The new horror-comedy anthology Grind reminds us that what scares us all the most is….the modern workplace! 😱 From shitty gig-economy delivery jobs to Multi-Level Marketing scams, Grind explores all the facets of corporate evil turning life into a living hell. If you’ve ever seen your job suddenly disappear because you dared mention unionizing (of if you’ve ever peed in a water bottle to keep Jeff Bezos happy) these segments might hit close to home, but Grind also serves up absurdist hellscape versions of some real-life nightmares plaguing our world today.
Featuring appearances from a handful of your favourite horror personalities, including writer/director Gigi Saul Guerrero (Satanic Hispanics), Dead Meat’s James Janisse, Matt Mercer (co-star and producer of Jimmy & Stiggs), and genre icon Barbara Crampton (Jakob’s Wife), this is an anthology film made for horror fans. But we all need a good laugh (especially after spending an entire workday under the boot of a cruel algorithmic boss), which is why comedy nerds are going to be grinning from ear-to-ear when they learn that Grind also stars comedians/comedy mainstays Rob Huebel (Children’s Hospital), James Urbaniak (The Venture Bros), Jon Gabrus, and Ify Nwadiwe. So, if you (like me) sit directly in the middle of the Ven Diagram of these two niche genres, you’re in for a real good time.
“…there’s a little something for every type of horror fan in this crazed collection. “
Directors Brea Grant (12 Hour Shift), Chelsea Stardust (Satanic Panic), and Ed Dougherty (Faceless) all take on double duty with the project, leading the charge in two segments each. newcomer Ed Dougherty helps close out the paranormal parade with “Content Moderation” and “Union Meeting”, a deranged imagining of the extents a company will go to bust up unions or make you compromise your integrity (and maybe your very soul) by dangling a life-changing promotion juuuust out of reach.
Chelsea Stardust bookends the film with a series of interconnected pieces that center around an immoral (not-Amazon-but-not-NOT-Amazon) corporation that has an eerie way of dealing with low-performing workers and really ties the whole affair together. Grind‘s most impressive segments, however, belong to Brea Grant who opens up the anthology with a double-feature of fun ‘n’ freaky shorts. If you’ve ever fallen victim to the allure of the Be Your Own Boss racket, or if you’ve shaken your head from the sidelines as your aunt floods her Facebook feed with Herbalife ads, you’re going to love the ridiculous, off-the-wall absurdity in her first segment “MLM”. And Postmates drivers beware, “Delivery” is one hell of a clever scare and boasts not only a time-loop structure, but also a special effects gag made for (hold onto your butts) fans of Videodrome, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Lionel Richie. IYKYK.
“plays like a mini film festival of purposefully curated slices of insane cinema. “
Consistency is often not a strength in anthology films but each of the segments in Grind feels like a collection of stories beamed in from the same nightmare future we’re all probably barreling toward this very moment. With the directors involved in each other’s segments and carving out a larger space for their individual styles, it’s anthology that plays like a mini film festival of purposefully curated slices of insane cinema. Like any anthology film, if you stumble into a story that isn’t your speed, you’re only 10 minutes away from something completely different. But in a movie that has sea creatures, time loops, and axe-wielding maniacs, there’s a little something for every type of horror fan in this crazed collection.
Grind, directed by Brea Grant, Chelsea Stardust, and Ed Dougherty celebrated its World Premiere at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival. Click HERE to follow our continued coverage of the festival, and let us know all about the nightmare job you’ve suffered through over in the Nightmare on Film Street Discord. Social Media is A Cesspool. Come Hang Where The Cool Creeps Are.
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