Sci-Fi Fantasy Short Film: "Penumbra" | DUST

When Dori's sister Fae returns from a recovery center, Dori begins to suspect someone is stalking her. But what's coming for them is not of this world.
"Penumbra" by Daniel Byers
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More About "Penumbra":
Something's wrong with Fae. She's been going missing without explanation, winding up in a recovery center. Her younger sister, Dori, is worried. Is Fae schizophrenic? Is there really someone stalking her? She sneaks a look at Fae's diary, and what she sees is disturbing: a drawing of something monstrous, made of shadows and tentacles. Suddenly, the lights start to fail. There's something coming for Fae, but Dori soon discovers that whatever it is - it's not of this world. As objects begin levitating and Fae is pulled into the sky by an unseen force, Dori risks everything to save her.
"Penumbra" Credits:
Dori: Quinn Jackson
Fae: Liala Layther
Mom: Claudia Sersanti
Director, Writer: Daniel Byers
Producer: Ivan Durovic
Director of Photography: Sam Eilertsen
Production Design, Makeup: Christian Masters
Associate Producer: Tim Judd, Alissa Ramjit
Gaffer: Robert Jones
Grip: Felix Van Kann, Walker Smith
Assistant Camera: Ivan Durovic, Adam Jackson
Additional Camera, Aerials: Daniel Byers
Sound Recording: Eric Yang, Ari Benkov
Edit, VFX, Color, Sound Design: Daniel Byers
Sound Mix: Gilda Garcia
Original Score: Kat Vokes
Original Sound Effects: Barbara Byers
Casting Director: Rachel Ward
Original Song “Sweet Summer” by Barbara Byers
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DUST presents thought-provoking science fiction content, exploring the future of humanity through the lens of science and technology. From timeless classics to cutting-edge movies, series, short films, and podcasts, DUST acquires, produces and distributes all content types.
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[@danielbyers]

Thanks for these great comments! Love that the film's making you think, you're digging the cosmic sci-fi/horror blend, and even picking up on some of the references and inspirations. This was a lot of fun to make, with some real technical challenges for the visual effects scenes. Don't hesitate to AMA.

[@rhodesrugger]

Who was the best crew member on this film and why does he spell his name Christian Masters?

[@danielbyers]

@@rhodesrugger I don't pick favorites but whoever played that window silhouette killed it

[@Andrea-xs4ny]

This had a lot of great elements. Congrats on the film! I loved the sisters' recreation of Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam." You have to wonder how many people who are deemed crazy have simply experienced something unbelievable or too terrible to speak about.

[@vapormissile]

@@Andrea-xs4ny Amen. My mom taught me that no one is actually Normal. Stay strange, all of us lovable, eccentric, broken, &/or crazy oddballs.

[@danielbyers]

@@vapormissile I'll drink to that!

[@AnthonyMiyazaki]

Quinn Jackon's (Dori) acting when her mom asks her what happened near the end was impeccable. This was just what the scene needed, and not a blurting out of anything verbal. Sometimes the best dialogue is no dialogue at all.

[@Ingrid922]

You can't speak at all when something so horrible happens.

[@debby8428]

@@Ingrid922 You are 100% correct. My son died in an accident in 1996. The next year his best friend died suddenly too. When I saw the friends mom at the wake we just looked at each other and hugged. There were no words for a moment like that.

[@GreatGreebo]

The acting in this was BRILLIANT.I believed their emotions and motivations for doing what they were doing.

[@danielbyers]

[@retrochannel1763]

big thanks to the crew for giving us a well made short movie. And also for Dust, for supporting so many talented artists.

[@danielbyers]

Cheers, @Retro Channel!

[@josephchapman]

Oh and huge thanks for the closed caption. Really appreciate the detailed descriptions along with the speech-to-text as it makes the tone clearer.

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

First film/short to send shivers down my whole body. Really enjoyed it.

[@danielbyers]

Excellent 😈

[@WhiteUnicorn82]

What's it about? I was going to watch it at some point, but wasn't sure if it'd be worthwhile. I've returned a few times to read replies from people, so I'm very familiar with the first 6 minutes and 20 seconds because I generally respond. I like all sorts of sci-fi and action/adventure, etc - do I stand a good chance of liking this? I'd better get going now because I'll end up seeing some of what I've not seen yet, (wouldn't want to spoil it should I wish to watch it all someday). I'll look forward to reading your reply. Thanks ** I didn't want to delete it just in case it had already been read, but sorry for the stupid comment - I was tired when I wrote it, (just woke up around 7am). I meant not to be antagonistic, but it was a waste of time! Sincerely, sorry!

