Slamdance 2023 Film Festival – Jerah Milligan is no stranger to the comedy scene. He’s one of the hosts of the podcast Black Men Can’t Jump in Hollywood, and he has an extensive background in improve. The short, Mahogany Drive, directed by Milligan and co-written with his  fellow podcasters and co-stars, Jonathan Braylock and James III, is a knee-slapping, laugh-out-loud satire about a house that kills white women. This is also one short with a clever twist you won’t see coming.

The trio of buddies, Jon (Braylock), James (James III), and Jerah (Milligan), are on vacay and spend a lot of their hours discussing the latest girls they’ve met on various dating apps. However, a few minutes into the runtime, they discover a dead white woman on the floor. Soon, the house murders another white woman and another, including two police officers. Rightfully so, the friends freak out, wondering how it’s going to look when it’s discovered there’s a pile of dead white women in a house rented by three Black men.

This short leans into its absurdist premise, while Braylock, James III, and Milligan play off each other quite well. It’s like you’re watching a sketch from an improv group unfold. This makes sense, considering they’ve worked together not only on the podcast but also Netflix’s sketch comedy “Astronomy Club.”  These three hit the right beats and have natural chemistry. Further, this is a sharp and smart social satire, especially its twist. Without giving anything away, let’s just say the short encourages us all to do better. This message isn’t over the top, nor does it beat you over the head. The comedy makes it easier to swallow.

While Mahogany Drive doesn’t necessarily scream feature-length and serves as a perfectly fine short, I would love to see this trio again soon. I can envision them working on horror-comedies and satires together. These guys have something smart to say, and they know jokes make the truth go down easier.

7 Out of 10