Trick-or-Treat Yourself to Pure Chaos: Why 'Fun Size' is Your Next Demented Horror Short Fix
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Casper Kelly's 'Fun Size' short for 'V/H/S Halloween' is a gloriously demented horror-comedy that cleverly plays with found-footage tropes and adult trick-or-treating gone wrong, proving that sometimes the weirdest experiments yield the most entertaining results.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're messing about with a new spell, thinking you're just casting a simple light charm, and suddenly you've accidentally conjured a sentient toaster oven? That's kinda the vibe I got from 'Fun Size,' the latest V/H/S offering from Casper Kelly – the mad genius behind 'Too Many Cooks.' It's not just another horror short, mate; it’s an authentically bonkers, laugh-out-loud gruesome bit of digital alchemy that genuinely delivers something we haven’t quite seen before.
Now, the V/H/S series, bless its dusty, analogue heart, has been around the block a few times. Kicking off back in 2012, its whole schtick was pretty simple: gather up some cracking horror directors (think Ti West, Scott Derrickson, Adam Wingard – proper heavy hitters, these folks) and let 'em loose on lo-fi, found-footage horror segments, all packaged like some cursed VHS tape you'd unearth in a genuinely creepy abandoned house. It was a solid concept, fair dinkum, and it sparked a whole bloody boom in themed horror anthologies. We saw 'The ABCs of Death,' 'Tales of Halloween,' 'Holidays' – a real smorgasbord of short-form frights. These were meant to be proving grounds for up-and-coming talent, a low-budget playground for terror. And, well, like any early access game, some were absolute gems, and others... let's just say they were more 'buggy beta' than 'polished masterpiece.' Most of those other anthology series faded faster than my mana points after a raid boss, but Shudder, the boutique horror streamer, has been the diligent caretaker of the V/H/S legacy, keeping the grainy dream alive. And much like trying to pick out the truly legendary loot from a mountain of common drops, some V/H/S segments still hit harder than others.
But 'Fun Size,' part of the new 'V/H/S Halloween' collection, is different. While the whole 'V/H/S Halloween' batch is a stronger brew than some past installments – thanks to a unifying theme and some proper spooky imagery – 'Fun Size' stands out like a rare legendary artifact amidst a pile of green uncommon. It’s not the most spine-chilling segment in the collection; I reckon 'Coochie Coochie Coo' probably takes the prize for sheer scares. But what 'Fun Size' lacks in traditional frights, it more than makes up for in pure, unadulterated, wonderfully demented weirdness. If you're only dipping a toe into this year's V/H/S offering, or you just fancy a quick, chaotic horror hit, this is your jam. (Seriously, it kicks in around the 49:44 mark of the anthology, if you're looking to jump straight to the good stuff, you lazy sod.)
The short opens on a classic Halloween setup: a bunch of adult mates, a costume party, and a fair bit of booze. Our protagonist, Haley, suddenly gets a hankering for candy – and thanks to the liquid courage flowing, her boyfriend Austin and their recently engaged pals Josh and Lauren (oh, the drama!) decide, 'Sod it, let's go trick-or-treating!' Like a party quest popping up unexpectedly, they roll with it. Of course, this being a horror flick, things immediately go sideways. They stumble upon a house with a huge, ominous candy bowl emblazoned with 'One per person.' But, naturally, it's filled with these bizarre, off-brand concoctions – 'What the hell's a Fligs & Splipps?' Austin wonders, because who wouldn't be suspicious of such a thing? And, naturally, being a greedy git (as players often are when they see a loot chest), he can't resist grabbing extra. And, you guessed it, 'this does not go well' is an understatement of epic proportions. Ignoring mysterious warnings about mysterious candy on Halloween? That's just asking for a full-on boss fight you're not prepared for.
What follows is startling, gory, and honestly, a bit silly – in the best possible way. You could squint and see a twisted fairy-tale warning here, like a digital moral compass telling you not to be greedy. After all, the greediest character does end up in an oven. But honestly, it's clear Kelly isn't aiming for serious scares or profound messages. This is pure, unadulterated dark funhouse goofery, an extended gag with a sense of violently grotesque play that feels like a glitch in the Matrix that's actually *fun*.
Where 'Fun Size' really flexes its cleverness is in its meta-commentary, especially on the found-footage trope. See, Josh and Lauren didn't just dress up for the party; they came as 'camera operators in a found-footage horror movie.' So, they're not just carrying recording devices; they've got them strapped all over their bodies like some kind of hardcore streaming setup. Josh, bless his oblivious heart, proudly explains to a dubious bystander that this brilliant idea is meant to address the age-old problem: 'Why the hell don't these victims just put the bloody camera down?!' It's a wink-wink moment, a subtle nod that this whole thing is a carefully crafted experience, not just random digital tea leaves. It’s a genius move, really, solving a long-standing plot hole with a costume party gag. It's like finding a cheat code built right into the game's lore.
And then there's the relationship drama simmering beneath the surface. Lauren didn't actually want to get engaged and is putting off breaking the news to Josh, who’s blissfully unaware, chirping 'fiancée' instead of her name and joking about 'tradwife' status. Haley, their friend, is exasperated, wondering why Lauren's dragging her feet on the inevitable breakup. This grimly hilarious dynamic plays out while they’re in mortal peril, adding another layer of deliciously dark comedy. Imagine trying to have *that* conversation while fending off an Eldritch horror. Talk about bad timing for a relationship status update, eh?
In spite of the graphic gore, 'Fun Size' leans heavily into horror-comedy, echoing the surreal, oppressive overextension of 'Too Many Cooks' but without its gradual, soul-crushing breakdown. Instead, 'Fun Size' just keeps ramping up, moment by chaotic moment. Once the mayhem really kicks off, the frantic pace and the characters' sheer disbelief at the unfolding absurdity keep the short intense and utterly engaging. It’s like a speedrun through a haunted house where every trap is deliberately, outrageously over-the-top. You watch it not for the jump scares, but for the sheer novelty value, for that gleefully, confidently weird experience. Much like you wouldn't sample a 'Snipp%ers' candy (whatever the bloody hell *that* is), you won't find anything else quite this uniquely unhinged in your Halloween streaming marathons, mate. It’s a genuine breath of fresh, albeit blood-splattered, air.
Originally reported by Tasha Robinson at Polygon
Tags: horror-comedy, anthology, found-footage, indie horror, film analysis
Original article: Polygon