Indie Horror: Scare Me (2020) & Make Cool Sh!t

Okay, first things first. I’ve been neglecting you guys for a little bit here and I have a pretty lame explanation. I got busy.

No, really though—I have been incredibly busy, but I’m a bit disappointed because I have such a huge backlog of content that I’ll be catching up for months (maybe). I’ll sincerely try not to overload you guys here, so as I start finishing things up, I’ll schedule them to post here.

On to new business. Are you a horror fan? Are you a horror-comedy fan? Well then boy, do I have a movie for you.

Make Cool Sh!t, Scare Me (2020) and how my ego exploded

So, there I was checking my e-mail early last week when I saw that I had received an e-mail asking me if I would like to conduct an interview that would cover a podcast by the name of Make Cool Sh!t. I hadn’t heard of it and let me tell you, my friends, that in and of itself is a tragedy. A tragedy that I refuse to let go unremedied.

So last week, I hopped on Zoom with Aaron and Josh and we had a human conversation—check out the end of this article for the link to the interview.

Check out the Season Finale of Make Cool Sh!t

As of this posting, I myself, have not yet had a chance to listen to this one—but if it’s anything like the previous seven, I’ll be bummed out when it’s over.

Make Cool Sh!t: Season One – Make a Movie [Podcast]

Season one of Make Cool Sh!t was dedicated to following the film-making process of an indie horror-comedy movie by the name of Scare Me (2020). – Mary Farnstrom

It’s a podcast hosted by writer, actor, and comedian Aaron Kheifets that focused the first season of its show on the process of indie film-making. Specifically, the making of indie horror-comedy Scare Me (2020) which just so happened to be the first feature film of the writer, director, and actor Josh Ruben. More on that later.

Aaron takes us on an engaging journey as we follow an indie filmmaker who is putting his entire career on the line to finally realize his creative vision. Despite the seriousness of the topic, he manages to keep the mood of the podcast light, witty, and hilarious.

Summary

An exhilarating journey through the indie film-making process. The ups, the downs, and everything in between.

---

Scare Me (2020) Official Trailer

Scare Me (2020)

Scare Me (2020) this horror comedy is witty and creepy, without relying on jump-scares and gratuitous violence to convey its message.

Mary Farnstrom

Film Synopsis: During a power outage, two strangers tell scary stories. The more Fred (Josh Ruben) and Fanny (Aya Cash) commit to their tales, the more the stories come to life in the dark of a Catskills cabin. The horrors of reality manifest when Fred confronts his ultimate fear: Fanny is the better storyteller.

Fred feels as if his life is in a downward spiral and just wants to get away from it all so he can focus on something that means a lot to him: his first book. This narrative of a man who feels spurned by the women he has met in his life is scary and real—something that I could easily see happening in the real world. A narrative of a man who unwittingly falls under the spell of toxic masculinity and wants to believe that he is entitled to things he hasn’t earned.

While the modern, desensitized, CGI-loving horror community might tend to favor stories with gratuitous sex and violence, we might all be able to see a little bit of ourselves in Fred. Maybe that’s what truly makes this a horror film.

Summary

A fun, yet uncanny representation of what can happen when we let our egos get in the way as hubris takes control.

My Interview with Josh Ruben and Aaron Kheifets

So, while my ego didn’t quite explode, this was an incredible opportunity to discuss the mindset behind the creation of horror films. In a world where we are constantly calling into question the morality of the people we patronize, this interview provided an in-depth look at how we can still recognize the need to have strong ethics even in the face of stress and seemingly insurmountable odds.

But don’t let me keep you, check out this interview I conducted with these two rad creative guys, then subscribe to my YouTube channel!