While I was at the FilmQuest Film Festival, I caught a screening of a crazy little horror movie called Kombuchaand man, this thing has been a journey. I went in completely blind, with no trailer, no expectations, and walked out with a big smile on my face.
It’s one of those wild, little independent horror films that you just know is destined to find a cult following. He’s rough, sure, but he’s smart, funny, crass, and incredibly entertaining.
The film centers on a mysterious mind-altering drink that forces employees to literally work themselves to death. Kombucha is a sharp, dark horror-comedy that pierces the nightmare of corporate culture, the false promises of “team synergy,” and the slow death of creativity that accompanies a soul-sucking day job. Having spent my time in the corporate trenches, this hit close to home.
The film follows Luke (Terrence Carey), a struggling musician whose career isn’t exactly taking off. After meeting his old friend Andy (Jesse Kendall), he was offered a job at the company Symbio, which is a trendy, wellness-obsessed corporate beast that smiles on the surface.
Luke reluctantly takes the job after breaking up with his girlfriend Elyse (Paige Bourne), who is tired of waiting for his big break. At first things seem to be going well, but then his new boss Kelsey (Claire McFadden) insists that you try the company’s brand of kombucha, which is a “custom blend” for its customers, and that’s when everything goes straight to hell.
Once Luke starts drinking the stuff, things go south. His behavior changes. The side effects get worse. The more kombucha he drinks, the more deranged his mind becomes. Elyse begins to worry, and when she contacts the loved one of a mysteriously dead former employee, she discovers that Symbio may be running something much more twisted than a wellness program.
From that point on, the film kicks into high gear, throwing viewers into a chaotic mix of paranoia, corporate madness and some gloriously sickening horror.
What I love Kombucha this is how he turns office life into a real nightmare. All those forced smiles, fake wellness initiatives, and meaningless buzzwords seem sinister in this world, like a cult pretending to be a corporation.
It’s a perfect satire for anyone who’s ever had to nod their heads during an “obligatory fun” meeting while dying inside. The humor is harsh, but never undermines the horror. Myers builds tension beautifully, keeping things funny, gross and wildly uncomfortable all at the same time.
Visually, the film seems much larger than its budget. You can tell it’s indie, but it never feels cheap. The production design sells the faux-perfect world of Symbio, and when things start to fall apart, the blood doesn’t hold back. Director Jake Myers did a fantastic job with this film!
There are some really gnarly moments that are bloody, slimy and ridiculous in the best way. It has that weird “what am I looking at?” energy that makes it difficult to look away.
In the end, Kombucha is a smart, darkly funny, delightfully crass horror satire that absolutely nails its aim. It’s a film that takes the daily horror of trying to survive in a toxic workplace and turns it up to eleven.
It’s not for everyone, but if you like weird, witty indie horror that’s not afraid to get messy, it’s worth tracking down when it releases. I had fun watching it and honestly, I will never look at kombucha the same way again.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
