Filmmaker Michael Rich’s short horror The Queue shows the worst of humanity that some poor souls encounter daily. By making the toiling job of a content moderator even more grim, Rich creates an effective psychological horror.

Cole has just got a new job as an internet content moderator and is soon confronted with an increasingly disturbing series of online videos that begin to seep deep into his psyche as he truly sees the darkness of humanity that is lurking on the other side.

Being a content moderator is an almost unimaginable task; the toll it takes on a person emotionally and psychologically must be immense, so it is an occupation that is ripe for tinkering with the horror genre. Michael Rich’s The Queue takes us on a rather parapsychological journey that leaves us in no doubt that Rich is a voice we need to hear more from down the line. He isn’t one who seems to leave us waiting, as the unsettling nature of The Queue is there right from the off.

Something just isn’t right about what Cole is going off to do on his first day. We immediately have our guard up, and our fear levels rise for him as he begins to go through his tasks. By having that ominous tone set from the start, we are never allowed to settle and get used to what Cole is doing. It’s a highly effective approach, so when the more parapsychological moments begin to bubble above the surface, we want out that little office door. Yet, like Cole, we sit and wait to see where it is going. He shouldn’t still be watching that video, but he is transfixed, and Rich makes sure we are as well by sprinkling little moments around to keep us there.

If there is one downside to The Queue, it’s just that bit too short. It feels like it is rushing itself instead of building a touch more tension to really pay off that build and great finale, a climactic and satisfying ending, that it finishes off with. By almost rushing towards it, it leaves us little time to fully understand and appreciate Cole’s character. We need some more time with him to want to see him escape what is happening. Again, it’s the slightest of downsides as Michael Rich adds in little pieces here and there to give us as much of a picture of Cole as he can in an 11-minute film, but a couple more minutes with him would have been great.

The Queue is a great claustrophobic nightmare that has you glued for its entire runtime. With a strong performance from Burt Bulos, there is an awful lot to love here, and it leaves you wanting far more. It’s a testament to Michael Rich’s storytelling that we’re left wanting more. Keep an eye out for Rich, though. We should hopefully see a lot more of him down the line in the genre.

★★★ 1/2

Watch it here!

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