Film Review: Rat! (Panic Fest 2025)
RAT! follows a disgruntled music journalist who accuses a global, Harry Styles-adjacent pop star of queerbaiting, leading the singer’s devoted fans to seek retribution at the journalist’s remote cabin. Inspired by horror-comedy features in the vein of SCREAM and YOU’RE NEXT, the short draws on laughs and scares in equal measure with underlying social commentary on digital footprint and queerbaiting. RAT! features a stellar comedic cast including Tyler Joseph Ellis, Caitlin Reilly (HACKS, CORA BORA), and Charles Gould (SEARCH PARTY, 2022 Tribeca short UNICORN).
RAT! premiered at Palm Springs International ShortFest in 2024, where the film was nominated for Special Jury Awards for Best Midnight Short, Best LGBTQ+ Short and Best Comedy Short, in addition to screening at AFI FEST, Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, Popcorn Frights, Atlanta Film Festival, Frameline, and American Cinematheque’s Proof Film Festival where it picked up a Special Mention from the jury.
Review:
RAT! Was written and directed by Neal Mulani. Charles Gould… Thanks for that view. Rat! Stars Jack Dailey Barnes, Jacob Berger, Tyler Joseph Ellis, Charles Gould, Caitlin Reilly, Shannon Sheridan, Manny Spero, Coleen Tutton, and Neal Mulani.
So, Wally Max (Jacob Berger) is this entertainer just sort of floating along using sexuality to gain views, and make music. Neal Mulani portrays Navin. Navin is calling Wally out on the bullshit. One thing I appreciate about RAT! Is Navin telling every person that comes to the house that he has “company” even though he is alone. Apparently, these Wally Max fans are wild.
I appreciate the humor, the giant wild masks, and the writing was great.