It Glows was shot as a small, one-day production designed to feel like recovered footage. The goal was to keep everything as grounded and immediate as possible, letting the performances and camera perspective drive the tension.

We used a handheld camcorder to capture a raw, observational feel, with frequent switching between standard and infrared modes. The infrared imagery became a key storytelling device, revealing elements of the environment and the “glowing presence” that were never visible to the naked eye.

Most of the film was shot on location in natural wooded areas and an abandoned structure, using available light to maintain authenticity. The limited setup allowed the focus to stay on improvisational energy between the actors and the evolving sense of unease as the night progressed.

Rather than relying heavily on post-production effects, we leaned into in-camera movement, lighting shifts, and subtle digital enhancement to create the film’s supernatural elements.

The result is a found-footage horror short that blurs the line between performance and documentation, where what the camera sees begins to feel more real than what the characters believe.