Horror Short Film "Dead Mall" | ALTER

[@WatchALTER]

A statement from the writer and director Olivia West Lloyd: Dead Mall is a reimagining of the Minotaur myth from Greek mythology, undone and unraveled and placed in a desolate downtown Miami mall. I love the way that Greek mythology takes the baser human emotions - lust, greed, vanity, spite, envy, fear - and gives them to the Gods, who play them out in exuberant and operatic ways. It not only humanizes the Gods, but it makes divine those pesky feelings that rule human existence. I am drawn horror for many of the same reasons. Here is a genre that centers emotion - especially female emotion - and allows it to be big, messy, and unrepressed. As a woman, I spend so much energy trying to keep my emotions from leaking into my daily life for fear of making others uncomfortable. But emotions rule us all, and in horror, they are allowed to rule without restraint. My interest in horror often boils down to an interest in fear - how it motivates us, reshapes our identities, and rewires our brain chemistry. Fear is endlessly manipulative, and it has the capacity to turn us into the very thing we fear in others. As fear is passed from person to person, generation to generation, the line between victim and perpetrator becomes unbearably thin. Dead Mall is a story about that slippage, and the cyclicality of horror in our world.

[@BLane-xr1ic]

Subtitles. God Bless you all!

[@edbas4118]

@@lolitaalagao7159 Suck but imagine if the monster come to eat you

[@edbas4118]

@@lolitaalagao7159 Yep

[@tena2sweet]

@@edbas4118 in this day and age she didn't have a cell phone? Her first instinct was to pick up the ball of yarn and follow it? not get a weapon? She made all the wrong choices. She should have gotten a weapon stayed by that gate and continued to scream for help. Because eventually someone's going to come by. even if she didn't have her cell phone. you can literally see the street. 😐

[@edbas4118]

@@tena2sweet You know what they eating in the Mall? The monster eat all girls come by this man lead him into mall. And now you were stuck with this creature

[@ninateule1523]

It may be a bit specific, but the thing that terrified me the most was when she saw the cows running away from her and that the peaceful music became more and more uncomfortable. Fuck, that was scary!

[@ConceptJunkie]

Yes... also watching her ride the escalator in bare feet.

[@sakshamtiwari7182]

Nope the most fucking scaring was when the unknown girl was saying no more.

[@16voyeur]

YESSS!!!

[@CuriousGoodsJessica]

An empty mall at night is a freaky thing, I did lots of floor sets back in my teenage years and at 3 AM every sound is a stalking murderer or a ghost! Great film!

[@jillruff1655]

...yeah murderer, or ghost, or *creepy faceless mannequin come to life!* 😱 Any & every thing become very logical outcomes in an abandoned mall after closing hours!

[@miloradvlaovic]

Nonsence, you're just being a scaredycat. Empty malls are so peaceful and scenic - if in an urban way.

[@nabeelmirza6060]

I am a boy and I would prefer to walk around the block over some stranger telling me to take a shortcut. The End

[@libbymills4432]

Especially after her instincts told her not to!

[@tena2sweet]

She made every single wrong choice you could possibly make in her scenario. From trusting the guy and not keeping an eye on him. To leaving the gate and not getting a weapon.

[@Firefly-ht9fp]

Exactly! That was very stupid of her and she ended paying the price. If your gut instinct tells you to not something, listen to it and not do it!

[@tutoslexa]

I'm a girl and me too!

[@TheBlessedQueen2000]

Me too💯

[@Erinia13]

Interesting re-imagening of Ariadne's Thread. It makes think back on the classic myth and what ifs. Also odd choice to stay in the mall and choosing cannibalism instead of jumping the guy and getting out there when he came around with fresh meat. Guess they're playing out on the fact that sometimes survivors' minds end up so broken that they become the monster themselves as coping mechanism maybe. Also I like how it works as cautionary tale showing that beyond looks, gender, age, etc...you never know who is hiding behind the mask and how risky it can be to lower your guard making yourself vulnerable just because that stranger seems harmless or trustworthy.