[@alejmora]

Me too! I got goosebumps, it has not happened to me since more than a decade. Thanks to the people who made the short!

[@marymagmartha7453]

_Now, I may not say this just right, but out of the many Alien 👽 “abduction” films, television series or documentaries I’ve seen since the 80s - this was the best 15 minutes of nervous emotions and stomach churning ever_

[@fabled-pilgrim]

Holy crap!! That scene where the entity is on the balcony staring back gave me shivers, lol. This short was really good. The pacing was perfect, the back story was interesting and engaging. A nice take on the abduction genre. Also, the performances were both excellent, very believable characters. A big thumbs up.

[@MagpieSue]

Can tell me at what point in the short that you saw an entity? I didn't see it

[@pineapplepenumbra]

@@MagpieSue At 7:05.

[@ronaldhall5524]

I was gonna say the same thing! All the hairs on my body stood up. 😳😳

[@daviddemar8749]

Unfortunately I didn't like this short film because the middle portion was so poorly lit that i couldn't tell what was happening.

[@patricialessard8651]

I thought it was pretty good actually. The tension and drama led to a good ending. You don't always need to see an alien chasing people around. The knowing what's probably coming is pretty creepy. I got it and liked it. Thank you and stay safe!

[@hilaryc3203]

We saw it on the patio ...a bit

[@dnisey64]

Look back on old Alfred Hitchcock movies.

[@ozoneswiftak]

Wow. When she fell from the sky, I was wondering what was going to happen. That was great.

[@rtdude1]

Wow I'm very impressed. Most shorts like this at least feel a little like you've watched a short, but this almost felt like I'd watched a feature length film. Well done. I really enjoyed it. And the acting was great as well.

[@danielbyers]

@rtdude1 Sweet, thank you!

[@dgwachtel]

Great film! I haven't experienced "jump scares" like these since "Alien". The camera angles and the pacing were extraordinary, building tension slowly until the climax and denouement. The actresses are incredibly good at their craft. If there is any justice they should go far in their careers. Fifteen minutes want by like five. The writing, direction and camera work were just about perfect. The advice "show don't tell" was followed and made the impact greater than most films. No expository scenes necessary. The sound didn't overwhelm but increased the tension in a subtle way - great job. After twenty minutes since watching this little masterpiece my hands are still shaking a bit. I'll remember this one for a long time. Thanks for this gem and I look forward to your next projects. -dave

[@watchdust]

A statement from the director, Daniel Byers: "Penumbra came out of a fascination with astronomy, dark matter, and dark energy - and what these phenomenon mean about our place in the universe. That in spite of scientific advances, we still know practically nothing. That the vast majority of what IS, is something we cannot detect, or possibly even fathom. The film explores this sublime horror visually with negative space and invisible forces, and also explores inner darkness. It poses the question: if no one believes you, what is the difference between being insane, and having experienced the impossible?"

[@antoniograna7258]

Yes. This was a well done short. But one of the themes I thought this really touched on was mental illness. The sister is being taken away by The Dark and the other sister tries to -but can’t - save her...until she too is consumed by the dark. Both the main character and the mother say “I’ll believe you”.

[@danielbyers]

@@antoniograna7258 Absolutely, mental health was a major component, inner darkness, questions of trust and belief, and how that impacts the closest relationships. It's a circular structure, as you also noticed.

[@dedperdedtld]

@@danielbyers Great acting perfectly conveys those ideas! It's not that the character at the end of the story can't speak - she can't share.

[@aldunlop4622]

I disagree that we know “practically nothing”. We don’t understand why galaxies are accelerating away from each other so we theorise there is some dark matter causing it, that’s all. Chemistry is pretty well understood (I’m a Chemist), Biology is just really, complex, but it’s not magic, Physics, apart from dark matter doesn’t have any “knowledge holes”. That’s why there haven’t been any huge advances in science, it’s fairly well understood and has been for a hundred years. A lot of science these days is more about practical applications.

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

@@aldunlop4622 *Dark matter pulls things closer, slowing the expansion of the Universe. Dark energy pushes and causes the expansion to speed up. We don't understand a lot. Like how we got here, why there is life and what caused the Big Bang. We don't know why life didn't form elsewhere or why time only moves in one direction. We know practically nothing about what life is like in the oceans, 80% is still unexplored (Nat. Geo). We don't know why quantum mechanics has different, and "weird" rules, despite using the knowledge to make technology work for us. We also know next to nothing about all the different sources of energy in the Universe such as the one pulling the two frightened sisters into the void. Are ghosts real? Matter (and thus energy) cannot be created nor destroyed so is reincarnation possible? Souls? What is consciousness? Where in your body is your personality? These questions would be easy to answer if we knew how things work, but we just don't. Why are people afraid of a vaccine now, after a hundred years of seeing how effective they are?

