Turning a viral short film
into a feature film

OPEN DOOR

The short film is only the beginning. Say you'll watch the full movie, and a video we've never shown anywhere lands in your inbox.

Yes, I'll watch this movie →▶ Watch the short film

27.7M+views and counting*

12.9MFacebook 6.8MYouTube Shorts 4.3MTikTok 1MThreads 1MX 369.8KYouTube

679.3K+ likes15.3K+ comments & theories

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As featured in

“Viral ‘Open Door’ Short to Be Adapted Into Feature, Earns Six-Figure Development Deal”

“Obsession and Backrooms inspired a new wave of YouTube horror films coming to cinemas soon”

“‘Open Door’ YouTube Short to Get Feature Adaptation After ‘Obsession,’ ‘Backrooms’ Success”

The short film

This started it all.

It found its audience on its own — millions of views and counting. Watch it, then help us make the feature film.

There’s more to this story. Want it?Yes, I'll watch this movie →

The internet can't stop talking about it

“This felt like a full entire movie. Better than most horror movies.”@straightoutofafrica5196 1.4K“I forgot it wasn't a whole movie!”@theuppitymillennial“Looks like the work of M. Night Shyamalan or Jordan Peele.”@hostileempath“This short is better than 95% of 2025 movies.”@quatnews 27“OH MAN THE SUSPENSE!!! I NEARLY THREW UP!!!”@retrocarstyle“What BEAUTIFUL sound design.”@obiflowkenobi“I remember seeing this on YouTube — to this day it's so captivating and beautifully shot. Truly inspirational.”u/Kago_13“I didn't realize I was holding my breath.”@santiaourconic“Welp, looks like I'll be taking the stairs from now on.”@butterfliedunicorn“This indie looks better than anything released in the past year. 🙏”@alyssaparks“Negative numbers?!? Oh nahhhhsss 😂😂”@phatkakes 15.8K“They entered a parallel dimension to eldritch horrors.”@tibane9511 290“Either aliens, purgatory, or the lady was a contract demon…”@morrisrobinson2025 21“I heard the whispered word JUDGED — that's why he said “close the door.””@sandstew2697 13“8 + 3 = 11 = a gate… passing through a gateway.”@amberroy1123“This is so layered — we automatically fear the unknown.”@howaboutac 12“Blown away. Wow.”u/hmyers8“SOMEBODY GET THIS TEAM THE MONEY TO MAKE THIS A FEATURE.”@miahwhitmore7873 1.3K“A short film????? I was searching everywhere for this movie.”@endy 345“Put all of your money into this. This is gold!”@kennythetalker 11“It needs to be a movie asap!!”@tomekarice6794 13“I swear to all the gods, Kevin — if you don't make this a feature film…”@heatherercse 16“There is nothing that could have compelled me to open the door.”@ashleytommyp 12.1K“Would've started repenting so fast 😭”@chaneldiamond 12.2K“Not me screaming “lay on the floor” when they started to drop 😂”@cute_n_catchy 9.3K“I don't need this at four in the morning 🤣”@themichaelbshow 961“That little short is better than some movies I've seen. Keep 'em coming.”@nannettebowes1035 592“Incredible acting and camera work — you had me on the edge of my seat.”@l_arise_l 491“Better than most horror movies — and it was only a minute long.”@skemzytk 191“I'd give this one hundred thumbs up if YouTube allowed it.”@rickyblaze8263 69“Don't recast the guy — breakout star potential.”@soulora_ 36“Felt like an elevator creepypasta. You cooked.”@mani.matterz 16“Brilliant! My heart just stopped for a second 💀”u/williamthe_great“This was far scarier than Pennywise.”@premiumdiamonds 6“The elevator starts going UP before it drops. Is it genius? ABSOLUTELY.”@queent305 25“I've been thinking about theories every spare minute since. Bravo!”@ingralee“A powerful moment of solidarity. Loved this. More please!”@christopherpericolosi 5.5K“This has to be made a movie. I'd love to see where they go with this.”@tyescott3561 158“I NEED THE FULL MOVIE NOW!! And 3 SEQUELS!!!!”