[@ravennevermore641]

@Erinia13 Great Analogy for Dead Mall and Humanity in general. You had some Very Interesting views and Brilliantly Written without giving away any Spoliers.

[@phillipsmejkal1]

Well that's the princip of satanics they worship the evil and become evil to not be harmed by it, but the devil has a special place for this cowards. Actually I don't believe in hell and the devil, it is used to scare us, but I believe in energys or spirits.

[@РахилПеличев]

I like the way you think. ℹ️Ⓜ️🆓🎭

[@damien1781]

There is a syndrome you develop after being kidnapped for so long that you start caring for the kidnapper and believing their "wisdom".

[@moecoble1246]

@@damien1781 would it be Stockholm? I know you fall for the kidnapper with Stockholm but wouldn’t it be the same thing in a way?

[@호랑이-t3w]

Just the anxiety that you'll get being stuck in a wide silent space is already terrifying

[@eatzbycheri]

⚠️Warning⚠️ Do not read the description. It contains the entire plot, as well as the ending.⚠️

[@albertchehade9916]

😵 😲

[@yazzythecattyweirdo188]

@@albertchehade9916 you read it before the video, didn't you?

[@albertchehade9916]

@@yazzythecattyweirdo188 No...not at all..... It just freaked me out when she was finally alone and I heard 'that monster noise' - shivers! So I am saving the balance of the video until I rebuild my 'courage' - or, drink enough....then I will see the rest, promise 😂 😃 😄 😅

[@xyjis]

That’s what the descriptions for. It tells you what your watching about

[@albertchehade9916]

@@xyjis 😂 😃 😄 😅 some mothers do have 'em......

[@gren8te319]

3:07 seeing a mannequin wearing the same clothes as you is creepy af

[@moniquevandeplas5210]

Girl: As soon as that guy gave you the option to do the scary thing alone or the thing you didn't want to do in order for him to be by your side...see it for what it is...a threat and pick the first option or the third...and run. Your chances be better facing scary things without him.

[@jillruff1655]

Ummmm... but she _DID_ end up facing those scary things without him, friend! I think u meant: *"Always trust your intuition, & go with THAT!"* LOL.

[@moniquevandeplas5210]

@@jillruff1655 I meant exactly what I said. This guy refused to go with her on the route she felt safer and forced her hand in choosing (his protection if she did what she didn't want to do...go through the mall) or his non protection if she went the way she felt more comfortable...but wanted a chaperone for. If someone is forcing you to the thing you don't want to do in order to get the thing you want....mmhhhmmm...that is ...well I don't need to say more...though I could but it's dark. And yes she did end up facing those things alone because she should have not waivered in herself to begin with. So yes, I agree trust you gut and go with that!

[@einienj3281]

Places like the mall, where you usually see a lot of other people, are super scary when they are empty.. I used to work in an office building, sometimes after dark and when empty.. it was like straight out of a horror movie like this.. 😄🖤

[@celestialsalamander]

Have you watched the "backrooms" series? It's on KZbin.

[@herheartbeats5727]

You know that ? I fear those places even more when they are crowded xd. But yes, scary when empty too, just a different kind of scary.

[@frenchmoxie]

LIMINAL SPACES

[@obamabinladen5055]

Man: It has to eat. Girl: Ok, I'll head over myself. Save it the trouble of finding me. It's hungry, after all. :)

[@azure_vxiii]

What I wouldn't have given to have not read your name....

[@Foxy-ve1oh]

Love your name hahahahaha

[@brey1720]

🤣😂

[@observationsfromthefencepo7207]

This begins as a stranger danger horror film. It then gets into a cat and mouse horror story with some really scary rooms with reveals that are twisted and horrifying. The end was twisted too. This is a story that you could see on a deserted island. So putting it in an abandoned mall was interesting. Lessons: 1) Follow your gut. She knew not to go in the empty building. 2) Remember a high heel can be used as a weapon. 3) Many monsters are of the human kind. 4) Mall Muzak is the real horror. It is also interesting to ponder that the group at the end doesn't want to leave which gives another angle of horror. The farm break was interesting and maybe there is a message of the dead mall being like how a farm appears to a Vegan. I enjoyed the film and thanks to Olivia West Lloyd, the cast, and crew. Maya Martinez the lead actress also portrayed being terrified exceptionally. Peace.

