The Haunted Camera Poster

The Haunted Camera 1938

12 min📅 1938-01-01

In the summer of 1938, two teenage girls seize their moment of freedom by turning their boredom into a creative adventure. With her parents' blessing, 15-year-old Mary invites her best friend Martha for a sun-soaked holiday—and together they decide to make their very own film.

Director: Mary Kem

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Haunted Camera (1938) about?

Two teenage girls plan to make a home movie during summer vacation, only to find their plans disrupted by escaped convicts who use ghostly tricks to scare them away. The story blends lighthearted creativity with sudden suspense as reality intrudes on their playful fantasy.

Who directed The Haunted Camera?

The Haunted Camera was directed by Mary Kem, a filmmaker whose contribution to early cinema remains a fascinating footnote in 1930s film history.

Who stars in The Haunted Camera?

The main cast includes the central teen characters played by unknown actors, as full credits for the film are not documented.

Is The Haunted Camera (1938) worth watching?

At just 12 minutes, The Haunted Camera offers a curious blend of family drama and suspense that's more intriguing than groundbreaking. While its age and brevity limit its appeal, the hand-colored finale gives it a unique visual charm worth exploring for silent film enthusiasts.

How long is The Haunted Camera?

The Haunted Camera has a runtime of 12 minutes.

About The Haunted Camera (1938) — A 12-Minute Family Drama with Thrilling Twists

In the summer of 1938, two teenage girls seize their moment of freedom by turning their boredom into a creative adventure. With her parents' blessing, 15-year-old Mary invites her best friend Martha for a sun-soaked holiday—and together they decide to make their very own film. But their idyllic escape is interrupted when two convicts break out of the nearby prison, determined to scare the girls away with ghostly antics. What begins as a playful summer project suddenly collides with real danger, blending youthful imagination with unexpected suspense. The Haunted Camera (1938), directed by Mary Kem, drifts between lighthearted family drama and eerie intrigue, capturing the contrast between youthful dreams and the darker edges of reality.

As the film builds toward its climax, the girls' improvised movie set becomes the unlikely stage for a surreal showdown. A hand-colored inferno brings the story full circle, leaving audiences with a hauntingly vivid finale that lingers like the flicker of an old film reel. This short but atmospheric drama explores themes of adventure, fear, and the blurred line between fantasy and reality—all wrapped in the nostalgic charm of 1930s cinema.