@moccchhhi 8“Sir, where is the rest of this marvelous movie?”@imusaadam“Can you pitch this to Warner Bros, Tyler Perry, Jordan Peele, NETFLIX?????”@neiahabroad“OMG, we need a 2-hour movie.”@caninesitter 17“Not me searching the internet for the full movie 😂”@quellvalentine1338 10“So they went down to the IT department?”@wadewatts 12K“Would've kept the door closed when I saw -83.”@philip 19.5K“Jesus woulda got sicka me calling for Him from floor to floor!!! 😭😂”@lolo4sho 8.1K“I would've thrown myself into the darkness so quick — getting chased is too stressful 😭”@sia_bia 720“This is amazing — but that cliffhanger, HOW DARE YOU DO THAT.”@surgethetenrec67 382“The tear when he says “close the door”?!?! What a shot — a great short on all levels.”@dragonslayer 634“Felt like some multimillion-dollar psychological thriller. Keep up the great work.”@thearchdapex 39“Please point me to the director of this film. It's f***ing brilliant.”@joshuasarlo 20“My heart hasn't pounded that hard in a long while! “CLOSE. THE. DOOR.””@s.mcnuttkaryn“Genius. A masterpiece under two minutes — two rock-solid actors.”@snakes“They're not seeing the same thing at the end. 😳”@marjvaaals“She pretended to be on the phone — but it was just the lock screen.”@tiffany 4.9K“Is there a reason we can't see the time on her phone, or am I overanalyzing?”@atiya 184“Me and him said “close the door” at the same time 😂 Where's the rest? I'm invested!”@kiaradominique 18“We don't open doors at -83. And I need the rest of this terrifying tale.”@eeyorelov“The tear at the end really sold it. I need a full movie.”@artofpisces88 11“The team who did this should be making movies in Hollywood!!!”@markspencer5248 19“If the elevator ever starts going into the negatives, my soul is going back upstairs lol”@therealpatcha 15“This short film has lived in the back corner of my mind since July 7, 2025. I'm so excited for this!!”@kweeen.j“When death was imminent, they held hands. They knew nothing about each other — but they were all they had.”@beezuz 27.9K“-83rd floor is literally hell 😭”@keeks 27.9K“That door opened, I heard the whispers, and I said “oh nah, they in hell” 😂”@afrojack2000ify 3.5K“The fact that they KNOW they're in hell is scarier than anything.”@bre 6K“They died in that elevator — they just don't know it 🤷🏽‍♂️”@lito2265 977““H” is the 8th letter. Then three letters for “ell.” 💀”@sam 121“This felt like a full entire movie. Better than most horror movies.”@straightoutofafrica5196 1.4K“I forgot it wasn't a whole movie!”@theuppitymillennial“Looks like the work of M. Night Shyamalan or Jordan Peele.”@hostileempath“This short is better than 95% of 2025 movies.”@quatnews 27“OH MAN THE SUSPENSE!!! I NEARLY THREW UP!!!”@retrocarstyle“What BEAUTIFUL sound design.”@obiflowkenobi“I remember seeing this on YouTube — to this day it's so captivating and beautifully shot. Truly inspirational.”u/Kago_13“I didn't realize I was holding my breath.”@santiaourconic“Welp, looks like I'll be taking the stairs from now on.”@butterfliedunicorn“This indie looks better than anything released in the past year. 🙏”@alyssaparks“Negative numbers?!? Oh nahhhhsss 😂😂”@phatkakes 15.8K“They entered a parallel dimension to eldritch horrors.”@tibane9511 290“Either aliens, purgatory, or the lady was a contract demon…”@morrisrobinson2025 21“I heard the whispered word JUDGED — that's why he said “close the door.””@sandstew2697 13“8 + 3 = 11 = a gate… passing through a gateway.”@amberroy1123“This is so layered — we automatically fear the unknown.”@howaboutac 12“Blown away. Wow.”u/hmyers8“SOMEBODY GET THIS TEAM THE MONEY TO MAKE THIS A FEATURE.”@miahwhitmore7873 1.3K“A short film????? I was searching everywhere for this movie.”@endy 345“Put all of your money into this. This is gold!”