[@anthonywheeler2082]

The lead actress is so good.

[@enoykoam1]

i-

[@billmurray7473]

Her name is Maya Martinez.

[@anthonywheeler2082]

@@billmurray7473 Thanks

[@inbetween8210]

@@billmurray7473 omg bill murray 👀

[@jessicasedlacek8585]

For an amature

[@karenthomas4849]

Did anyone notice that when the guy walked back to his car he tripped and fell forward,? lol

[@Firefly-ht9fp]

I did! I wondered if that was part of the script, or if he really did trip and almost fell.

[@chefyanayano]

I think he showed that way that he was in a hurry. Or maybe really is a coincidence

[@yourerightiamright.3709]

Huh? He got down onto all fours and started crawling, like the creepy weirdo he is.

[@soot7104]

Turned back into a ghoul

[@learnenglishanddrawingscra8827]

You know what i thought the spirit came forward to him 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@kimistry9533]

This is frightening! I can't imagine being locked in there with that thing 😳😬😟 Thanks for the upload Alter. Always love y'all!!💖💖💖💖💖

[@detrajackson5992]

I am glad this is a film because what woman would choose to go THROUGH an empty mall, when they could literally walk around the corner?? It wouldn't make any sense...🙅🏾‍♀️

[@kimistry9533]

@@detrajackson5992 😅😂😂 Ikr

[@marinakaiser7639]

Lol🤷‍♀️😂

[@sereia825]

This had me in so much tension and how things turned omg poor girl, she was so intelligent because she managed to keep herself safe even with all that pressure on her, but at the end, she still walked right into the trap. So well made!

[@thegraceofalady3629]

Sereia, interesting. A bit confused but it was like whatever she saw she just went with it. Like following a map. Strange how people just follow what they should be questioning. The escalator turned on and instead of her realizing it may be a trap and didnt pause to think, she followed it. It was as if they really didnt have to find her, she ultimately walked right to them. Women know women ..very interesting view on the nature of people.

[@sereia825]

@@thegraceofalady3629 Thats true too! Maybe with the sense of trying to survive it takes you to do random things without questioning first, but everyone reacts in different ways

[@thegraceofalady3629]

@@sereia825 yeah, your comment opened it up for me. I love clever people who really gives you something so layered. We learn stuff in unexpected places. Loved this one. Very intelligent work.

[@sereia825]

@@thegraceofalady3629 I stan people who are always up to debate things🥰

[@thegraceofalady3629]

@@sereia825 i just subscribed to your channel...also i was thinking the same thing about you! I liked the interaction. 😁

[@Dr.Bong420]

As a fan of both horror and mythology, I really enjoyed this one, despite some minor flaws. The main girl is hella cute too.

[@phillipsmejkal1]

The end was like most nightmates are to me, but you need to act smart enough to show them that you still trust them.

[@treyvonwilliams]

I'll be so scared if i was locked up in there.

[@louisianaboyjames2660]

I feel like those random women were Sirens. If I was there, I would made a run for it and never walk back.

[@treyvonwilliams]

@@louisianaboyjames2660 I would have did the same thing.

[@xyjis]

Realistically Speaking I would to,but acting not really since you aren’t alone

[@GGG-md3fo]

Why would he wanna bring such a slim girl?!

[@sydneyshaw6781]

I bet she taste delicious lol

[@randellprice3259]

Kinda like wings from Pizza Hut, the do be slim, no meat.

[@herheartbeats5727]

Maybe because all non drugged women keeping a reasonable glycemic level are keeping far from him ? xd.

[@louiscyphre2267]

Take what you can get.

