Hell Is Empty
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Horror, Drama
Our short film is not only a deep dive into surrealistic elements that focus on explaining the unexplainable when it comes to the afterlife, but a poignant critique of religious structures that work to instill fear in the people. We're so excited to get started on this, but we need your help!
Hell Is Empty
Los Angeles, California | Film Short
Horror, Drama
Green Light
This campaign raised $28,000 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
292 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Our short film is not only a deep dive into surrealistic elements that focus on explaining the unexplainable when it comes to the afterlife, but a poignant critique of religious structures that work to instill fear in the people. We're so excited to get started on this, but we need your help!
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
"They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might."
Hell and Heaven have been used for millenniums as an answer to our eternal question: "Where do we go when we die?" Either glorious white pearly gates, or the fiery damnation of hell, pitchforks, demons and all. But in our new age, this black and white depiction of death doesn't seem to match our ever-changing society. With conservative politicians weaponizing the verbiage of the bible to fit their bigotry, while many of those outside religion create their found-family and community, can we say for certain we know what's coming afterwards? Do those claiming we're going to Hell for our morals or our lifestyle even know what their claiming, or is it just a projection of fear, diluted through generations until their hateful rhetoric means nothing?
Take Grace, for example. Our protagonist is devout. She was faithful to her husband. She was a follower of the Lord and never strayed, just as her parents and their parents before her. She detests the conduct of those who wander from the path God laid out for us. And while she's making that clear to a gay couple in the liquor store just how she feels, a car comes barreling down the road, ending her argument and her life. If it weren't her, she'd say: "God's timing is always right."
When Grace's eyes open again. She struggles to find understanding in her new habitat. This isn't the pearly gates of heaven. This isn't even the fiery pits of Hell. This abyss, the purgatory, is cold and isolating. The afterlife is nothing like she predicted.
Stills from various productions: (top/left to bottom/right) The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Hereditary, The Substance, Annihilation, The Invisible Man, Altered Carbon, Weapons, Stranger Things, The Witch
Please head to the "Team" page to learn more about our main producers!
We are excited to get the ball rolling on our adventurous short, Hell Is Empty. With your generous contribution, we can put the pieces together to give this story the budget and the craftsmanship it deserves!
Our goal of 30k is what we believe is needed for this project to be made with nuance and expertise, but the product will only grow if we reach out Stretch Goals! They are as follows:
And once again, thank you so much for your consideration for our campaign. We're so excited to put this piece together. After your contribution, we'll gladly send updates as we approach production!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast and Crew Payment
Costs $10,000
A large portion of our budget will go to paying our cast and crew fair wages.
Locations/Effects Budget
Costs $10,000
To get that eerie landscape, we'll need to book locations, and pay for the extra practical effects to perfectly enhance each scene.
Camera/Lighting/Sound/Editing
Costs $10,000
All that you need to put a project together. To get professional workers and their equipment, we'll need to pay them professional wages.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
We are a team of passionate, independent filmmakers who strive to make art that is compelling, entertaining, and of course: within the budget provided to us by our generous backers.
Before you contribute, here's a bit about us:
Sam Thor is a writer and director, who's thrilled to take on the mantle of this project and steer it towards it's triumphant conclusion. This is the second short film directed by Sam, as STARPOWER, Sam's first, recently finished its festival circuit, airing at NewFilmmakers NY, Atlanta's All The Laughs Comedy Awards, New York Long Island International Film Festival, and many others. Though it was a dark comedy, it gave Sam the confirmation that he was ready to dive in to his true filmmaking love: surreal horror. Hell Is Empty may be dark, but it's an act of love not just for the people it addresses, but for independent filmmaking as a whole. He humbly thanks you for your contribution.
Autumn Palen is a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she earned a BFA in Film & TV Production. Autumn co-produced and lensed Musiques, a short documentary about six musical groups recording a vinyl record in French and Louisiana Creole, which premiered at the 2025 New Orleans Film Fest. She wrote a horror short, Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done, which has screened at Screamfest in New Orleans and Los Angeles, as well as Nightmares Film Festival.
Daria is an entertainment research professional who has worked with the team previously, as an associate producer on STARPOWER. She also has experience in writing, earning accolades for her queer historical gothic horror pilot. Now, she looks forward to her trip into the underworld on HELL IS EMPTY, and she will be writing a Dante-style expose on the place when she gets back!
Piper is incredibly excited to be a part of the team for HELL IS EMPTY and getting the chance to bring this project to life (to the afterlife?) with director/writer Sam Thor. This will be her first time acting as an associate producer and she's looking forward to employing all of her administrative skills she's acquired over the years working in music licensing. She is hoping that this production can inspire her to one day be able to write anything to completion so she can maybe produce one of her own short films! Or publish a book! Perhaps a play? She's open to any possibility that keeps her creative and working on projects she loves and of course, supporting independent filmmaking in Los Angeles.
Ronnie Toone is a writer and performer from New York, currently living quite pleasantly (though cheaply) somewhere in Los Angeles. This is their second project alongside director Sam Thor, but worry not for their constitution: Ronnie finds a sick sort of delight in exploring the murky, drowned corners of the afterlife, and Hell Is Empty fits in perfectly. You can find Ronnie hiding in a basement of a long-abandoned home, scribbling on the walls, or doing tarot readings in the park.
