A Transcendental Horror Short Film

Apple Rot is an independent 3D horror short film exploring sleep paralysis, nightmares, and the psychological demons that manifest when trapped between dreaming and waking. Written and directed by Leonardo Verkoelen, the story follows a couple who begin suffering identical, terrifying nocturnal hallucinations after consuming forbidden fruit from the Genesis Orchard. This transcendental horror short film explores one of many stories that live in the world of Apple Rot.

The film visualizes the state of sleep paralysis where reality and imagination blur, culminating in the terrifying sensation of an ongoing home invasion. To capture this specific atmosphere, the pipeline relied on intricate character designs and cinematic lighting techniques to heighten the claustrophobic dread. The heavy, asset-dense 3D environments were fully compiled and rendered with the technical infrastructure support of RebusFarm.

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“I’m hungry…”

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Explore the complete Apple Rot production ecosystem to access original lore, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, and expanding creature profiles. To support our independent, open-source film studio, you can browse high-grade art gallery fine prints or download open assets directly from our creator resource library.

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Credits

Starring: Callum Karumdin as You, Anna Eadie as Eve, Charles Scowsill as Sad Tall, and Jakob Prewitt as Short Angry

Written & Directed by: Leonardo Verkoelen

Produced by: Leonardo Verkoelen, Charlotte Simons & Harry Rhys Williams

Character & Costume Design: Charlotte Simons

Concept Art & Matte Paintings: Ab Wienk

Original Score: King Khamen

Animation: Leonardo Verkoelen & Charlotte Simons

Lighting Setups: Leonardo Verkoelen & Manny Contreras

Rendering Support: RebusFarm Cloud Rendering

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