Temporary Death (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Temporary Death is a nine-minute horror short about a man who records his second suicide attempt after mysteriously returning as someone else. Believing he can choose his next identity, he involves two friends under strict instructions not to interfere. The experiment soon moves beyond his control.

Temporary Death is a 2026 horror short written and directed by Robbie Smith. Running for nine minutes, it follows a man who treats death and identity as part of a dangerous experiment.

With two friends filming under orders to stay out of the way, the setup places observation and intervention in direct conflict. As the experiment develops, its consequences become increasingly horrifying without revealing where the story ultimately leads.

Temporary Death movie details

Story without spoilers

The film centers on a man documenting his second attempt at taking his own life. He has already survived a first death and inexplicably returned as another person, leading him to believe that he can determine who he becomes next.

Two friends, Clark and Randy, record the experiment while following strict instructions not to intervene. Their role as witnesses becomes part of the film’s central situation as events spiral into something far more frightening than planned. The premise combines a confined recording setup with questions of identity, control and the consequences of treating death as an experiment.

What to expect

Temporary Death is classified as horror and uses a brief nine-minute runtime to focus on a stark, high-concept premise. The story involves suicide, unexplained transformation and an experiment conducted under restrictive rules, so the material is likely to feel intense and unsettling. Its short format suggests a concentrated narrative rather than an expansive account of its characters or world.

Cast and creative team

Robbie Smith writes and directs Temporary Death and plays Robbie. Clark Little appears as Clark, Randy Staat plays Randy, and Ian Emslie is credited as Dad. The supplied credits identify Smith as both the film’s director and writer.

• Robbie Smith as Robbie
• Clark Little as Clark
• Randy Staat as Randy
• Ian Emslie as Dad

Release and production context

Temporary Death is listed as a 2026 release with a release date of October 2, 2026. It is a nine-minute horror film. The supplied information does not specify a country, spoken language or production company.

Reported production figures:
Budget $200

Movies Dock view

Temporary Death presents a compact horror premise built around repeated death, changing identity and the limits placed on those witnessing the experiment. Its short runtime and focused setup make it a concise entry in the genre, while the available synopsis leaves the outcome undisclosed.

Film data:
TMDB