[@scetchport]

WOW ...just....WOW !

[@rudevalve]

Certified Gold!!!!!

[@PaulDaveyJsy]

Superb. Sci fi can also be horror and this proved it. Great acting, great storyline and by the looks of it she will soon be joining her sister which would make a great sequel . Well done.

[@danielbyers]

Thanks Paul!

[@TheJaghutWarren]

Seems like according to Hollywood, most Sci Fi is horror. Humans can't seem to board board spaceships without at least one psychotic break😂

[@badAim2]

For those who say that this was a horror movie rather than sci-fi: It was both. The same way as you have comedy drama movies, you can have sci-fi horror ones.

[@NewMessage]

My wife calls them 'Sci-Die' movies.

[@danielbyers]

@@NewMessage I love this and am stealing it =D

[@rtdude1]

I agree with you and it did the combo extremely well. Great job

[@MMAGamblingTips]

Yes! Just like The Invisible Man for instance. Several episodes of Black Mirror are sci-fi horror too.

[@danielbyers]

@@MMAGamblingTips or Alien, the Thing, Signs...! It's kind of rare but it's definitely one of my favorite genres.

[@Z-Diode]

Undoubtedly a new masterpiece! The acting on display here sets standards. I'm always amazed at the talent that comes to light in such short subjects.

[@JohnnyNiteTrain]

Overhead shots of a solo car driving in remote locations, with ominous music….works every time!!!

[@mishie618]

Wow. Just... wow

[@Rouge_7]

I thought for sure she was dead. A free fall from that height, the rope and harness, and the sudden stop at the end sure seemed like a broken back and severed spinal cord from the sudden breaking of the vertebra. Love the story style and commitment to suspenseful horror. More, please. 🥺

[@danielbyers]

It was a real "suspension" of disbelief, eh ;)

[@kennyhagan5781]

Nice short. Eerie as hell, but within the realm of possibility... good job.

[@kepler186f4]

And when aliens communicate how would they do it.... what a powerful film, the acting was superb and the green screen shot of the Milky Way was spectacular! Sometimes a lingering ending is better than deus ex machina... please bring on the sequels.

[@dataexpunged6969]

I'm amused how at the end it looks like her hand is moving on it's own while writing, so it's like some entity is forcing her to write about it, like it did with her sister.

[@edyak6280]

Great story, well told. You left me wanting more, so that’s a win in my book. Thanks to all involved; I have been thoroughly entertained.

[@josephchapman]

Blown away! Really great work! Minor continuity error at 6:22.

[@danielbyers]

Thanks Joe! & Often you have to make choices in edit to prioritize one thing or another - continuity vs story flow, for example. I'm usually with Walter Murch... if you can land the emotion and story, everything else is small beans!

[@badAim2]

Ahh yes, Penumbra. That epic horror game I tried to play so many times but it was so scary that I could never finish it. Back to watching.

[@stephanhuebner4931]

The series included some of the most scary games I've ever played.

[@smileitsfreeanditwillmakes4121]

What game I want to play

[@spacedman42]

The intensity of the atmosphere and superb acting created with a cool story gave me shivers right up my spine to the back of my head. Even after writing this i can still feel my heart. Nice work :)

[@danielbyers]

Thank you, Anthony!

[@john30039]

Great video. Great acting. Two 👍

[@kevinluther8455]

12:15. Oh god. People are capable of this level of acting. I don’t know whom to believe in now.

[@MAILLADY2010]

This needs more

[@zippythinginvention]

Wow! The most chilling film I've seen on Dust. Well done!

[@ericchild8845]

I love the rock climbing references throughout the clip. Adventurous souls with an unrivaled sense of determination and driven to overcome are climbers. Excellent choice for subtle character development. Great work. More please!

[@danielbyers]

As a climber myself I agree! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@njdevilsforlifewoohoo5533]

I thought that was really good. could be extended to make a Twilight Zone, or similar show episode, or even a full length movie.

[@joshuamefford6944]

That was great!!! Good acting and the creep and suspense level was perfect. Would love to have seen what happens to the sister, left me wanting more!!

[@spiritangel1367]

Spectacular..!!

[@HarryAspinwall]

Love this!

[@MiTheMer]

This is more Horror than Sci-fi, I'd say. But was okay~

[@Theorica]

Cosmic horror. Right smack dab in the middle. Probably why you feel that way--more horror than sci-fi, I mean.