@kennythetalker 11“It needs to be a movie asap!!”@tomekarice6794 13“I swear to all the gods, Kevin — if you don't make this a feature film…”@heatherercse 16“There is nothing that could have compelled me to open the door.”@ashleytommyp 12.1K“Would've started repenting so fast 😭”@chaneldiamond 12.2K“Not me screaming “lay on the floor” when they started to drop 😂”@cute_n_catchy 9.3K“I don't need this at four in the morning 🤣”@themichaelbshow 961“That little short is better than some movies I've seen. Keep 'em coming.”@nannettebowes1035 592“Incredible acting and camera work — you had me on the edge of my seat.”@l_arise_l 491“Better than most horror movies — and it was only a minute long.”@skemzytk 191“I'd give this one hundred thumbs up if YouTube allowed it.”@rickyblaze8263 69“Don't recast the guy — breakout star potential.”@soulora_ 36“Felt like an elevator creepypasta. You cooked.”@mani.matterz 16“Brilliant! My heart just stopped for a second 💀”u/williamthe_great“This was far scarier than Pennywise.”@premiumdiamonds 6“The elevator starts going UP before it drops. Is it genius? ABSOLUTELY.”@queent305 25“I've been thinking about theories every spare minute since. Bravo!”@ingralee“A powerful moment of solidarity. Loved this. More please!”@christopherpericolosi 5.5K“This has to be made a movie. I'd love to see where they go with this.”@tyescott3561 158“I NEED THE FULL MOVIE NOW!! And 3 SEQUELS!!!!”@moccchhhi 8“Sir, where is the rest of this marvelous movie?”@imusaadam“Can you pitch this to Warner Bros, Tyler Perry, Jordan Peele, NETFLIX?????”@neiahabroad“OMG, we need a 2-hour movie.”@caninesitter 17“Not me searching the internet for the full movie 😂”@quellvalentine1338 10“So they went down to the IT department?”@wadewatts 12K“Would've kept the door closed when I saw -83.”@philip 19.5K“Jesus woulda got sicka me calling for Him from floor to floor!!! 😭😂”@lolo4sho 8.1K“I would've thrown myself into the darkness so quick — getting chased is too stressful 😭”@sia_bia 720“This is amazing — but that cliffhanger, HOW DARE YOU DO THAT.”@surgethetenrec67 382“The tear when he says “close the door”?!?! What a shot — a great short on all levels.”@dragonslayer 634“Felt like some multimillion-dollar psychological thriller. Keep up the great work.”@thearchdapex 39“Please point me to the director of this film. It's f***ing brilliant.”@joshuasarlo 20“My heart hasn't pounded that hard in a long while! “CLOSE. THE. DOOR.””@s.mcnuttkaryn“Genius. A masterpiece under two minutes — two rock-solid actors.”@snakes“They're not seeing the same thing at the end. 😳”@marjvaaals“She pretended to be on the phone — but it was just the lock screen.”@tiffany 4.9K“Is there a reason we can't see the time on her phone, or am I overanalyzing?”@atiya 184“Me and him said “close the door” at the same time 😂 Where's the rest? I'm invested!”@kiaradominique 18“We don't open doors at -83. And I need the rest of this terrifying tale.”@eeyorelov“The tear at the end really sold it. I need a full movie.”@artofpisces88 11“The team who did this should be making movies in Hollywood!!!”@markspencer5248 19“If the elevator ever starts going into the negatives, my soul is going back upstairs lol”@therealpatcha 15“This short film has lived in the back corner of my mind since July 7, 2025. I'm so excited for this!!”@kweeen.j“When death was imminent, they held hands. They knew nothing about each other — but they were all they had.”@beezuz 27.9K“-83rd floor is literally hell 😭”@keeks 27.9K“That door opened, I heard the whispers, and I said “oh nah, they in hell” 😂”@afrojack2000ify 3.5K“The fact that they KNOW they're in hell is scarier than anything.”@bre 6K“They died in that elevator — they just don't know it 🤷🏽‍♂️”@lito2265 977““H” is the 8th letter. Then three letters for “ell.” 💀”@sam 121

