Sound Designer Needed for Dark Psychological Horror Short – Collaborative & Experimental

Sound Designer is needed in London, United Kingdom.

I’ve recently completed filming a psychological horror short film and am now moving into post-production. I will be editing the picture myself, but I’m looking for a creative sound designer to collaborate with me closely on building the full soundscape from scratch. This is not just a technical role — I’m looking for someone who is genuinely interested in story, tone, and atmosphere, and who wants to help shape the emotional and psychological impact of the film through sound. The film leans into psychological horror — subtle, unsettling, and atmospheric rather than relying on obvious or cliché horror cues. I’m very open creatively: whether that’s experimental, minimal, abstract, or more traditional approaches, I’m looking for someone with ideas and taste. Ideally, I’d like to work in person for a few days to a week (London/Southend area) — spending focused time together crafting the sound, experimenting, and refining the tone collaboratively. The project is self-funded and I’m happy to pay a fair rate for the right person, especially someone who is passionate about the material and wants to be creatively involved. If this sounds like your kind of project, I’d love to hear from you — please send examples of your work, particularly anything narrative or atmospheric.

Budget range:
Small project ($750 – 1,500 USD)

Examples:
I don’t yet have a locked cut to share, but the film is a psychological horror piece focused on atmosphere, tension, and unease rather than jump scares.

In terms of sound, I’m drawn to:

• Subtle, unsettling atmospheres rather than obvious horror cues
• Silence and negative space being used as tension
• Distorted or abstract sound elements that reflect psychology rather than reality
• Minimal but impactful use of sound to build dread

Tone references (for sound/feeling rather than exact style):

• The Killing of a Sacred Deer
• Hereditary
• Under the Skin

I’m very open creatively and would love to explore ideas collaboratively — this is not about following a fixed template, but about discovering the sound of the film together.

Who are you, and what do you do?
I’m a London-based actor, writer and director with a strong passion for cinema and storytelling. I’ve made two short films to date — The Neighbours and The Lonely Body (both on IMDb) — and I’m currently moving into post-production on my latest psychological horror short. I’ll be editing the film myself alongside my collaborator Tim Brown, who I regularly work with. I’m very hands-on creatively and really care about the details — particularly tone, atmosphere, and how each element contributes to the overall feeling of the film. I’m especially excited about the potential for sound in this project. I believe it could have a really distinctive and immersive soundscape, and I’m looking to work closely with someone who shares that enthusiasm and wants to build something genuinely cinematic together.

In what capacity are you hiring?
Personal project

Where are you in the hiring process?
I will possibly make a paid hire

What type of work is this?
Single job with potential follow up work

What experience level is needed?:
Expert