Dine with the Devil presents a Brian t Shirley I’ve never seen before. As a big fan of Shirley’s amusing Two Go In One Comes Out: A Socumentary, I didn’t expect this new short film to showcase his dark side. But now I know how versatile this comedian/actor/filmmaker is. He can make me laugh and scare me with equal aplomb!  

Of course, he had help here from co-director Drew Howard as well as co-writers Howard and Lance Morrison plus the fine cast and crew.  

I’m amazed at the story possibilities for short films and how much I’ve come to enjoy them. With a running time of only 29 minutes, Dine with the Devil packs quite a wallop. It’s also interesting to note that this movie was inspired by a scene from another project. (FULL DISCLOSURE: Shirley serves as a VIP for the NSAEN International Film Festival, which honored CAKE: A Love Story – based on the romantic memoir my husband and I co-wrote -- as Best Short Film last year, 2018.)  

Shirley’s new movie follows a frustrated young man, played with conviction by Drew Howard, who struggles with bullying at work as well as a series of issues involving his missing father, loss of medical insurance, loneliness and no one to help him during this critical time. Are darker forces at work in this man’s life?         

Telling more about this devilishly scary psychological thriller might spoil it for you. So my poem below will have to suffice.

Evil forces are at work here.

“Dine with the Devil” oozes fear.

As troubles mount for our hero,

he has to decide where to go.

Will his last chance cement his fate?

We hope he doesn’t take that bait.

While watching what this man goes through,

we empathize. We really do!

Eerie music swells in the air

setting the tone for a new scare.

Mystery voices have their say.

Will the Devil exact his pay?

The script by Lance, Drew & Shirley

seems mindful of all things murky.

Shirley masters one of the roles.

“Dine with the Devil” wants those souls!

It’s just as much fun to scare as it is to be scared. --- Vincent Price

Always make the audience suffer as much as possible. --- Alfred Hitchcock

(Released by LeRue Press; not rated by MPAA.)  

For more information about Dine with the Devil, go to the IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes website.