Horror movies have a thing for rules: don't look, don't make a sound, don't go outside. Now, a new short film adds another one to the list: don't get scared. Remain Calm, a 13-minute creature feature starring Pauly Shore, Nick Swardson, and Doug Jones, is here just in time for Halloween, and it's the perfect bite-size treat for fans of monster mayhem.
The short, which we're thrilled to debut exclusively, follows Matt (Shore) and Erwin (Swardson), two gas station clerks stuck on the night shift and already at each other's throats. Their bickering is interrupted by a mysterious government agent (Jones, the man behind the Pale Man in Pan's Labyrinth and Billy Butcherson in Hocus Pocus), who delivers a chilling warning: a monstrous creature is on the loose, and it devours anyone who shows even a hint of stress, fear, or anxiety. The only way to survive? Stay perfectly calm. Easy, right? Not when you're face-to-face with Mr. Frett (Kevin Keppy, Smile), a twisted abomination brought to life with practical effects by Gorgazma.
Written and directed by Jake Lewis, Remain Calm is a departure from his usual biographical shorts, which include pieces on Robin Williams and a meeting between Jack Nicholson and John Belushi. But the concept was too irresistible to pass up. "The idea of having to react to truly horrifying situations with aggressive positivity was really funny to me," Lewis told us. "Right now, it feels like we're all trying our hardest to be positive, posting selfies and 'Get Ready With Me' videos to ignore the fact that the world is on fire. Remain Calm is just a metaphor for our society at large."
Shore, who previously worked with Lewis on The Court Jester (where he played Richard Simmons), was eager to reunite. "I was excited to work with writer & director Jake Lewis again. We had so much fun together on The Court Jester where I played Richard Simmons, and I was equally excited to work alongside Nick Swardson, one of my favorite comedy brothers," Shore said. "The chemistry between Nick and me was awesome, and I'd love to work with him again if there's ever a feature version of Remain Calm. Doug Jones and Kevin Keppy were also amazing. I hope everyone enjoys this awesome 13-minute short film."
Swardson echoed the sentiment, adding, "I was impressed with Jake's work and have always been a horror fan, so it made sense. Pauly is an old friend, so I wanted to do something challenging for us as actors."
With its blend of comedy and creature-feature scares, Remain Calm is a standout addition to this year's Halloween lineup. If you're looking for more spooky streaming options, check out Tim Burton's Corpse Bride haunting HBO Max's top 5 or Elijah Wood's Over the Garden Wall climbing Prime Video's charts. And for those who love a good scare, our list of horror movies that hook you in the first five minutes is a must-read.
Remain Calm is now available to watch. Don't let the fear get you.
