As she looks around, she notes that one mirror in particular seems off. She steps in front of it, and her reflection mimics her without issue. Satisfied, she turns away, but when she quickly whips her head back, the Reflection doesn’t turn fast enough. It is out of sync. Terrified, she screams and runs, but the sound of knocking on the glass forces her to stop and look back. There stands her Reflection, staring out at her.

Curiosity ultimately overcomes fear, and our doomed heroine slowly approaches her misbehaving mirror image. The Reflection seems to want to play copycat, and the Ballerina complies. However, the Reflection’s dancing is no match for the Ballerina's skill. Frustrated, the Reflection stomps its foot down at an awkward angle—instantly snapping the Ballerina’s ankle.

The Ballerina cries out in pain and collapses to the floor. She desperately tries to drag herself away, attempting to reach her bag and her glowing cell phone. The Reflection watches with morbid curiosity before deciding to play more tricks; it bends its own fingers backward, forcing the Ballerina’s fingers to mimic the motion with nauseating, cracking sounds that make her scream.

In desperation the Ballerina forces herself to her feet just as the Reflection delivers the final, malicious act. It twists its own head, spinning the ballerina’s head and breaking her neck.

The Ballerina drops to the ground in a lifeless heap, while the Reflection proceeds to dance clumsily in the mirror, entirely unbothered by the murder it has just committed as the credits slowly roll.

Body horror is one of the most viscerally painful subgenres to watch, and The Ballerina will have you pulling your feet up for safety and balling your hands into fists to protect your own fingers. The tactile intensity of this short pushes it to the next level, leaving an indelible impression on the viewer.

The film is exceptionally well-paced, and Valeska Miller’s performance is spot-on. The film belongs entirely to her; she must play two distinct versions of the same character—one a talented, graceful dancer, and the other an evil, clumsy double—both of which she executes perfectly.

Her performance along with Aaron Fradkins direction make this horror short a classic that will undoubtedly continue to gleefully disturb horror fans for years.