A financially impoverished tenant teams up Twilight Zone Style with the ghost that’s been haunting the bejesus out of her in her apartment.
They collaborate to deal with a ruthless developer from hell, figuratively speaking, who wants to evict the tenant. The tenant eviction could create a hellish dilemma for the ghost, thus their détente, one of those the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend arrangements.
Set against the backdrop of mass evictions and gentrification taking place in the United States, though the movie is Canadian-made, HALFWAY HAUNTED flips the haunted house trope on its head: The ghost isn’t the threat in this dark comedy that deftly blends horror, satire and socio-political commentary into a timely story about housing insecurity, community and survival – themes fueling breaking news headlines in major news media.
Directed by Sam Rudykoff, who plays the ghost (Cruise), and Produced by Mark Delottinville of Big Pig Co. The film stars Hannan Younis (What We Do in the Shadows), Kristian Bruun (Orphan Black, Ready or Not), and Sugar Lyn Beard (Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates). The film was officially selected for the Oscar-qualifying 2025 HollyShorts Film Festival, which ran from August 7 to August 17.
Background
This reviewer-writer-editor has no idea if the following description in any way reflects what was on the mind of the filmmakers for their superbly imaginative, superbly polished and resonating film short, HALFWAY HAUNTED, an easily rated 5-star-plus standout. This reviewer-writer-editor is on the lookout for smartly and sagaciously made films and videos from fictional to nonfiction to documentary and hybrid forms and other genres – as well as short films – that reflect or might reflect or could reflect the current socio-politico-economic dynamics reverberating in the United States, especially in light of the current POTUS executive decisions and policies.
{For example, check out POTUS, according to a CNN story headlined, “Hollywood is shaken by Trump’s tariff plan for the movie industry– https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/05/media/movie-tariffs-trump-hollywood}.
The U.S. housing market is facing a severe crisis, characterized by a significant shortage of affordable homes and rising prices, impacting renters and homeowners. This shortage is particularly acute for low-income individuals and families, exacerbating the existing problem of homelessness. Also: The housing situation is demonstrably worse for People of Color due to systemic issues like discriminatory lending practices, lower home ownership rates, and higher housing costs. These factors contribute to significant racial disparities in wealth and economic security.
Many filmmakers of short films have plans and intentions of using their short to eventually make a feature film or a TV series. This reviewer couldn’t help but imagine HALFWAY HAUNTED being a source for a TV series or a feature or a Netflix feature or series … and so on … and so forth.
Filmmakers make short films for a variety of reasons, including artistic expression, career advancement, and as a proving ground for larger projects. They can be a cost-effective way to experiment with ideas, develop skills, and build a portfolio. Short films also offer opportunities for networking and showcasing talent to potential collaborators and funders. HALFWAY HAUNTED definitely has the look of a short film destined to inspire a feature film, a TV series, a Netflick series, Et al.
Set against the harsh realities of skyrocketing rents, mass displacement, and soulless gentrification, HALFWAY HAUNTED dares to imagine a world where the supernatural becomes a tenant’s final ally. Written and directed by Rudykoff, this genre-bending short film offers a darkly comedic, politically charged take on the housing crisis – following the unlikely partnership between a desperate renter and the ghost haunting her apartment.
Together, they take on a ruthless real estate developer bent on erasing not just their home, but the history and community that it represents.
A haunted house story with bite, HALFWAY HAUNTED combines heart and horror with sharp social critique. By inverting classic horror tropes, the film transforms the ghost from a threat into a symbol of resistance. In today’s housing market, it’s not the ghost who haunts you – it’s the landlord.
Toronto-based filmmaker Sam Rudykoff, known for his award-winning short Cruise (which screened at over 75 international festivals), taps into the anguish and anger of lifelong renters to craft a timely and unsettling metaphor about the fight to hold onto one’s place in the world. “There’s a feeling of total helplessness when you’re dealing with a bad landlord. It’s really dreadful knowing that some jerk has absolute power over whether you have a place to live.” Rudykoff is quoted as saying. “I’d much rather put up with a bit of haunting if I had the choice – so I made a film where somebody does have the choice.”
The film is produced by Mark Delottinville of Big Pig Co., a seasoned producer whose past collaborations with Rudykoff include Cruise and The Door. Delottinville brings a sharp eye for bold, emotionally resonant storytelling to the project, and has a reputation for championing visionary, independent filmmakers. With a background in both narrative and commercial production, he’s known for balancing creative risk-taking with practical precision – helping elevate HALFWAY HAUNTED from a clever concept to a polished and powerful piece of short-form cinema.
Reuniting Rudykoff with trusted cinematographer Peter Schnobb, the film also features a powerhouse cast: Hannan Younis (What We Do in the Shadows) as Jess, the embattled tenant; Kristian Bruun (Ready or Not) as the deadpan ghost with unfinished business; and Sugar Lyn Beard (The Studio) as the smiling, corporate face of capitalist doom.
It premiered at HollyShorts 2025, August 7 -17 which is one of the world’s leading showcases for short-form storytelling – HALFWAY HAUNTED is already creating buzz for its bold vision, biting humor, and deeply felt message. Supernatural horror fiction addressing social commentary in a film that proves sometimes, the most powerful resistance comes from the other side.
This ghost story hits really close to home.
the WORD Editor Gregg W. Morris