Matchbox

Matchbox is a horror thriller centered on John, a young office employee struggling with exhaustion and pressure while working late into the night. To cope with the stress of his deadlines, he utilizes a familiar ritual for relief. However, this small escape begins to distort his reality, making familiar surroundings feel strange and altering his perception of time as his source of comfort turns against him.

The film was written, produced, and directed by Peter Challis. It is the second of three films he directed in 2026, following Keep it Down and preceding A Friend to All: The Life and Story of Dean Batt Cleverly. The short film has a runtime of four minutes and was produced in the United States. The cast features Jax Jessop in the role of John and Nate Dodge as Death.