Fck’n Nuts

By: Maggie Stankiewicz 

Grab your Epi-Pen and settle in for the surrealist nightmare that is Fck’n Nuts. Director Sam Fox’s gleefully strange short film interrogates the horrors of dating and compatibility in less than ten minutes by presenting viewers with the law of entropy (and nuts). Sometimes, everything that can go wrong – will go wrong.

Sandy (Maddie Nichols) is a young woman who experiences the many woes of dating in the modern world. Boys come and go in a disappointing production line where even the most promising of candidates just don’t work out. Until Dan (Vincent Stalba). He’s oddly charming and hopelessly devoted to Sandy. Dan arrives at Sandy’s house unexpectedly to declare his fidelity and to take the next step in their relationship by meeting Sandy’s parents.

Introducing Dan to her parents is an idea that brings great discomfort to Sandy, but Dan’s insistence wears her down. This is where the horror of Fck’n Nuts begins, as so many genre films do, with a man ignoring the clear boundaries of a woman. Upon entering Sandy’s home, Dan is greeted by hanging roosters, eerie lighting and a bad case of hyperhidrosis. The trouble that awaits Dan and Sandy is unlike anything you’ve ever seen in a short film.

The fastidiously crafted atmosphere of Sandy’s home interior accentuates our young lovers’ fate. The moody, cool strobe lighting and eclectic claustrophobic set dressings stir up a sense of discomfort within the viewer while a catchy synth track pushes the narrative forward with an air of mystery. The entire short feels like something of an anachronism – blending elements of the 50s, 80s and beyond in a disorienting cluster that simultaneously delights and confounds the viewer.

The less audiences know about the horrors of Sandy’s home – the better. Just know that writer-director Sam Fox cements her unique creative vision with Fck’n Nuts, ensuring that it not only immerses audiences into the strange world but also fully lives up to its title. The creative team behind Fck’n Nuts is known for their playful approach to psychedelic and experimental filmmaking with Joe Badon (The Blood of the Dinosaurs) as Creative Director, supporting Sam Fox’s specific vision.

The premise of Fck’n Nuts is definitely a little nutty and may have collapsed under the care of different creators. However, the end result is that Fck’n Nuts is gory and gleeful and will definitely make you think twice about eating a Payday…but the cringe is well worth it.