Scare Me 2020

Fred, portrayed by Josh Ruben, is a struggling actor and writer who escapes to a secluded mountain cabin in hopes of finding inspiration away from the distractions of the world. To help facilitate his writing journey, he enlists the assistance of Bettina, played by Rebecca Drysdale, who drives him to and from the cabin. Unfortunately, Fred is plagued by writer’s block, and during one of his runs, he serendipitously encounters Fanny, enacted by Aya Cash, the talented author behind the acclaimed horror novel Venus, who is also staying nearby.

At first, Fanny is less than impressed by Fred’s attempts to justify his identity as a writer, leading to their parting ways for the evening. However, the plot thickens when a thunderstorm cuts off the power in the area, prompting Fanny to visit Fred for some late-night company. As they share drinks, Fanny daringly challenges Fred to conjure a terrifying story to frighten her. Although his initial attempt falls flat, with Fanny’s encouragement, he spins a chilling tale about a young boy witnessing his parents’ grisly murder at the hands of a werewolf, growing up fueled by thoughts of vengeance, complete with dramatic sound effects.

Fanny confronts Fred about the predominantly white perspective of his story, sparking a revolt in him that challenges her to share one of her unfinished ideas. Fanny, in turn, improvises a gripping narrative about a girl who attempts to murder her creepy grandfather but accidentally kills his dog instead, leaving her haunted by both. In a moment of candidness, Fred reveals the emotional turmoil he has been grappling with since his wife left him, leading to a mental breakdown.

As the night progresses, Fred and Fanny begin collaborating on a quirky story about a troll residing in an Edible Arrangements shop who persuades a beleaguered secretary to kill her unscrupulous boss in return for extended life. Their creativity is interrupted when Carlo, played by Chris Redd, arrives with a pizza delivery. Fanny enthusiastically invites Carlo to join their storytelling session, where he admits to being a devoted fan of her work. The trio indulges in some carefree moments, including doing cocaine and reenacting Fanny’s story of Venus, much to Fred’s annoyance as he feels overshadowed.

Fred, now keen on sharing his creative ideas, offers a new story concept involving a singer who makes a Faustian bargain to gain fame on a nationwide talent show, only to be coerced into singing about chilling acts of murder. After Carlo leaves to complete his deliveries, and while Fanny is momentarily absent, Fred stumbles upon her notebook. Upon perusing its contents, he discovers that Fanny has been documenting all their stories alongside notes reflecting his insecurities about her superior writing skills.

In a fit of drunken rage, Fred confronts Fanny with a fire poker when she returns, leading to a chaotic chase throughout the house. The confrontation culminates tragically as Fred loses his footing and accidentally impales himself. In his last moments, bleeding and in agony, he begs Fanny to end his suffering. Fanny contemplates his plea but ultimately walks away, leaving him to bleed out.

The next morning, Bettina arrives, completely unaware of Fred’s fate as she stumbles upon Fanny’s notebook. In a surprising twist revealed in a mid-credits scene, Bettina has adapted the stories into her own book and enjoys newfound fame as an author, showcasing the unpredictable consequences of their night of creativity and chaos.