Short Film Review: “All You Can Eat”

Directed by Kieran Reed
UK • Horror • 13 Mins

All You Can Eat centres around a young waitress at a fast food diner, Nola, who has been getting bad feelings about what’s going on behind the chrome and neon facade of the restaurant for a while, but when she believes she finally has the proof she needs to bring the sinister secrets to light, unseen evil forces are unleashed in a bloodthirsty attempt to stop her.

The film kicks off in grand style with composer Peter Lewington’s on-point score setting the tone magnificently from the outset with its synth-infused rock soundtrack before we’re introduced to Nola, played brilliantly by Verity Hayes. Hayes brings a lot of life and humour to the role as she carefully balances portraying a work-shy workplace gossip with a person who seems to have genuine concern for what’s actually going on behind the scenes of the fastfood establishment. 

Writer/director Kieran Reed not only brings a fine attention to detail recreating the 80s horror aesthetic providing a wonderfully offbeat tribute to video nasties of the past (including framing for a 4:3 aspect ratio) but also provides a contemporary commentary about the state of unhealthy fast food consumerism. It’s going to kill you one way or another! 

Reed also packs his scripts with loads of lovely details right down to the names of the characters. While there’s a definite Americana influence here, there’s something unmistakably British about the whole thing and the fusion of the two cultures adds an extra dynamic to proceedings that won't be found in many other homages of this ilk. 

The film is short and sweet but there’s an intriguing after-credits scene, and we’re pleased to hear that this is just the beginning for this film - we wait with bated breath for the feature.

The special effects, both practical and CGI, are particularly well done as well and all the bloody, gory carnage that unfolds is as deliciously unsavoury as the food on offer. The creatures, both the concept and the design, are superbly conceieved and you can't help but feel that there's the potential for the evolution of this film to have a Critters/Gremlins/Ghoulies type legacy if the director wanted to push things in that direction. 

All You Can Eat is a brilliant blood-soaked love letter to 80’s video nasties with a contemporary spin. 

8/10

All You Can Eat was nominated for Best Horror at our 2022 film festival.

Reviewed by Philip Pugh