Hi!

My name is Mitchell Elsden, and I am creating a short film for my final project in film school.

I’ve been attending the Toronto Film School for over a year, and much of that time has been building toward this moment. I’m looking for any support I can to help make this film as strong as possible.

This short film is especially important to me because it explores themes of isolation and fear slowly drawn out until each character begins to break. I am deeply interested in quiet tension over loud jump scares, and I’ve aimed to create something unsettling in a more restrained, psychological way.

While this began as a school project, it has grown into a deep fascination with these characters. I’ve spent a long time developing them into people who feel real, flawed, and human, which makes the horror they face all the more personal.

Just Out of Reach — a Brief Overview

When two men are trapped deep in a remote Arctic cabin during polar night, they begin to experience knocks on their door from someone, or something, that just won’t leave.

Set during polar night, when the sun won’t rise for weeks, Just Out of Reach leans into the psychological pressure of total isolation. The threat outside the cabin is never immediately clear, forcing both the characters and the audience to question what is real, what is imagined, and how much hope has already been lost.

Horror relies heavily on atmosphere, sound design, and attention to detail within its environment. All funds raised will go directly toward securing a location, set dressing, practical effects, sound recording, and feeding the cast and crew during production.

Any support at all, whether it be through donations or simply sharing this campaign, it means the world to me. Thank you so much for helping me bring this story to life.

Disclaimer

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.