LOGLINE: A socially anxious college freshman forms an improbable bond with his new roommate, who died in the dorm half a century ago.

SYNOPSIS: Victor is a college freshman struggling with debilitating social anxiety and depression. He comes to college hoping for a fresh start in making friends, but he’s quickly overcome by his anxiety. This all changes when he meets Abbey, the spirit of a troubled young woman who died in the dorm fifty years ago and has been haunting the halls ever since. Together, they form an alliance and launch a playful haunting spree in the dorm. Abbey coaches Victor to be more confident and embrace all the things in life she never got to experience. Victor helps Abbey feel connected and seen for who she is, after only being seen by others as a horrific creature for half a century. Even though the tone is fun and spooky, the story tackles the heavy issue of college mental health: isolation, loneliness, anxiety, depression. It’s also a touching celebration of connection and how kindness, empathy, friendship and love changes everything… even in death.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT: Dead Roommate is an original coming-of-age story wrapped in the familiar trappings of supernatural horror. It offers an unexpected blending and bending of genres with a heartfelt core. What begins as a straight horror short gradually and intentionally shifts into an uplifting story about friendship and connection.

Although the short film is adapted from an unproduced feature-length screenplay, we approached the short as a fully self-contained narrative with its own story trajectory. Our goal was to distill the emotional journey and world of the feature into a concise format without sacrificing scope or depth. Dead Roommate introduces clear stakes, follows complete and satisfying character arcs, and concludes with a resonant, inspiring message.

Ultimately, we hope this film delivers thrills, laughter, joy, and maybe even a little comfort to anyone who finds themselves feeling alone.