‘So, what are you running from?’
Combining horror and comedy is a tough balancing act. Too much of one negates the other. There are good examples out there, of course. Shaun of the Dead, An American Werewolf in London and the Happy Death Day franchise come to mind, for example. On the whole however, it’s better to stay in one lane. Scare Me, a Shudder original from writer-director-actor Josh Ruben tries to have its cake and eat it with varying levels of success…
Fred (Ruben) is a down-on-his-luck aspiring writer who rents a log cabin in the woods one weekend to spark some inspiration. Things don’t go exactly according to plan when a snow storm and subsequent power cut results in Fred being stranded with only Fanny (Aya Cash), another writer on the hunt for inspiration, for company. The two of them hole up in Fred’s cabin and tells scary stories to pass the time.
A pretty derivative premise on paper then, but it must be said that Ruben and his cast do a great job in creating something unique out of a familiar conceit. Both Ruben and particularly Cash commit fully to the concept, and their skill as performers combined with some innovative use of sound and lighting ensures that Scare Me remains mostly compelling throughout. Sure, some people will find the characters annoying, but without giving too much away, that’s kinda the point. The introduction of Chris Redd’s hyperactive pizza delivery guy in the third act also ensures that things don’t get too stale.
Ruben’s script has some interesting things to say about power dynamics and gender politics, although this doesn’t really lead anywhere by the end. By making Fanny the more successful and powerful of the two, despite being younger and a woman, Ruben challenges perceived conventions on who is allowed to be an accomplished author, particularly in the horror genre.
Most horror fans will enjoy Scare Me, especially the various Easter eggs to other horror movies, but this one is for genre fans only.