Shortcut(2020)
2020 · Alessio Liguori · 80 min
A group of five classmates is trapped inside their school bus after an encounter with a mysterious creature on the road. Amid constant threats from the creature, the teen's anxiety increases while their survival chances decrease.
Horror · Adventure · Fantasy
5.3133 votes
TMDB score
3/5
Intensity
2/5
Gore
1/5
Stays with you
How Shortcut scares
Being trapped in a small space with something hunting you from outside gives this a claustrophobic, nervy feeling that builds through most of the runtime. It leans on sudden appearances and close calls more than slow dread, with the tension mostly coming from not knowing when or where the creature will strike next. The threat is a monster rather than anything human, so it plays more like a survival thriller with teeth than a heavy psychological gut-punch. It's the kind of horror you watch for the thrill of the chase rather than something that stays with you afterward.
On The Horror Database's 0–5 scare profile, Shortcut rates psychological 2/5, visceral 4/5, gore 2/5, lingering effect 1/5, and overall intensity 3/5.
- Psychological: 2 of 5
- Visceral: 4 of 5
- Gore: 2 of 5
- Lingering: 1 of 5
- Intensity: 3 of 5
Slow burn vs Jump scares: 65 of 100 — leans Jump scares
Supernatural vs Real-world: 30 of 100 — leans Supernatural
Fun-scary vs Disturbing: 30 of 100 — leans Fun-scary
Intensity over runtime
Shape only — no eventsReveal pacing shapeHide pacing shapeHidden by default — shows where the tension peaks and lets up.
A quick setup gives way to a steadily tightening trap that keeps ratcheting up with only brief gasps for air before a hard, relentless finish.
Intensity across the runtime, 0 to 100: 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 5, 4.
How scary is Shortcut?
On The Horror Database's 0–5 intensity scale, Shortcut rates 3/5 — solidly scary, delivering its fear through jump scares more than lingering dread. It attacks the body more than the mind — physical, in-your-face horror. Expect it to be moderately gory and fun-first. The dread fades once the credits roll.
Watched it? Sign in to confirm whether this profile fits.
