contact:
michael@michaelrich.me

Cool Stuff–


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

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

Official Selection:
-St. Louis International Film Festival
-Nightmares Film Festival
-Knoxville Horror Film Fest

"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

“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

"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

"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)
-2ND AWARD: CASI MEJOR CORTO (Almost Best Short Film) - InFest Film Festival (Rubí, Spain)
-SHORT FILM SPECIAL MENTION - A Night of Horror International Film Festival (Sydney, Australia)
-BEST SCARE - SpookFest (San Francisco, CA)
-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

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
"The cinematography and sound design work in tandem to create a claustrophobic, anxiety-inducing experience that pulls viewers into the protagonist’s deteriorating mental state." - Morbidly Beautiful"The rise and fall of tension works perfectly as we, ourselves, watch what happens with Cole over the course of the night."
- Horror Buzz
"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
"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 is a tight audio and visual feast" - Killer Shorts"The writing is top shelf and it all comes together nicely in a bloody, tightly-wrapped, eleven-minute package."
- Nevermore Horror

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 30+ 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, rooting on the Tennessee Titans (it's a long story), and attending double features at LA's New Beverly Cinema.

Michael Rich - Director, Writer