Dating is difficult when your parents are ‘Fck’n Nuts’. Just ask Sandy (Maddie Nichols). At the beginning of this candy-coloerd, nut-flavored nightmare, she languishes in her bedroom mourning a list of departed beaus. Resigned to the life of distance romance, she is startled when new suitor, Dan (Vincent Stalba), shows up at her doorstep. Unfortunately, what Dan doesn’t know will, in fact kill him and Sandy has a very good reason for keeping her men at bay. With   writer director Sam Fox has created a beguiling, single punchline horror short that is as absurd as it is entertaining.

So, Dan arrives at Sandy’s home bouquet of flowers in hand, to profess his love for her. Despite her warnings, Dan declares his love out loud much to the chagrin of The Neighbor (Christopher Rydell). Sadly, Dan doesn’t take the warnings and demands to be Sandy’s boyfriend. The only thing left to do is meet the parents. To speak further on plot would be to rob the short of its comical reveal. Suffice it to say that it’s a real Payday. Once Daddy (William E. Harris) and Mommy (Michele Rossi) enter the picture Dan is doomed.

Thanks to a technicolor palette and broad humor, we can almost guess what the joke is. Yet, just like a joke that a friend is telling, with a punchline you can see a mile away, you enjoy the journey. Fox and her talented crew give us a crazy, muppet-rules short that will induce groans, cackles, and even a little bit of gross-out humor just for fun.

Catch ‘Fck’n Nuts’ when it arrives at a festival near you. Just bring your epi-pen if you have any nut allergies.

7 Out of 10