[@zimriel]

HP Lovecraft "The Other Gods" vibe to it

[@joshhayl7459]

🟦 At 9:47 how did the axe SUDDENLY get so FAR from her?.... And how could anyone not end up with a broken-back from falling in that harness the way she did? GREAT job on the boyfriends makeup (or however you pulled that off). And btw,.....What a place to LEAVE us!

[@vapormissile]

John Keel meets John Carpenter. Very nice work. It helps us live.

[@danielbyers]

High praise!! Thanks so much!

[@29lookingood]

Well made short. What makes is really surreal so that, it's not ghosts or aliens, it's "other". 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💯💙

[@omgoleus]

Huh wow, I don't scare easy but that was hella creepy. Well done.

[@theflyingfool]

Great acting ladies! Good story too!

[@davey2k12]

Love these films well done these should be on TV like syfy channel

[@leftyme4568]

How did that lifeline get so short all of the sudden? Other than that, it was great.

[@ToyotaKTM]

It would have made more sense if it had gotten caught on something like the chimney.

[@kingwillie206]

She would have died either way based on how hard she fell inside the house. It would have been more believable if she had gotten sucked into the portal and spat back out, then floated down prior to the portal closing.

[@dataexpunged6969]

@@kingwillie206 precisely. Her back would've snapped, falling from that height.

[@timnorthstar3268]

From the very first moment a very absorbing tale, very well acted with great production... best of all a terrific ending that doesn't put a spoiler on the whole. Great work.

[@stefanwils8580]

what a great actress, beautiful

[@ahmethasanzengin4392]

Great!!!

[@greyareaRK1]

Great short! So well designed and acted. Loved the concept of the alien and abduction. Atmosphere rich.

[@michaellee6489]

Pretty cool flick! its already been said that Quinn Jacksons' acting was remarkable, such depths of terror, disbelief, despair conveyed without a word was just staggering! Standing applause for all involved!

[@danielbyers]

Thank you Michael! And yes, Quinn is brilliant, and great to work with!

[@robertdiehl1281]

Great acting. Wanted to see more. The good stuff.

[@dereckprice8900]

I really liked it and it would be nice to have a part II to get more backstory!

[@danielhanawalt4998]

Very well done. I was in a discussion about the existence of God and Satan...or the nonexistence of them. Someone asked when the last time was anyone saw either of them. I answered I didn't have knowledge of that but that emotions are not seen, only the effects they have on us. This film is a similar thing. As much as we know is as near nothing to what there is as a single grain of sand amongst all the beaches on the planet.

[@danielbyers]

Makes you wonder about fairy abductions, alien abductions, possessions... are these all part of some overlapping but culturally distinct psychological human experience?

[@danielhanawalt4998]

@@danielbyers Anything's possible. Even the impossible maybe, at least what we think of as impossible.

[@danielbyers]

@@danielhanawalt4998 Yes!

[@baseman2002]

At the end she was writing "The dark is coming".

[@Frankenputer]

Trippy. 👍👍

[@horaciogonzalez287]

Wow…one of my darkest nightmares as a kid, I used to dream of starting floating and going up nonstop…slow…not able to do anything about it…

[@danielbyers]

Had the same nightmare 😬interesting

[@horaciogonzalez287]

@@danielbyers yeah…man watching this gave me goosebumps!!😅 I had a lot o brutal shocking nightmares as a kid /teenager, but since I had this one…I was afraid to sleep

[@danielbyers]

@@horaciogonzalez287 Hope it didn't re-traumatize you!! But it was part of the inspiration for this, and it's cool to hear you experienced the same thing

[@horaciogonzalez287]

@@danielbyers no problem this was way back in the day, sometimes real life can be scarier than nightmares 😆 and I can’t stop looking for this kind of entertainment, great job here, looking forward any new material 👍

[@johnmeyer6377]

thanx well done

[@TheBadRandolph]

Goosebumps... That's how good this is.

[@AnthonyMiyazaki]

Dori's receiving a message from Fae perhaps? Excellent work on this to all involved. Great work Daniel!!!

[@danielbyers]

Thanks so much, Anthony! Glad you enjoyed, and interesting theory about the end !

[@zethraelofteldrassil3149]

I thought the same thing. Fay probably messaging her to leave it alone.

[@crowjr2]

That was just fantastic! Well written, good acting, cinematography, sound, everything.

[@danielbyers]

Thanks @crowjr2 !! Was a good team!

