Blake Buried a Body (2025) Review

Children of the Pines director Joshua Morgan is back with a horror short sure to send chills down your spine. This is Morgan’s film school capstone and it is a great example of effective, short-form storytelling.

Blake Buried a Body is 18 minutes of psychological horror that explores family trauma and fate. The story focuses on Blake (Mackenzie Prince) who takes his brother (Asher Colton Spence) on a bonding trip to a lake. The stories he shares of their father are quickly interrupted by a call from their domineering grandmother (Donna Rae Allen). One disastrous mistake then leads Blake down a rabbit hole of guilt, confusion, and rage.

“…the anxiety creeps up ever so slightly to a horrifying climax.”

The serene lake and forest is a great place to start this story. Not only is it beautiful and a great representation of the Florida outdoors, but it’s also a far cry from the reality that Blake lives in. This creates a great dichotomy between the strange, unnatural settings to come. The echos of his grandmother’s scolding through the phone shatters this peace and sets off the panic which brings the main events into motion.

Morgan is showing a great talent for slow-build terror. Even with this short film, the anxiety creeps up ever so slightly to a horrifying climax. He effortlessly weaves the real and unreal together, gliding the audience into the same psychological break the lead man is going through.

While there are some great visuals utilizing miniatures, the other special effects could be improved upon. Despite their less-than-convincing appearance, the prosthetics and blood can easily fade into the background of the story being told. These results of budget constraints can be forgiven by having a strong foundation like an interesting concept or good storytelling, which is what Morgan accomplishes here.

It is also clear that Morgan is passionate about the little ways he can bring a story to life. No detail is left forgotten in this. From the intricate family dynamics shown through slight looks and phrases to the sound design’s parallel descent into the unnerving world, Blake transitions to. All the horror hallmarks are addressed in this, a difficult feat, especially in short-form content.

If you’re looking for a quick yet captivating piece that will make you shudder this is the one. Blake Buried a Body will be screening at this year’s Gasparilla International Film Festival (March 27th-30th) in Tampa, Florida. In the meantime you can follow Joshua Morgan @joshuamorganfilm to keep up with his growing film catalogue.

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