Director – R. Zachary Shildwachter (Thrill Kill)
Starring – Dustin Mills (Slimy Little Bastards), Haley Madison (Hunters), and Allison Egan (Her Name Was Torment)
Release Date – 2015
Rating – 4/5
Do you remember when movies were full of characters and not just people getting paid to play someone? You know the days I’m talking about. Back when you could go to the video store and rent Cry Baby, Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Monster Squad, Night of the Creeps and so many more. Sadly, now movies are filled with flat characters that have as much personality as my ex-fiancee.
A few weeks ago I met director Zachary Shildwachter and he told me about his short Eat it Up. I try not to venture of the horror/exploitation/sexploitation path with my reviews but sometimes my interest becomes peaked especially when I discovered it starred Dustin Mills, Josh Miller (Applecart), Haley Madison, and Allison Egan. He was kind enough to shoot me the link to the online screener. Thanks!
**Spoiler Alert**The short follows two gangs that have a small town divided. These gangs don’t use guns or sell drugs. Instead, they gain turf by competitive eating. The best diner in town is owned by Tony (Mills) and the Von Schweetz claim it as their own. However, the Horsemen of the Esophagus want to take it over and they have a new prospect that they hope has the gut to take if over. They challenge the sisters in a spaghetti eating challenge for the fate of this diner. **Spoiler Alert**
I miss the way films from the 80s and early 90s made almost every character in the film crucial to the plot and if they were not then they at least made them funny. No one was there for filler and served a purpose. Tim Burton, John Waters, and Fred Dekker all knew this. Sadly, this is something we rarely see anymore and I’m always caught off guard when I come across a movie that has amazing characters throughout. Eat It Up is a short that gives us all characters that have staying power.
The acting in this one is nothing less than perfect. Every cast member brought their own personalities and no two characters are the same. We have some that are tough, some that are goofy, some that are straight forward, and all the ladies are hot as fuck. The acting is very diverse and we get amazing characters from all over the spectrum. This is how a short should be.
The story for this one is simple enough with a quirky spin. Normally, this story would sound stupid as hell but the film is able to capture the charm of all the characters and is able to make it fun and alluring. It honestly felt like a comedic version of The Warriors set in the back drop of Hungry.
Finally, the film does have a few laughs but nothing that I would consider gut-busting. The laughs are decent but the film’s praise points is definitely the characters they are able to toss together and the story they tell. Overall, Eat it Up is the best short you will see this year. The film has an amazing cast and a story that is easy to digest. Check it out!