The demand so far

Find your people.

These are the first names stepping up to turn the short into a feature — be one of them, and watch the map light up.

Loading the map…

6,467 of 10,000

founding moviegoers

64% of the way there

Video clue on signup. Clue #3 unlocks at 10K.

Where demand is

1New York City, NY256
2Atlanta, GA236
3Baltimore–Washington, MD–DC144
4Dallas–Fort Worth, TX126
5Los Angeles, CA115
6Chicago, IL108
7Houston, TX99
8Philadelphia, PA89
9Detroit, MI86
10Tampa, FL70

Beyond the USUnited Kingdom 176 · Canada 161 · South Africa 147 · India 99 · Australia 55

Latest moviegoers

primo from Cagayan de Oro City · 3m ago
Kayla from Winston Salem · 16m ago
George from Bronx · 49m ago
Lebo from Phalaborwa · 50m ago
Miranda from Georgetown · 52m ago
Melody from Casa Grande · 56m ago

The clues so far

Clue #1

Mailed to the first 1,000 names. Why we sent them — 3 min →

Clue #2

Yours on signup

182 frames, and something hidden in them. Add your name and it’s in your inbox.

Clue #3

Locked

Sealed until 10,000 names. Nobody outside the room knows what this one is.

Step through the door

Put yourself on the map.

You came here to find out what’s beyond the door. Good — that’s what this is. Clues, frames, and pieces of the feature go to the names on this map first. And every name is hard evidence for the people who green-light movies. Thirty seconds, no money.

As featured in

“Obsession and Backrooms inspired a new wave of YouTube horror films coming to cinemas soon”

“‘Open Door’ YouTube Short to Get Feature Adaptation After ‘Obsession,’ ‘Backrooms’ Success”

“Could Kevin Cate’s ‘Open Door’ be the next ‘Backrooms’-type hit?”

“Viral YouTube short lands Hollywood movie deal after Backrooms and Obsession success”

“‘Open Door’: Watch the Viral YouTube Short Being Adapted Into a Feature!”

The roadmap

From short film to feature.

Every step between a viral short and opening weekend — and exactly where we are right now.

The Short Film
Done
It all started with the short — a self-funded film made to prove this story deserved a bigger canvas. If you're here, you've probably seen it. If not, this is where to start.
Watch the short →
The Screenplay
Done
The feature-length script is finished — months of writing and rewriting to turn a short story into a full film. It's the blueprint everything else gets built on.
Add your name — say you'll watch it →
Development Funding
Done
Before a feature can be budgeted or pitched, the early work has to be paid for. We've raised six figures in development funding — covering producing, legal, and screenplay costs that turn an idea into something financiers can actually evaluate. Real money is already behind this film.
Add your name — back a film that's already moving →
Budgeting
Done
Every shot, location, and crew member has a price tag. That work is done — we now know exactly what it takes to bring OPEN DOOR to the screen, line by line. A real budget is what turns a script into something financiers can say yes to.
Financing
We're here
We funded the short ourselves to prove the story — but a full feature is a far bigger lift. Budget in hand, we're taking OPEN DOOR to financiers and executive producers right now to raise what it takes to actually shoot it. Nothing moves them like an audience that's already proven it's there.
Add your name — demand is what gets films financed →
Casting
Finding the right faces for these characters — auditions, callbacks, and the occasional lightning-strike moment when you know you've found the one.
Who would you cast? Tell us →
Pre-Production
The calm before the storm. Locations get scouted, sets get built, schedules get locked — a thousand tiny decisions so that when the cameras roll, everything's ready.
Join the list for behind-the-scenes updates →
Principal Photography
The shoot. A few weeks of long days and big swings — the actual film getting captured frame by frame.
Follow along on set →
Post-Production
Editing, VFX, sound, music, color — the phase where a pile of footage becomes a movie, shaping the final film you'll eventually see.
Be the first to see the trailer →
Distribution
Festivals, theaters, streaming — getting OPEN DOOR in front of the audience that's been waiting. This is where it pays off: every name on this list is proof people are ready to watch.
See it opening weekend →

Creators are talking

The big accounts are watching.

Some of the web’s biggest pop-culture voices are covering OPEN DOOR.

From the set

Behind the film.

The crew lighting and filming a scene on the OPEN DOOR set

The full OPEN DOOR cast and crew gathered in the elevator

The two leads in character beneath the boom mic

The OPEN DOOR slate on set — directed by Kevin Cate

Questions & theories

Frequently asked.

Where can I watch the OPEN DOOR short film?

It's right here on this page, plus most social media. Highly recommend watching it in 4K on YouTube.

Watch in 4K on YouTube →

How many people have watched OPEN DOOR?

