HAPPY MEAL HORROR (WITH A SIDE OF CHAINSAW)

The latest animated short film masterpiece from Rocky Curby, HAPPY MEAL HORROR (with a side of chainsaw), tells the story of a robotic calf’s attempt to survive in a fast food slaughterhouse. After the calf is separated from its mother by the robotic, one-eyed butcher Earl, the calf goes out in search of its mother, only to be confronted with the ugly truth about its future.

It’s an intense four minutes for our animated calf, as much a horror film as it is a social commentary on fast food preparation and automation. Part Happy Meal from Hell and part Texas Chain Saw Massacre, as hinted at by the title (whose treatment is reminiscent of American Horror Story, as long as we’re looking at all the possible references and touchstones), it’s a brilliant bit of animated gore. Yes, gore. These robots bleed.

I’ve been intrigued by filmmaker Curby’s artistic style since seeing his previous short, Dark Vessel, and was equally impressed, if not more so, by this piece. Particularly because it’s a silent short film; there’s no exposition or spoken explanation. What you see explains it all, and what you ascribe to it fills in the rest of the space. The content challenges the audience while simultaneously allowing the audience to become part of the conversation. Or not. Indulge this one on whatever level or non-level you’d like, it still succeeds.

And at only four minutes! A short film that is actually short and still hits with such power, without dialogue or hand-holding. A triumph all around.

This film was submitted for review through our Submission for Review system. If you have a film you’d like us to see, and we aren’t already looking into it on our own, you too can utilize this service.