Lydia Layne's Better Half (A Creepshow short on SHUDDER)

Genre: Horror
Rating: TV-MA (M)
Warnings: Some Gore

With some interesting twists and an unsettling elevator sequence, this short also has a creepy vibe rather than a scary one. Unless, of course, you have a fear of elevators. This one was absolutely terrifying for me because of that.

Including a same gender relationship without that being a plot point is a refreshing element. While it falls into the dead lesbians trope, the story could work almost the same with any gender pairing. It's a simple enough set up, but a quick exposition conversation adds a more complex.

Corporate drama becomes relationship drama becomes stealth plot becomes trapped plot; Lydia's attempt to sneak the dead body out of the building ultimately fails when the lift breaks down. The portrayal of the corpse is good, giving a strong sense of possibility. Either Lydia's escalating panic makes her so paranoid she worries the dead body is moving, or Celia's dying rage empowers her corpse to move and cause Lydia's own demise.

The double edged sword of being stuck in a lift with a dead body but not being able to wait to be rescued (because of the dead body) gave me an ever-increasing horror factor. Elevator problems do happen, and whether or not it's an urban legend, the door decapitation feels possible. Once again, Creepshow doesn't live up to it's "terrifying tales of terror" tagline, but definitely lives up to it's name. Lydia Layne's Better Half is a really creepy short.