Short Film Review: Secret Menu Beauty Pageant – An Offbeat Surreal Horror-Comedy!

Some short films stand out because they tell familiar stories in an unusual way, while others catch your attention simply because you have no idea where they are going. Secret Menu Beauty Pageant, written and directed by Frankie Campisano and SG Egan, belongs firmly in the latter category. This surreal comedy-horror short takes an ordinary fast-food setting and turns it into something bizarre, mysterious and genuinely intriguing leaving viewers like me curious, unsettled, and eager for more.

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Let’s focus on the positivesd, what I liked most is the sheer originality of the concept. The premise immediately creates curiosity, and the film keeps you wondering what strange turn things will take next. Its humour is wonderfully offbeat, while the unsettling atmosphere gives the absurdity an extra layer of appeal. It is the kind of film that embraces its weirdness rather than trying to explain everything or make itself accessible to everyone making it a memorable and refreshingly unconventional outing.

The production design is another major highlight. The setting has a distinctive, almost otherworldly quality, and the contrast between the familiar fast-food environment and the increasingly bizarre events gives the film its unique identity. The visual presentation feels deliberately unconventional, complementing the story’s strange sense of humour. There is a particular charm in how the film transforms an otherwise mundane environment into a place that feels both ridiculous and unsettling.

 

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One aspect that caught my attention immediately was the sound design. The audio is crisp and well handled, giving the film a polished quality while supporting its unusual atmosphere. The voice performances are also effective, bringing personality to the protagonist character. In a film that relies so heavily on absurd situations and eccentric characters, the vocal delivery makes a noticeable difference. Beyond its quirky premise, the film also has some interesting ideas beneath the surface. Its exploration of boredom, nostalgia and consumerism gives the absurdity a little more substance. The repetitive routines of everyday life can feel suffocating, and the desire to escape them can sometimes lead people toward the most unexpected alternatives.

Overall, Secret Menu Beauty Pageant is a distinctive and entertaining short that embraces the strange and unexpected. Its inventive concept, unusual production design, effective sound and offbeat humour make it an intriguing experience. It may not follow conventional storytelling rules, but that is precisely part of its appeal. Sometimes, being delightfully weird is more than enough. You can now check local screening tickets for ‘Secret Menu Beauty Pageant’ on the prod. house Nice Hog’s website and follow them on Instagram for updates.

‘Secret Menu Beauty Pageant (Short 2024)’ Rating – 3.75/5

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