Experiencing Interruptions?

The Girl in the Street

After receiving a once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity, Malachi leaves his dying younger sister behind to move to a remote small town. As Malachi unpacks inside his new house, a bloody and scarred woman in a strange mask appears on the dirt road outside the house, screeching. As the woman’s screams weigh on him in the small, sweltering house, Malachi faces a moral quandary: help the woman or stay safely inside his home. All signs point to the importance of his choosing to do what's good... but what does it cost to be a good person?

  • Chris Paicely
    Director
  • Miles August
    Director
  • Chris Paicely
    Writer
  • Jasmine Gragg
    Producer
  • Shawn Roundtree Jr.
    Key Cast
    "Malachi"
    Emperor of Ocean Park
  • Whitney Masters
    Key Cast
    "Sasha"
  • D'Andra Laneé
    Key Cast
    "Val"
  • Chris Anthony
    Key Cast
    "The Driver"
  • Heather Langenkamp
    Key Cast
    "911 Dispatcher"
    A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Midnight Club
  • Lana Mattice
    Director of Photography
  • John Warrin
    Sound Design
    Strange Darling, Anora
  • Pablo Fuu
    Composer
    When Evil Lurks
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Horror, Suspense, Drama
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 4 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 16, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    45,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Vancouver Horror Show
    Vancouver, British Columbia
    Canada
    October 19, 2025
    World Premiere
    Official Selection & Best Lead Performance Award
  • Brooklyn Horror Film Festival
    New York, NY
    United States
    October 25, 2025
    U.S Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Island of Horror Film Festival
    Wye Mills, MD
    United States
    November 1, 2025
    Maryland Premiere
    Official Selection & Deadly Duos Directorial Award
Director Biography - Chris Paicely, Miles August

Chris Paicely is a lifelong storyteller whose path has taken him from journalism to filmmaking. After earning a Master’s degree from Northwestern University, he covered politics and education before leading marketing at the Surge Institute, where he produced campaigns and directed video content, including "Shades of Leadership," featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda. In 2020, he founded StoryPaced, a Black-owned video production company, and in 2022 co-founded Swym Good Films, producing the award-winning sci-fi short ALUS. Chris continues to explore powerful narratives through film, podcasting, and community work in Chicago’s South Suburbs—while balancing life as a proud husband and father of three.

Miles August is a Chicago-based filmmaker, visual artist, and composer with a background in music, design, and digital advertising. After studying Graphic Design at the Illinois Institute of Art, he developed a distinctive visual style rooted in photography and videography. He founded Notre Films in 2023, producing short documentaries and client-driven video content. As co-founder of Swym Good Films, Miles brings his holistic creative vision to narrative work, seamlessly blending image, sound, and story in films like SILK and The Girl in the Street.

Swym Good Films is a creative partnership between Chris Paicely and Miles August, dedicated to crafting bold, visually driven stories. After the success of their award-winning sci-fi short ALUS, the duo now debuts two new narrative projects: The Girl in the Street and SILK.

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Director Statement

The Girl in the Street explores the haunting cost of morality—what we’re willing to sacrifice to be seen as “good,” and what we ignore to protect our own comfort. At its core, the film is about guilt, complicity, and the terrifying consequences of turning away from someone in need.

Set in a deceptively quiet small town, the film also examines how suburban conformity can conceal something far more sinister. Inspired by Get Out and The Wicker Man, we utilize horror to expose how morality can be twisted into a tool of control. This is horror that tests character—and asks: What does it cost to be a good person?