NEON Expands Horror Short ‘MORA’ Into a Feature Film

Viral horror continues to prove it’s one of the fastest paths to the big screen—and Sam Evenson’s MORA is the latest breakout to make the jump.

According to Variety, NEON has tapped Sam Evenson to write and direct a feature-length adaptation of his chilling short film MORA.

Originally released online just a year ago, the 12-minute short has already racked up over 4.3 million views on YouTube—earning a reputation for its eerie concept and unsettling execution.

In MORA, “a displaced artist becomes haunted by a mysterious woman after experimenting with an AI model tainted by disturbing dark web imagery.” The premise blends modern tech paranoia with psychological horror, creating a story that feels both current and deeply unnerving.

The feature adaptation is bringing together a stacked producing team, including Steven Schneider (Late Night with the Devil, The Long Walk) and Roy Lee (IT, Weapons) for Spooky Pictures, alongside Ken Kao and Josh Rosenbaum of Waypoint Entertainment’s Cweature Features. Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple will also produce through Iron Ocean Productions, with NEON backing the project.

Evenson, who regularly releases horror content on his YouTube channel Grimoire Horror, now joins the growing list of filmmakers who’ve turned viral shorts into major studio features.

MORA is officially headed to the big screen—and if the short is any indication, it’s going to be a nightmare worth watching.