Want to join our Hell Is Empty Producer team? The upper-level tiers are the best ways to become involved, and the best way to change your fate. 👻
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
"They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might."
Hell and Heaven have been used for millenniums as an answer to our eternal question: "Where do we go when we die?" Either glorious white pearly gates, or the fiery damnation of hell, pitchforks, demons and all. But in our new age, this black and white depiction of death doesn't seem to match our ever-changing society. With conservative politicians weaponizing the verbiage of the bible to fit their bigotry, while many of those outside religion create their found-family and community, can we say for certain we know what's coming afterwards? Do those claiming we're going to Hell for our morals or our lifestyle even know what their claiming, or is it just a projection of fear, diluted through generations until their hateful rhetoric means nothing?
Take Grace, for example. Our protagonist is devout. She was faithful to her husband. She was a follower of the Lord and never strayed, just as her parents and their parents before her. She detests the conduct of those who wander from the path God laid out for us. And while she's making that clear to a gay couple in the liquor store just how she feels, a car comes barreling down the road, ending her argument and her life. If it weren't her, she'd say: "God's timing is always right."
When Grace's eyes open again. She struggles to find understanding in her new habitat. This isn't the pearly gates of heaven. This isn't even the fiery pits of Hell. This abyss, the purgatory, is cold and isolating. The afterlife is nothing like she predicted.
Stills from various productions: (top/left to bottom/right) The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Hereditary, The Substance, Annihilation, The Invisible Man, Altered Carbon, Weapons, Stranger Things, The Witch
Please head to the "Team" page to learn more about our main producers!
We are excited to get the ball rolling on our adventurous short, Hell Is Empty. With your generous contribution, we can put the pieces together to give this story the budget and the craftsmanship it deserves!
Our goal of 30k is what we believe is needed for this project to be made with nuance and expertise, but the product will only grow if we reach out Stretch Goals! They are as follows:
And once again, thank you so much for your consideration for our campaign. We're so excited to put this piece together. After your contribution, we'll gladly send updates as we approach production!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast and Crew Payment
Costs $10,000
A large portion of our budget will go to paying our cast and crew fair wages.
Locations/Effects Budget
Costs $10,000
To get that eerie landscape, we'll need to book locations, and pay for the extra practical effects to perfectly enhance each scene.
Camera/Lighting/Sound/Editing
Costs $10,000
All that you need to put a project together. To get professional workers and their equipment, we'll need to pay them professional wages.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
We are a team of passionate, independent filmmakers who strive to make art that is compelling, entertaining, and of course: within the budget provided to us by our generous backers.
Before you contribute, here's a bit about us:
Sam Thor is a writer and director, who's thrilled to take on the mantle of this project and steer it towards it's triumphant conclusion. This is the second short film directed by Sam, as STARPOWER, Sam's first, recently finished its festival circuit, airing at NewFilmmakers NY, Atlanta's All The Laughs Comedy Awards, New York Long Island International Film Festival, and many others. Though it was a dark comedy, it gave Sam the confirmation that he was ready to dive in to his true filmmaking love: surreal horror. Hell Is Empty may be dark, but it's an act of love not just for the people it addresses, but for independent filmmaking as a whole. He humbly thanks you for your contribution.
Autumn Palen is a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she earned a BFA in Film & TV Production. Autumn co-produced and lensed Musiques, a short documentary about six musical groups recording a vinyl record in French and Louisiana Creole, which premiered at the 2025 New Orleans Film Fest. She wrote a horror short, Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done, which has screened at Screamfest in New Orleans and Los Angeles, as well as Nightmares Film Festival.
Daria is an entertainment research professional who has worked with the team previously, as an associate producer on STARPOWER. She also has experience in writing, earning accolades for her queer historical gothic horror pilot. Now, she looks forward to her trip into the underworld on HELL IS EMPTY, and she will be writing a Dante-style expose on the place when she gets back!
Piper is incredibly excited to be a part of the team for HELL IS EMPTY and getting the chance to bring this project to life (to the afterlife?) with director/writer Sam Thor. This will be her first time acting as an associate producer and she's looking forward to employing all of her administrative skills she's acquired over the years working in music licensing. She is hoping that this production can inspire her to one day be able to write anything to completion so she can maybe produce one of her own short films! Or publish a book! Perhaps a play? She's open to any possibility that keeps her creative and working on projects she loves and of course, supporting independent filmmaking in Los Angeles.
Ronnie Toone is a writer and performer from New York, currently living quite pleasantly (though cheaply) somewhere in Los Angeles. This is their second project alongside director Sam Thor, but worry not for their constitution: Ronnie finds a sick sort of delight in exploring the murky, drowned corners of the afterlife, and Hell Is Empty fits in perfectly. You can find Ronnie hiding in a basement of a long-abandoned home, scribbling on the walls, or doing tarot readings in the park.
Want to join our Hell Is Empty Producer team? The upper-level tiers are the best ways to become involved, and the best way to change your fate. 👻