Before they became household names on Saturday Night Live UK, cast members Paddy Young and Jack Shep were already making waves together—in a very different kind of sketch. The duo starred in a 2025 horror comedy short titled This Place is a Sh*thole, and it's every bit as unhinged as the title suggests.
Written and directed by Will Wightman, the nearly four-minute film is a darkly funny take on the nightmare of living in an overpriced, disgusting shared apartment. Young and Shep play roommates whose kitchen has devolved into a biohazard zone: towering stacks of dirty dishes, a sink clogged with brown water, and food scraps everywhere. Just as they're bickering about the mess, a black, hairy creature emerges from the murky depths and launches an attack.
A creative experiment born from rental hell
Wightman told production studio Blinkink that the project was part catharsis, part technical experiment. "Having spent my entire adult life in mind-bogglingly expensive, soul-destroyingly disgusting shared flats, This Place is a Sh*thole was part creative experiment, part therapy," he said. To achieve its claustrophobic, grimy look, Wightman shot the entire short on an Insta360 camera. "I've been playing with the capabilities of 360 cameras for the last couple of years as a way to shoot visceral and dynamic action sequences quickly and on the cheap," he explained. "For me, the distorted and grimy aesthetic that comes out of this amazing little camera when you really push it was perfect for a gross and claustrophobic story set in a shared flat."
The monster, affectionately nicknamed Mr. Sticky and played by Robin Berry, is a practical creation with matted fur, bloodshot eyes, and a set of cursed teeth. According to critic Andrew McGregor of David Reviews, the creature "goes for Jamie and Will in uncertain terms," and Wightman's wired camerawork makes the viewer feel genuinely threatened. "Not bad for a horror-comedy," McGregor noted.
Awards and audience acclaim
The short didn't just scare viewers—it impressed festival juries too. This Place is a Sh*thole took home the Outstanding Achievement Award for Dark Comedy Short at the 2026 Indie Short Fest, scored a Best Short Film nomination at the 2026 British Horror Film Festival, and was selected for both the Norwich Film Festival and the Encounters Film Festival, the latter a qualifying event for BAFTA, BIFA, and the Oscars.
Letterboxd users were equally enthusiastic. "Really f— funny but also tense in how it's shot, and the lighting is also pretty decent. I think the design of the creature is awesome because it's genuinely terrifying," one review read. Another praised it as "a phenomenal short" with "a great story, amazing cinematography, excellent production design, phenomenal editing, and a killer monster."
For fans of horror-comedy that pushes boundaries, this short is a perfect four-minute watch. If you're hungry for more unsettling laughs, check out our review of Curry Barker's doppelgänger horror, or explore the greatest horror sequels ever ranked. And for those who prefer their comedy without the gore, we've rounded up comedy movies you'll never get tired of rewatching.
From filthy flats to SNL UK stardom
Young and Shep have since become fan favorites on SNL UK, the first international spin-off of the iconic American sketch show. The series has already been renewed for a second season that's 50% longer than the first, with hosts like Jeff Goldblum, Danny Dyer, and Cynthia Erivo lined up. Young co-anchors Weekend Update, while Shep went viral for his portrayal of Princess Diana.
But before all that, they were just two guys battling a sink monster. This Place is a Sh*thole remains a testament to their chemistry and willingness to get weird—qualities that clearly serve them well on live television. Whether you're a longtime fan or a curious newcomer, this short is an easy, essential watch.
