IRL

What’s it About?

This horror comedy, from award-winning writer-director C.J. Arellano and producer Mark Burns, imagines a world overrun by invisible killer bugs. Amidst the post-apocalyptic chaos, co-workers who have never met in real life gather at a remote cabin - and then the murders begin.

IRL satirizes the unhinged ways we relate to each other in a post-pandemic society full of distrust, isolation, and nonstop Zoom meetings.

Synopsis

Global swarms of deadly brain-eating bugs called chromaphids have driven people indoors. Deep in the New England woods, smart and resourceful JESSA arrives at a remote cabin to attend a corporate retreat for her employer Shindig, a party goods retailer. Though she’s worked remotely with her co-workers for years, this is the first time Shindig’s leadership team meet in real life. The vibes are jovial at first, but chaos descends when a power outage causes chromaphids to invade the cabin. A Shindig employee is murdered. Long resistant to Shindig's insistence that "co-workers are family," Jessa is left to wonder whom she can trust. Before the night is over, secrets will be shared, souls will be bared, and these maladjusted co-workers will learn the high cost of connecting IRL.

Director’s Statement

IRL is a character-driven comedy that uses horror and murder-mystery frameworks to examine the contemporary war between our various selves: private vs. public, work vs. off-the-clock, online vs. real-life. In the universe of IRL, people are isolated, touch-starved, and prone to violence. The movie will dig into the humor and horror of being trapped in a crisis situation with people you only kind of know from your workplace’s online portal. The tone will be dark, heightened, and emotionally true, in the vein of colorful horror-comedies with satirical bite such as Weapons, Companion, and Bodies Bodies Bodies.

Beneath the winking snark and stylized kills, IRL aims to dig at something real and resonant. Characters will unexpectedly bond and face a reckoning with each other and the darkest aspects of themselves. Viewers will walk away from IRL contemplating how they define themselves and the people around them in a world that continues to isolate us further and further from each other.

C.J. Arellano - Writer/Director

C.J. Arellano tells fantastical stories with heightened flair to confront our darkest impulses - and laugh at them.

His films have screened at festivals worldwide including NewFest, Overlook Film Festival, and the Chicago International Film Festival. His feature screenplay, Case Unsolved, was selected for Tribeca Film Festival’s development marketplace. His most recent short horror comedy, “Dry January,” has played at over 20 film festivals and has won seven best-of-fest awards. He has directed for big brands including McDonald’s, Motorola, and The Second City.

C.J. Arellano blends horror with humor to explore how humans delude themselves and reckon with each other. He is fueled by hope, fun facts, spreadsheets, snarky idealism, ube ice cream, his trusty asthma inhaler, and posting stupid bullshit on Instagram stories.

Mark Burns - Producer

Mark started Punch Up Creative in 2018 after a decade of experience at distinctive comedy institutions The Onion and The Second City. He's since grown Punch Up into a thriving production company with clients such as Motorola, Morningstar, and Jet Support Services.

Through leading hundreds of writers rooms, live shows, training sessions, and video productions, Mark has honed his expertise in meaningfully connecting with audiences. He is focused on telling stories with soul and purpose.

Outside the corporate realm, he has produced a number of independent web series, short films, theatrical performances and variety show fundraisers.

Get Involved

Want to play a vital role in creating horror-comedy indie movie magic with us? Contact us at mark@punchupcreative.com to learn more!