Vivieno Caldinelli directs Scared Shitless. The film stars Steven Ogg, Daniel Doheny, Chelsea Clark, Marcia Bennett and Mark McKinney.
Yes. That is indeed the name of the film.
Horror comedies always have a tricky balancing act. Do they lean more into the comedy or the horror elements? Some films struggle to find that perfect balance, but thankfully, the aptly named Scared Shitless rides this line with ease.
The film keeps things simple regarding the story, which allows its humour and horror to run wild. The film follows a plumber and his germophobic son, who attempt to deal with an alien-like creature wreaking havoc in the pipes of an apartment complex. That is everything you need to know for this film, and it doesn’t waste any time delving into its bizarre premise. The 76-minute runtime flies by and doesn’t need to bog itself down with needless exposition or jokes that don’t work. It gets straight to the point and doesn’t try to be anything more than it needs to be, which is perfect for a horror comedy such as this.
The film always knows just how far to push its jokes and blood, having both work in service of each other rather than fighting against themselves. There’s also a nice variety to the comedy on display; for every dumb joke the film delivers, a clever line or two is always slipped in for good measure. Plus, the creature effects and blood do not disappoint, either. The gore gets more over the top as the film goes on, but it makes it work within its limitations. That said, the creature itself is very effective whenever it is shown.
However, there’s a surprising amount of heart to be found amongst the toilet humour and gory effects. The central relationship between the father and son, played here by Steven Ogg and Daniel Doheny, keeps the film grounded alongside all the blood. Their chemistry works well and becomes more convincing throughout the film. There is the occasional line delivery that falls flat, but it is few and far between. For the most part, Scared Shitless fully commits to its goal, and the entire cast seems to understand the assignment as well. Even some of the weirder characters within the film make sense within the context of the film and don’t stick out as much as they should.
Scared Shitless knows exactly what it is and sticks to its guns. It seamlessly blends its horror elements with its comedy, resulting in a final product that is very rewarding and has the potential to become a cult classic in years to come.
