Disco Inferno – Netflix Review (2/5)

DISCO INFERNO on Netflix is a new horror short film with a simple but quite strong story. One you could imagine turning into a feature film. Whether that would work out is the great unknown. I do, however, think there’s enough there to work with. Read our full Disco Inferno horror short review here!

DISCO INFERNO is a new Netflix horror short film that any horror fan should enjoy. Well, certainly anyone who appreciates the more demonic side of horror movies, anyway. The story begins in one time period but ultimately plays out a few decades later.

In other words, there’s enough to work with in this horror short that I could imagine it being adapted into a feature film. It happens quite often, after all, so why not with this one?! Check it out on Netflix now and see if you don’t agree.

Continue reading our Disco Inferno horror short review below.

Dancing for your life

In Disco Inferno, we meet a young couple getting ready to participate in a dancing competition in LA in the 1970s. There is a brief dance sequence that feels directly out of Saturday Night Fever and I loved it. Don’t worry if this isn’t your jam – even if it is actual cinematic history – the horror comes both before and after the dancing.

We are at a disco, though, so other people are still dancing.

For our dancing queen, however, things are about to get quite diabolic in the old church turned into a discotheque. Try to pay attention to just how many upside-down crucifixes you can catch in this Netflix horror short. There are quite a lot in both the background and various reflections.

Official plot versus actual story

Admittedly, this is a pet peeve of mine, but I don’t like it when the trailer for a movie includes scenes that aren’t in the actual film or if the official plot doesn’t match the actual story. In this Netflix horror short, the official plot talks about a young couple who conjure up something and this dark presence wanting their unborn baby.

I think you’ll agree with me when you watch this horror short (and you should), that the story is somewhat different.

There is a young couple, but only the woman is being chased by the dark presence. However, the plot also mentions a dance floor at the hottest new disco in LA, which is opening in a former church. That part is correct and the place is, in fact, called “Disco Inferno” which is simply brilliant.

Watch the Disco Inferno horror short on Netflix now!

Matthew Castellanos is the co-writer and director of the new horror short film. He wrote it with co-writer Mike Ambs. Previously, Matthew Castellanos has been working in the fantasy and horror genre, so his career is already dedicated to genre productions.

Fuller House star Soni Bringas is the star of this horror short film with Stephen Ruffin (Snowfall, 15 Cameras) as her co-star. Finally, we have Helene Udy to round out the main cast. She’s the one I recognize despite her often appearing somewhat obscured. You may know Helene Udy from My Bloody Valentine (1981), The Dead Zone (1983), or more recently the Fight Night CRYPT TV series.

There’s another Netflix horror short coming out on the same day as this one. It’s called Flashback and has a much lighter tone and lower age rating. Disco Inferno has an 18 rating in the United Kingdom and a TV-MA rating in the United States. This should tell you that it does get quite dark.

Disco Inferno is on Netflix from October 20, 2023.

Details

Director: Matthew Castellanos
Writers: Mike Ambs, Matthew Castellanos
Stars: Soni Bringas, Stephen Ruffin, Helene Udy