Millions — and the running total at the top of this page is a floor, not a ceiling. Some platforms count more than one post: on Facebook alone the film has been watched over 12.8M times across two posts (435K + 12.4M). And OPEN DOOR gets ripped and reposted constantly on accounts we don't control: we've confirmed a single TikTok repost with over a million views and another on X with 380K+. We count what we can verify; the real number is higher, and climbing every day.

▶ Facebook post (12.4M)▶ Facebook post (435K)▶ The 1M+ TikTok repost ↗ The 380K+ repost on X

Is there a full-length / feature version of OPEN DOOR?

On paper, yes. The screenplay by writer/director Kevin Cate and Charles Spano is finished and ready to go into pre-production. We are asking for your commitment to make sure it happens.

Add your name →

What is OPEN DOOR about?

That's the (few) million dollar question. Can't wait to share it with you.

What happens at the end? What does it mean?

There are thousands of theories in the comments on YouTube and TikTok. Some closer than others. The feature film is where we open the door all the way. Add your name to help us get there.

Add your name →

Who are the actors in OPEN DOOR?

OPEN DOOR stars Sean Anthony Baker and Mia Matthews.

Who wrote, directed, and produced the OPEN DOOR short film?

The OPEN DOOR short film was written and directed by Kevin Cate, and produced by Daniel Faber at Skysound Productions and Clinging Vine Films, a CATECOMM company.

More about Kevin Cate →

The short looks like a million bucks, and I want to hire your crew for another project. Who are they?

We're glad you noticed. This is the full team behind the OPEN DOOR short — and if you've got a project, this is who you'd want. Tell them OPEN DOOR sent you.

Production & Edit

Produced & Assistant Directed by Daniel Faber
Edited by Daniel Reinecke

Camera

Director of Photography Pete Chiaramonte
Camera Operator Daniel Reinecke
1st AC Robbie Corcoran
2nd AC Alec Smiroldo
DIT Qais "Q" Karadsheh
VFX Tim Glover

Lighting & Grip

Gaffer Cait Silvius
Best Boy Electric Tom Fendley
Lighting Console Programmer Brandon Votaw
Key Grip Richard Arnold
Best Boy Grip Logan Russell

Sound & Post

Sound Mixer Matt Wood
Audio Mastering & Effects Daniel Faber
Color & Post Production Supervisor Qais "Q" Karadsheh

Art & Design

Production Design Andrew O'Connor
Art Direction Alex Gilliam
Lead Builder Rashad "Syx" Lambert-Smith
Set Builders Jeffrey Hawthorne & Ryan Renoud
Hair & Makeup Kaylee Swisher

Crew

Production Assistant Lizzie Potter
Production Assistant Mohammad "Mo" Amireh
Casting Director Brian Beegle
Behind the Scenes Kyle Leonard
Still Photography Alex Workman

Studio & Music

Filmed at Resonant Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
Opening Music "Lebron Flow" by YB (cleared via Musicbed)
Closing Music Skysound Productions

See the full crew on IMDb →

Will Sean and Mia be in the feature?

Submit your name and then read the P.S. in the welcome email.

Add your name →

When will the feature come out?

There's no date. If we get all of our funding and casting done soon, we could film it in 2026 and get it out as soon as 2027.

I missed the first 1,000. Did I miss the letter?

The first 1,000 names got a letter from DAPP in the mail — that rung has closed, and you can watch the whole thousand of them go out. You haven't missed the clue, though: the video clue unlocked back at 2,000 names and has been open ever since, so it lands in your inbox the moment you add your name. There's no threshold left to wait for. Sharing your link is still the fastest way to get the feature made.

▶ Watch the 1,000 letters go out Add your name →

Does this cost anything?

No. We're not raising money here — we're proving demand. Adding your name is free, there's nothing to buy, and we'll never ask you for a card. The only thing we want is your name on the list.

Add your name →

How can I help make the feature happen?

Add your name, share your link.

Add your name →

OPEN DOOR

This started it all.

Find your people.

Where demand is

Latest moviegoers

Put yourself on the map.

From short film to feature.

The Short Film

The Screenplay

Development Funding

Budgeting

Financing

Casting

Pre-Production

Principal Photography

Post-Production

Distribution

The big accounts are watching.

Behind the film.

Frequently asked.

Production & Edit

Camera

Lighting & Grip

Sound & Post

Art & Design

Crew

Studio & Music