The Herd – A Short Film

by Jennie Richards · Published April 10, 2018 · Updated August 31, 2022

This award-winning short film replaces female cows with female humans, and by doing so hopes to promote a greater understanding and comprehension of the suffering that is routinely inflicted upon cows in the dairy industry. In the film, a number of kidnapped and trafficked women find themselves imprisoned in a squalid medical facility—and escape—on any level is seemingly impossible as the women are condemned to a life of enforced servitude at the whims of their captors; for one reason only—their milk.

Both humans and animals feel pain, feel physical and emotional suffering, feel strong emotions, are compelled by strong desires, seek to nurture their young, recoil from being hurt, and will fight valiantly to live and don’t want to die. We’re the same, humans and animals, we just look different. This analogy is powerfully portrayed in the film.

The film has won many awards and was selected by a number of prestigious film festivals.

WARNING: Disturbing scenes right from the start.

Film Awards

Best Short Film – Festival Boca do Inferno 2 (Brazil) Nov 2015
Best Cinematography – Bart Sienkiewicz – British Horror Film Festival (UK) Nov 2015
Best Short Horror Film – Celluloid Screams (UK) Oct 2015
Best Foreign Short film – Russian Annual Horror Film Awards (Russia) Jan 2015
Best Horror Short – London Independent Film Festival (UK) April 2015
Best Horror /Sci Fi – Sunderland Shorts (UK) July 2015

More About the Film

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Learn More About Film Director Melanie Light

Watch the Trailer