The Maiden tells a story centered on a house, its resident spirit, and the connection between them. It’s certainly a haunted house narrative—though it seems more focused on a cursed piece of jewelry. The film opens with a brief, 43-second sequence establishing the atmosphere for the subsequent nine minutes. A young girl wearing a distinctive necklace is seen fleeing from what appears to be an unpleasant, elderly nanny. As she exits through the front doors, we understand that this woman is far more than just a caregiver. Much later in time, the house has fallen into disrepair, but real estate agent Lucy—played effectively by Alia Raelynn—only considers it a potential paycheck. She enters the house to start cleaning away the surface dirt before showing it to prospective buyers. It doesn't take her long to discover that same familiar necklace, and then our unsettling presence begins to reappear. Lucy isn’t easily frightened off by minor supernatural occurrences, especially when there’s a buyer eager to view the property within an hour. She starts tidying up the remnants of some kind of ritual when she hears a noise coming from a water bucket. As anyone would in a supernatural horror film, she peers over the edge. Naturally, the malevolent entity inside attempts to drown her by pulling her into the bucket. As Lucy lifts her head from the water, the creature snatches the necklace from around her neck. After placing a rug over the spilled water, we see the prospective buyer inspecting the house. Lucy does everything she can to finalize the sale, and after some negotiation, they reach an agreement. That’s when the buyer's daughter emerges from the back of the property. The man sends his young daughter into the house without any hesitation, and Lucy decides against stopping her, pausing for a moment before doing so. Just as she is about to enter, she spots a necklace on the floor, picks it up, and is then pulled inside before anyone can react. While the story works well enough for a film of this length, that’s not even the most impressive aspect. The special effects and lighting are exceptionally smooth and seamless—though they aren't the best part either. The cinematography and editing in The Maiden truly stand out. The quick cuts are nicely balanced with longer, more drawn-out shots, creating an effectively unsettling feel. The Maiden is among the better short films I’ve seen recently, and it’s worth making time for.

Source on TMDB