THE NINTH STEP
Cinematic Mystery Short
The Ninth Step is a cinematic reinterpretation of the Dyatlov Pass incident, blending psychological horror with grounded historical realism. Set against the unforgiving backdrop of a frozen wilderness, the story follows a group of expeditioners who vanish under increasingly unexplainable circumstances except one sole survivor.
Client
Alterverse Studio x Runway ML
Services
Visual Design + Sound Design AI filmmaking
Industries
Film
Date
April 2025
Fully dubbed in Russian, the film remains fiercely authentic to the Soviet era, from meticulously crafted 1950s winter expedition gear to era-accurate props, dialect, and visual tone. Shot in a style reminiscent of Tarkovsky and early Soviet thrillers, the film unfolds through long, meditative takes, grainy textures, and naturalistic lighting that conjure a haunting sense of isolation. The sound design is crafted for total immersion, weaving together the moan of icy winds, the ghostly crackle of distant radio signals, and the faint thrum of unseen machinery, creating a sonic landscape that draws the audience into the film’s unsettling atmosphere.
The Ninth Step rejects the modern horror approach, offering no easy answers. Instead, it lingers in the unexplained in the cold spaces between logic and fear. The film refuses jump scares or exposition, choosing instead to disturb through atmosphere, ambiguity, and the slow unraveling of certainty.