Like it or not, we live in an age where social media platforms reign supreme, encompassing nearly every person’s life in one way or another. Whether you find yourself endlessly scrolling through videos and feeds throughout the day, or you’re one who knows little to nothing about how the various red-hot websites work, you can’t deny their influence on today’s culture. Viral, a short film written and directed by Michael Rich, offers up an amusing double entendre on the title with a look at one man’s accidental brush with an entity that’s both threatening and beneficial.

Jose De Jesus Martinez plays Miguel, a shop worker who has lofty goals to become an influencer via social media videos. He tries in vain to produce entertaining content, much to the chiding of his co-workers. When he accidentally hits a creature in the darkness of night on the way to work, he manages to capture the incident on his phone. Believing he can profit from the incident, his excitement keeps him oblivious to the hazards right in front of him.

There are a few details Viral executes well to keep this an engaging viewing experience, including the use of subtle hints peppered in the background that fill out the plot. On the surface, this seems like a straight-forward creature flick, but if you pay close enough attention, you’ll see there’s a lot more to this 13 minute short. It also helps that Miguel is a likable and sympathetic character right from the start, with his amiable good-naturedness and authenticity. It’s a testament to Martinez’s commitment to the role, and will leave you wishing you could see more content with him. 

The practical effects are surprisingly and delightfully well done, which lends to the overall vibe Viral gives off of creature feature days gone bye.