[@sonovivo1247]

a perfect example of NON Sci-Fi, pure horror, perfect for all those horrible perverts, having pleasure by pain, violence and sadness, being totally unaware how they continue feeding their false assumptions about what life is and unable to love, being gentle (and helpful) or experiencing awe gratitude and experiencing an uplifting life.

[@TheJaghutWarren]

Definitely want to see Dory get sucked into the void to go save her sister in the sequel!

[@jobisselle2861]

Excellent!

[@connoisseuroftigolbitts]

Where did Fey go the first time? Why did she say people thought she was crazy at the beginning? Extra terrestrial!?

[@danielbyers]

So glad you’re asking these questions! Hopefully we’ll be answering some of them in a feature!

[@Mazxlol]

the camera and sound were actually pretty good! it felt like i was watching a real horror movie!!! gave me a bit of Alan Wake vibe! a full movie with a good story would be awesome ;)

[@danielbyers]

Thanks @Mazxlol !

[@artplat]

Это было очень сильно! Вы ребята создаете шедевры, искренне рад что нашел ваш канал на ютубе, я восхищен вашими работами!

[@martijnzandkamp]

nice love it

[@sparsrus]

Wicked AF! Seat of my pants kinda wicked. i want the rest of the story kinda wicked. thank you....

[@danielbyers]

😈 thank you, Kevin!

[@yogiwp_]

Would love to see more cosmic horror theme!

[@danielbyers]

You and me both!

[@gregdingo]

The earliest I saw was the 1956 movie "Forbidden Planet" , the creatures from the id. If you have never seen it please watch if you can somewhere, it's a true classic!!

[@EmanuelBFA]

Dust should publish at another video plataform too. We want to see the dislikes ratio !!

[@bsdrvr1]

Wow. This is great.

[@lmwlmw4468]

Awesome......vinyl...!!!

[@rickmasseur2008]

Very well done! Love the ending!

[@Lanzetsu]

Damn this was good.

[@ob6872]

Eerie as hell... Everything is said (Kenny H. downbellow already said it). I'm 44 and I'm alone in bed under my blanket with really big windows to the outside. I can't even watch the windows and think the entity could be around 😳

[@mysterycrumble]

amazing

[@Tkcrypto1]

I hate the part in movies when people don't listen. Lol, she said come inside multiple times.

[@carycoller3140]

Went right over my head 🤷‍♂️

[@woodstoney]

That was really well done. The set, story line and actors were amazing as were the special effects! We need more mind puzzles like this one.

[@danielbyers]

Thanks @woodstoney! Love building mind puzzles for y’all!

[@veneraberens4653]

A ROTARY PHONE WOW HAVNT SEEN ONE SINCE CHILDHOOD

[@markhorton3994]

I someone is selling them as a novelty.

[@pamelaneibuhr6959]

We still use them. However it is hilarious when teenagers to use one. They can’t figure it out.

[@herds22]

Crazy people get to have all the fun.

[@stephenbyron748]

that escalated quickly

[@arturoarticaaab3526]

9:40 - Anti-cheat system: disabled - Creative mode: enabled

[@danielbyers]

Hahah basically

[@gilbertwilliams7256]

She tells her to Come inside, come inside!! When she is about to walk in the house *her sister closes and locks the door her and walks away!* 😂😂😂😂!

[@dnisey64]

What happened to the 1+hr long on weekends?

[@highlandsdrifter7025]

Good film, really, really great.

[@JayJay-gk6cr]

Imagine DUST had Netflix’s budget

[@tanrose8645]

😮 💙😔... Well done❣️👏👏👏🌹 PLEASE Stay 'safe', everyone❣️ Blessed be🌛🌹🌜

[@mickberick8575]

I'd go bust without DUST

[@HritikV]

KZbin should really bring back the dislike count

[@George-fk4uj]

I want to say congratulations for the hard work you put into making this short films they are absolutely fantastic !!! I wont even say that it is like Netflix i will say that your short films are better than most Netflix shows

[@danielbyers]

Thanks so much @George, high praise 🤘

[@GarryOzols]

sorry but Horror is not Sci Fi, and I saw no Sci Fi in this. If I wanted to watch Horror I would just watch the news.

[@vyomaexplorer3630]

It's more like a fearful thing

[@kevinreed7181]

Excellent content, top notch

[@vipinsangwan7074]

Fantastic

[@spartarticus]

Lovecraftian is pretty pog

[@frenchroast1355]

Daaaaaaammmnnnnn!

[@rhodesrugger]

I liked the pencil

[@danielbyers]

then you'll love this club I know you should join

[@marek5823]

Obejrzałem nie znając języka angielskiego i to już jest dziwne ???

[@mikeordnung4378]

Can't see what is going on!