Ashley Anderson says the satire in Guts is a reprieve from its gruesome moments.
Guts, written and directed by Chris McInroy, is a horror-comedy that follows Horace (Kirk C. Johnson), an office worker with a unique disability—his guts hang on the outside of his body. Horace won’t let his differences stop him from getting promoted. We’ve all heard that having guts is generally good, but Horace is the punchline for inappropriate workplace drama. Guts uses incredibly realistic special effects that are perfectly timed to tell its hilarious horror story.
Johnson delivers a convincing performance as Horace, who is forced to navigate a toxic work environment to achieve his goal. He’s willing to go to any lengths to get promoted. The message of McInroy’s story is unclear. Nothing about the scenes feels particularly authentic or relatable beyond the discomfort often experienced in corporate jobs. The comedic relief is a reprieve when things get incredibly gruesome. Guts doesn’t take itself too seriously, and McInroy creates a likable character in Horace.
Guts was screened at the Chattanooga Film Festival on June 23-28, 2022.
