Jan 15, 2024

DIY home maintenance gets scary in the stop-motion short film “IT Came From Beneath The Drain”.

For many of us, the idea of doing our own handiwork is terrifying. In Adam Ciorffi's stop-motion animation “IT Came From The Drain,” that horror is depicted in monstrous form as a tentacled beast tortures a homeowner and his faithful canine companion.

Featuring meticulously crafted sets and impressive puppets, the short film has the feel of a nostalgic monster movie from the 1970s and 1980s, with its slime-covered title card, dramatic orchestral soundtrack, and thrilling sound effects.IT Came From The Drain is familiar in tone, yet inspired and original in its execution.

According to Ciorffi, his filmmaking process is not linear, but rather improvisational. On his website, he posts regular updates about his work and reflections on his art:

Sculpting the characters and designing the film while at the same time trying to fix the story has proven to be a very productive approach. As I went back and forth between the practical aspects of design and screenwriting, I found that each process inspired the other. Regardless of how successful we have been in the past, I think it is beneficial not to stick to one filmmaking process over another. By changing our approach, we can create all sorts of interesting possibilities.