Human

A Comedy-Splatter Masterpiece of Blood and Chaos.

A psychological-comedy-splatter horror by Matt Stuertz that I probably related to a little too much, especially in its opening twenty minutes.

An ex suddenly texting you after years apart, the rush of excitement hitting so hard you feel the need to message your best mate—even though they know letting him back into your life is a terrible idea. Better grab some Molly instead!

But that’s just the beginning. What follows is the nightmare of a bad decision brought absurdly and hilariously to life, a throwback to Troma-style practical effects and gloriously grotesque gore.

Cinematographer, writer, and director Matt Stuertz takes clear inspiration from 1970s splatter cinema, but infuses it with a modern techno-energy in “Human”—a deliriously violent, laugh-out-loud ride.

The film channels the full spectrum of emotion—love, joy, anger, grief—into a brisk, relentless narrative. Everyday quirks we dismiss as just human nature are twisted into something parasitic and cruel, until the real horror is recognizing how much of it already exists in our lives.

That baggage isn’t just carried by the characters—it’s weaponized, woven into the story until the film itself feels like an autopsy of how we treat one another.

Using the screenlife format in its early stages, it establishes Dani (Jackie Kelly) ‘s relationship with Aaron, the ex (Jeffrey Decker) and her friend Christina (Cecily Dowd), while still images, resembling covert surveillance, suggest the unsettling entity of something watching from the shadows.

The practical effects are outstanding, far surpassing what you’d expect from a film of this budget. Blood and viscera flow in outrageous quantity, striking the perfect balance between horror and comedy.

At FrightFest, I had the chance to chat with Matt Stuertz and actress Jackie Kelly, and learned just how much creativity went into the notorious bathroom scene—a sequence drenched in every imaginable bodily fluid, leaving the set, Jackie, and the audience in a complete mess.

Many have compared it to “Evil Dead” ’s legendary gore, but I think “Human” more than holds its own. I couldn’t tear my eyes away, laughing and cringing at once, wishing the madness would never end.

“Human” shifts seamlessly between frenzied carnage and tense cat-and-mouse games, echoing the mystery at its heart.

Jackie Kelly is nothing short of phenomenal as Dani—her all-consuming performance pours every fibre of her being into the role. Bless her for enduring what Stuertz had planned; judging by their rapport, they clearly had as much fun making it as I had watching.

If I have one criticism, it’s that the final act, after the plot twist is revealed, runs a touch long. That said, this was still one of the absolute highlights of FrightFest 2025—a film I didn’t want to leave behind in the cinema.

If “Human” is even loosely based on Stuertz’s real experiences, I’d like him to know he managed to capture a slice of mine too.

Watched it in London, lived it in London. And remember…life is tacos with a “Lil Boo.”

WATCHED AT:

FrightFest 2025