[@liverfinder]

When she find the ball of string: *the first thing that comes to her mind:* *F O L L O W*

[@baileyface54]

I mean, when shit gets that weird and you see a trail of string clearly leading somewhere...I mean...did you have other places to be? You know, aside from just staying at the gate and screaming for help obviously

[@sarahcheema4000]

I got the sense from this besides mythological references that....the women were all victims and were in it together.....but with time instead of escaping this place and returning to normalcy they chose to pass on the horror to new comers..... these women instead of empowering other women often like to push them off a cliff.... In Urdu/hindi aurat he aurat ki dushman hoti hai(a woman is enemy of a woman)

[@olivia19942007]

i love this comment :)

[@heyafatma]

The worst thing you could ever say

[@heyafatma]

U'll understand one day why i said that my love

[@blackpaw29]

Oh wow, that was impressive, superior performance from the lead. Original, surreal, and enchanting.

[@UncleSlimJimmy]

Girl: I am NOT walking through that place with you! Guy: Fine, that means you have to walk around the corner instead. Girl: k i'm coming

[@moniquevandeplas5210]

Also, you got me good with two things. The shoes that were piled to the side (and for the life of me I couldn't figure out her adding her shoes...usually I get mad when bimbos in horrors keep their high heels on but here it felt like she was already giving up by adding her pair) and the escalator suddenly moving. I have always been wary of elevators and when my son was little his shoe sole was coming apart from rest of shoe and the escalotar at the top starting eating it. Luckily Brute force of me got him pulled out of there...but I was wary and that was scary!

[@KellyMitchell-lm1yi]

I think she chucked her shoes off in order to be able to run, but at first I thought the same thing. lol

[@louiscyphre2267]

Bimbos can run in heels! They have a lot of practice.

[@marleymarlen9841]

This short film somehow reminds me of Silent Hill 3.

[@tommy7576]

Not even close

[@colinhughes4559]

Somehow....? Idiot.

[@geminireqiuem3629]

@@tommy7576 only connection I can draw is that both feature a mall.

[@Bubba1960.]

What terrified me more than anything, was when she got on the escalator in bare feet.

[@biljam972]

Each time I thought "Don't do that" she would do just the most wrong thing.

[@french2572]

So many questions I have. Why don't the women leave? Are they there at free will? Does the man know about them? Who is the monster woman?

[@wonderrworldd400]

When you follow google map...

[@idfk9753]

Nah. When you print out only one of the sheets from map quest 😂

[@lorenzopone869]

If there was one very thing that could have saved her, that was to keep close to the entrance. Especially after your jailor says: it has to eat.

[@fatematuljannat3444]

Wow. It was amazing. The ending was really horror. I didn't expect that.

[@MidnightVideo]

We've got some more horror shorts if you're interested! Cheers

[@metalslug_1143]

An abandoned mall is creepy. if i was stuck in that mall, i would find a good melee weapon and look for a breakable exit .

[@ummaysalma9598]

I think there wasn't a monster she was seeing..it was either hallucination or that woman behind her at the end wearing a monster mask. The guy was actually feeding those women by bringing new humans.

[@lalaland962]

Hahaha, i kept reading the title as DEAD MAIL! I wondered what the story had to do with mail until I saw the end where it said, DEAD MALL. Good story! Spooky and twisty, just the way I like 'em.

[@rotondoyoung5495]

Stay off the drugs lol

[@MISCELLANEOUSENTERTAINER]

This film is really impressive! Nice Action and Storyline! Hats Off to the creators! Love From India

[@Personal_Info8]

Personally I really wouldn’t let a stranger or a friend walk behind me, who knows what they’ll do-

[@louiscyphre2267]

You must have bad friends if you can’t trust them.

[@0cean144]

Why are these a million times better than those ordinary horror movies?

[@nancy-jeancizman168]

Because they get to the action very quickly, rather than having a slow buildup. That’s why short horror films are so good. It’s hard to have an hour and a half of nonstop entertainment compared to making a 15 minute movie.

