How’s this for a fun Halloween treat? Pauly Shore and Nick Swardson have teamed up for a horror short with a pretty simple survival rule: Whatever happens, don’t freak out. If you think these two maniacs can do that, even for a second? You’ve got another thing coming. And it doesn’t end well for either of them.
Remain Calm is a 13-minute horror comedy that puts our two comedians behind the counter of a gas station on the night shift. Shore plays Matt, while Swardson plays Erwin, coworkers who already have their share of problems before a mysterious government agent arrives with a warning about something far worse than a bad shift.
That agent is played by Doug Jones, the legendary creature performer known for roles including the Pale Man in Pan’s Labyrinth and Billy Butcherson in Hocus Pocus. He has some unpleasant news for the pair: A monstrous creature is on the loose, and it devours anyone who shows signs of stress, fear, or anxiety. Staying calm sounds easy enough until the thing actually shows up.
The creature, known as Mr. Frett, is played by Kevin Keppy, who appeared in Smile. Practical effects from Gorgazma bring the monster to life, giving the short a proper creature-feature centerpiece.
Jake Lewis wrote and directed Remain Calm, reuniting with Shore after their previous collaboration on The Court Jester, in which Shore portrayed fitness personality Richard Simmons. Lewis said the idea came from the absurdity of being expected to respond to truly horrifying situations with forced positivity.
That premise gives the short a timely satirical edge. In a world where everyone is encouraged to stay upbeat no matter what is happening around them, Remain Calm takes that attitude to a grotesque extreme. Here, a positive outlook isn’t just good advice. It might be the only thing keeping you alive.
Shore was also enthusiastic about working with Swardson, describing the pair’s chemistry as a highlight of the production. He said he’d be interested in returning if the short ever became a feature film. Swardson, meanwhile, told Collider that he has always been a horror fan and wanted to challenge himself as an actor.
For fans who know Shore and Swardson primarily from their comedy work, Remain Calm offers a chance to see them deal with a very different kind of nightmare. Whether they can keep their cool when faced with a creature that feeds on fear is another question entirely. Remain Calm is available to watch now on YouTube.
