Fred (Josh Ruben) is a struggling writer heading to a cabin retreat in hopes of inspiration at the beginning of the new horror-comedy SCARE ME. But when a storm knocks the power out Fred must come face to face with his greatest fear. He might not be the best storyteller. Featuring a relatively microscopic cast,  single location, and the power and liberties afforded through film, we get a surprisingly charming examination of gender roles and patriarchy in the creative landscape along with a healthy dose of the theatre of the mind and a load of fun.

After being dropped off at his Catskills cabin by his driver, Bettina (Rebecca Drysdale),  Fred jumps to work. trying to summon the next great horror story from the recesses of his mind is no small task. The next day he meets local cabin neighbor Fanny (Aya Cash) who also happens to be a writer. Make that a published writer. That night the power goes out and Fanny pops over to Fred’s cabin to pass the time. The two light a fire and the brash Fanny challenges Fred to scare her with his storytelling prowess. At first, the banter is light. then it becomes tinged with competition and a hint of misogyny. Fred is threatened by a successful female writer and it shows.

Initial stories are shared and we fall into the structure of the film. The two share stories in a sort of competition to outdo one another. Ruben, who not only stars in but also writes and directs SCARE ME, shrewdly begins to introduce cinematic devices to old fireside ghost stories. As the two actors exchange creative spars the sound design and score layer in to lure the viewer in. It’s a clever device. Yet for all of the heart, for all of the ingenious use of sound, there isn’t a moment in which we as the audience are actually scared. This is a crucial failure for a film about storytelling with the demanding title “scare me.” I was entertained, but never really scared. Injecting a healthy dose of energy into the mix Carlo (Chris Redd), a pizza delivery guy arrives and joins in on the scary stories, but still, no scares… yet.

SCARE ME is a horror movie geared to writers and those threatened by the opposite gender. It is a film that explores male dominance in a creative world and what happens when we are faced with our own inadequacies. This is not a scary movie per se, but one that explores the scary subjects of capabilities and talent. Entertaining? Absolutely. Long? Surely. The movie would have benefited from judicious cuts here and there to punch up the pacing but overall this is a movie that speaks to creatives and those that are compelled to create. It might not SCARE ME, but I had fun in that dimly lit cabin.

6 out of 10 Scary Stories