DIY Home Maintenance Gets Terrifying In The Stop-Motion Short ‘IT Came From Beneath The Drain’

For many of us, the idea of doing our own handiwork is a frightening prospect. In Adam Ciolfi’s stop-motion animated short, IT Came From Beyond The Drain, that fear takes on a monstrous form as a tentacled beast tortures a homeowner and his faithful canine companion.

Featuring highly detailed sets and impressive puppets, the short has a nostalgic 1970s-80s monster movie feel to it that is enhanced by a slime-covered title card, a dramatic orchestra soundtrack, and thrilling sound effects. Every part of IT Came From Beyond The Drain feels familiar in its tone yet inspired and original in its execution.

According to Ciolfi, his filmmaking process is less linear and more improvised. On his website, where he posts regular updates about his work and musings about art, he explains:

Sculpting characters and designing a film while simultaneously trying to lock down the story has proven to be a very productive approach. As I move back and forth between the practical aspects of design and crafting a script, I have found that each process is inspiring the other. I find it useful to not become rigid in my film making process regardless of how successful previous efforts may have been. Changing up your approach can lead to all kinds of interesting possibilities.