[@kareneastman9695]

Poor girl.:-(:-O She couldn't break any windows with trash cans??Holding /using the Fire Extinguisher is good.:-) The evil guy is an illusion caster too?:-(:-)

[@Miamiflow885]

I was more concerned about her toes, going up that escalator

[@MADYESTASTUDIOS]

love the tone and the tension....

[@alexandrapow7629]

hell yeah ALTER !!!!!! another great masterpiece!!!!!

[@moniquevandeplas5210]

Also, he's horrible. He locked that poor monster in a cage and didn't let it pick it's own meals. That's monster abuse!

[@clarsach29]

Excellent short....slightly reminded me of the cult 80s video nasty "Chopping Mall"

[@WatchALTER]

We love Chopping Mall! Truly a cult classic. Nothing like an empty mall to set the spooky mood!

[@nathanhyde2079]

Attention Kmart Choppers

[@rudevalve]

Certified Gold!!!!!

[@noma4133]

The red lighting in this movie was like an Italian horror, and I liked it.💕

[@KrazyKuno]

My first thought was "Why not just go around like he suggested?" And with all of those shoes against the wall you'd think she might have found a pair that would've worked better. I was expecting her to step on something and have the blood trail point out where she was going. But well done on the creepiness!

[@danielkane1108]

Refreshingly weird short film! So many malls used to be lively places to be, animated shoppers bustling from store to store. Some of the malls these days, I'm like, how do you not close your doors, but I guess they can't just put a whole mall on a dolly and relocate a whole mall!

[@CallmeA_B]

I'd rather be "put out to pasture" than work at a mall again too 😂

[@jiangwanyeehaw]

I love old malls!! This is exactly what I need

[@ferretwithagun9886]

When it went to the cow I thought the anime gutz was playing.

[@Lxtta_Love]

This might just be my projection because it's happened to me, but it seemed the guy who acted as a conduit to lure vulnerable girls away from bars at night, spiked her drink to make her even more susceptible to abuse. The predatory themes in this and the portrayal of violence against women struck a painful nerve with me, and that's how i know it's good art. It could be debatable, if in fact she was spiked, how much of her experience was a concoction of being terrifyingly vulnerable as a woman on her own, and hallucinations. Nevertheless, the ending for me was the most terrifying part. Us girls have to stick together.

[@crispyist7939]

Loved it. The lurking fear, the score. The acting. Can't wait to see more of your work

[@Anita-qp8ki]

How about a CELL? I don't separate from mine ever.

[@savanahkimbell4897]

YOUR JUST GONNA LEAVE US LIKE THIS, I NEED MORE THE STORY!!!!

[@1bossofbosses]

You could save a lot of money if u had each and every mall filled with these.

[@mkivy]

I always enjoy watching these. Kudos to all those that helped and assisted the producer of the Director the writer the filmmakers cinematographer the Foley the grip I can go on. But really you guys did a good job I like that “what do you eat?”

[@kaiyotee2475]

Y'all know I'm running in there, dead malls are THE BEST.

[@katgenn-winkler1754]

Always trust your gut. She KNEW not to go in.

[@louisianaboyjames2660]

Yes, she should've came up with an escape plan to get away from those Sirens. That was dumb for her to stay and investigate the mall without anyone with her.

[@anamonteiro132]

Her friends are the worst for letting a stranger take her to the subway, and she was really dumb for accepting the shortcut lol apart from that, excelent and awesome film, gave me the creeps, I love it!

[@Xenophlanes]

Makes me wanna watch Dead Mall series!

[@ashthekingofdarkness1528]

Well done I like the work just imagine going into a empty mall

[@bassanup]

i gotta share it with all the girls... cause it's the second biggest shopping season in my country right now... 😂

[@Phoenix7786]

The lead actress was perfect with her mouth movements and wide eyes.

[@TheCleanRapper93]

I thought it was very well acted, shot, and edited. It felt like an a24 movie. I understand the re-imagining of the Minotaur mythology and the theme that you all were going for, but I really wanted a final showdown and for the girl to make it out. Maybe that’s the traditional moviegoer in me, but that’s just me. It went in a very different direction. I do respect the vision though. Keep doing excellent work. Make the films you want to make. I’m just a viewer.

