In the Wake TV Producers Shayna and Julia discuss a chilling short film from Sundance's Short Film Program 5 that takes modern dating anxiety to its darkest conclusion: a curious young woman attends the funeral of a man she met on a dating app to find out what happened to him—and why he suddenly went silent.

When Ghosting Becomes Literal: This short film taps into the unique horror of digital-age dating: the constant uncertainty, the unanswered messages, the strangers we invite into our lives based on curated profiles and brief conversations. But instead of the typical "he ghosted me" story, this woman discovers her match didn't disappear by choice—he died. Her decision to attend his funeral becomes an investigation into who he really was, what happened, and whether she ever knew him at all.

Why This Matters: Dating apps have created new forms of intimacy and new forms of danger, particularly for women navigating platforms where scams, assault, and violence are documented realities. This film captures the existential dread of modern connection: How well do we really know the people we meet online? What happens when digital relationships collide with real-world tragedy? And why do we feel compelled to seek closure from people who were barely more than strangers?

Watch the full conversation as Shayna and Julia unpack the film's exploration of digital-age grief, the dark side of dating apps, and why short films are perfect for capturing modern anxieties.
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