Experiencing Interruptions?

The guest in the mug

After receiving an anonymous box at his front door, a man discovers a mug bearing the portrait of a stranger and an unsettling dedication. What at first seems like an odd gift soon begins to disrupt the routine of his home: small phenomena start to occur, familiar spaces turn threatening, and the mug appears where it should not be. As the presence linked to the object silently invades the house, the man realizes that by opening the door, he did not simply accept a package, but a guest that has no intention of leaving.

  • José Luis Elvira Valenzuela
    Director
  • José Luis Elvira Valenzuela
    Writer
  • José Luis Elvira Valenzuela
    Producer
  • José Elvira Valenzuela
    Key Cast
    "The protagonist"
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Terror
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 27, 2026
  • Country of Origin:
    Mexico
  • Country of Filming:
    Mexico
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - José Luis Elvira Valenzuela

José Luis Elvira is a university professor and technology communicator based in Guadalajara, Mexico. He teaches computer science and engineering courses at ITESO, specializing in operating systems, cloud architecture and programming. In addition to his academic work, he creates weekly technology segments for Quiero TV and hosts the podcast Click para Escuchar, where he shares insights on innovation, digital culture, and emerging tech.

He is known for his practical teaching style, his ability to explain complex concepts clearly, and his passion for helping students build real-world skills. Outside the classroom and studio, José Luis is currently exploring the art of filmmaking and enjoys learning how to shoot and produce short films.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The Guest in the Mug was born from a simple but unsettling idea: what if an ordinary everyday object stopped being ordinary and quietly became a presence of its own?

I was interested in telling a horror story through minimalism, silence, and suggestion rather than explicit explanations. The short film explores how something small and familiar can slowly alter the emotional atmosphere of a home, turning routine into unease.

Visually, I wanted the film to feel cold, restrained, and intimate. Natural light, quiet spaces, and contained performance were essential in creating a sense of tension that grows gradually. Instead of presenting horror as something explosive, I wanted it to emerge through absence, repetition, and the unsettling persistence of an object that refuses to disappear.

At its core, The Guest in the Mug is about intrusion: the moment when we realize that something has entered our personal space and can no longer be removed, understood, or controlled.