[@calonstanni]

I did NOT see that coming! LOVED IT!

[@pabloomargrupallo5781]

Excelente! Felicitaciones por tu magnífico trabajo! Mis mejores deseos para tu carrera. Tengo 43 años de edad y casi los mismos de cinéfilo. Hace tiempo que no veía un cortometraje de este nivel. Es mi humilde opinión. Espero ver mucho más de tu trabajo. Saludos desde Argentina! Pablo.

[@gren8te319]

3:29 teleporting all her string to the escalator is a terrifying subversion on the normal minotaur story

[@kamotsgaming2304]

For someone who's being chased by a monster, she's really slow. Love you movies tho

[@dont861]

The most terrifying thing is the acting

[@emllykims415]

Hey Alter.. pls make some movies in which .. some heros fought n defeat monsters n ghosts.. its makes us hopeless.. when every movies ends with the monsters winning ..😬😕💔

[@Lucky_Chase]

She's earned this. Give it to her.

[@rnorfor2002]

This was excellent

[@tonosama516]

Well done! I wish that I hadn’t read the description first; it’s full of spoilers. IMDb needs more data.

[@nelliesilvers1210]

The Minotaur...always reminds me of Stephen King's Rose Red. Excellent book👌. Another well done short. Good work

[@rattycaddy]

Havent seen anything of quality from alter in a while but this was ok.

[@itssokkay3001]

Masterpiece of terror 🤩👻

[@DethronerX]

Bloody awesome, i loved this dreamy trip, every second of it and loved the pace and the score

[@benwesley5260]

I like that I watch these for the sole reason that I might get scared watching one someday 😅

[@MrTwenty20video]

Good plot and acting. Well done!

[@MareQueen]

i was still thinking about making something similar in a story the being locked in a mall with killer/monster great work :)

[@oldeskoolnana7543]

There is a movie where a girl is locked in a mall with a crazed security guard. Can't remember the name.

[@MareQueen]

​@@oldeskoolnana7543 yes i think i watched now that you reminded me. its not something new and is actually based on real-life incidents just depends on how everyone interprets it with new ideas in their own stories

[@hectormendoza5660]

That actress is GORGEOUS OMG marry me

[@avocado5226]

This would make an epic novel.

[@RWR1911]

Well, a non-epic short story, anyway.

[@mmmisscaitlinnn]

Love the use of liminal space ❤

[@tkell31]

Love the setting. Empty/abandoned office building and malls seem creepy to me. The horror aspect missed the mark with me.

[@auroraaddison9904]

my brain thought after he left her there was " *RUN BITCH RUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNN* "

[@chrisriley8775]

Wow, another fascinating film that I saw a week ago, bravo! Keep bringing the horror to us!

[@Magnus_Grimsbane]

Is it just me or does this girl look like Sean Yseult from White Zombie? This is a compliment, by the way.

[@roscluaran]

Love the ALTER universe❤🧡💛💚💙💜❣💕💞💓💗💖💘💝

[@kxvxn01]

2:44 isn't that a person standing there where the wool goes??? Behind that wall

[@olivia19942007]

That's the mannequin!

[@visheshsux]

why'd she take her shoes off wtf

[@olivia19942007]

high heels hurt! hard to run away!

[@lisalisat6395]

This is a good one love your short films

[@РахилПеличев]

The lead actress is amazing. ♀️☮️ℹ️Ⓜ️🆓☸️🕉️☯️🐾🐾

[@alessiagirolamo740]

The scariest part is the one in which she gets barefoot on the escalators🤣🤣

[@ada1691]

This legit looked like a movie scene

[@JrsLife-Adventures]

That ain't no Minotaur, look it up.

[@FLATLINE_PICTURES]

Nice atmosphere.

[@DanielTuriman]

This is awesome

[@mrunknown8335]

Oo great film!

[@ProjectArclite]

Maybe the real monster was the friends we made along the way.