Scared Shitless is having its international premiere at FrightFest this year and is guaranteed to get a laugh or two from a very specific toilet humour-loving audience. Paying homage to the classic creature features of old, Scared Shitless knows exactly who should be watching this film and leans fully into the wacky sensibilities of crude gross-out comedy without fixating too much on character development. This isn't to say that some legendary talent doesn't portray the characters, however.
Steven Ogg, best known for his roles in The Walking Dead and Snowpiercer as well as the voice of Trevor in GTA V, leads the cast as plumber Don. This (mostly) lovable father to the germophobic Sonny, played by Daniel Doheny (Day of the Dead, Brand New Cherry Flavor), is struggling to connect to his son since the death of his mother from a stomach bug. In an attempt to shake Sonny out of his newly developed germophobe ways, Don decides to take him to work and get his hands dirty, as literally as possible. Little do they know; it isn't just a few number twos they'll be coming across in the blocked toilets of the apartment complex. Throw in the further comedic chops of Mark McKinney (Superstore) as the creator of the creature in the pipes, and a peculiar cold open with Julien Richings (Supernatural), and this film is well on its way to being a silly but memorable time for all.
For those who are concerned that they're walking into a film with long lingering shots of bathroom ‘business', don't be. Somehow this film uses toilet humour engrossed with people's plumbing without showing a single glimpse of anything brown to flush down. Instead, the focus is on the creature and the kills that follow, brought to life beautifully by Steve Kostanski. The monster is a classic worm species, something akin to Slither or Tremors, with a flawlessly slimy design that goes far to add to the grossness. As a film that focuses heavily on the visuals, it's no surprise that the grisly special effects are fantastic and in abundance. Forget how much blood a human body actually holds, Scared Shitless harks back to the classic 80s mentality of the bloodier the better, with lashings of blood flooding scenes accompanied by gorgeous gore.
A well-rounded comedy horror with mostly likeable characters and enough of the dirty stuff to have audiences giggling like teenagers, Scared Shitless is a fun romp into the world of plumbing. It may not be to everyone's tastes, but certainly will satisfy those looking for a good blood-filled, killer worm, potty-mouthed adventure.
Scared Shitless had its international premiere at FrightFest 2024 on Monday, August 26.
