Craig's Pathetic Freakout | A Comedy Short Film

After smoking some weed with a friend, Craig starts to worry that he might be trapped in a movie.
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Craig's Pathetic Freakout
Directed by Graham Parkes
www.grahamparkes.com/
"Inspired to create a new short after watching endless Key and Peele sketches on KZbin, Graham Parkes (Where You Are) returns to Short of the Week and delivers a hit of stoner comedy spiked with some mad paranoia in the hilarious Craig’s Pathetic Freakout. A film that’s had me uncontrollably giggling ever since I first saw it, this six-minute short is the tale of one man and how he completely loses his sh*t after smoking some weed.
When writing these articles for Short of the Week, deep critical analysis of the films we feature has never been high on my priorities. Instead, what I usually find myself reflecting upon after watching a short, is how it resonates with me and how I personally related with the piece. With Craig’s Pathetic Freakout, I’m afraid to say I instantly connected with the plight of the titular character and even found myself taken back to a similar situation in my life.
This probably won’t come as a great surprise to anyone who’s met me, but I smoked a fair amount of marijuana in my youth. When I was about 18/19 (my memory of those times is a little hazy!) I was having a smoke in my girlfriend’s flat and suddenly, out of nowhere, I was hit with the dreaded whitey. The room began to spin, all colour drained out of my face and the next thing I know I’d crawled to the kitchen and put my head in the fridge - where I laid for what seems like hours.
Whilst my own personal pathetic freakout never reached the crazed paranoia of Craig’s (this experience obviously exaggerated for comedic effect), believe me Parkes and his team do a great job of recreating the temporary psychosis just one hit of weed can bring on. Parkes uses several filmmaking tricks (slow tracks into Craig’s face, horror film music cues when his paranoia is at it’s peak) to heighten the experience and combine that with the great performances he gets from his lead actors and Craig’s Pathetic Freakout feels as believable as it is funny.
A film that feels like it could have only been born out of a personal experience, Parkes admits he’s “certainly been the guy to smoke weed out of pride…only to instantly regret it moments later”. However, making a comedic, relatable short wasn’t the only motivation behind this production as the writer/director explains - ‘To be honest, I was just itching to make something with my friends. I’m very lucky to know some very talented people, and I sometimes get so caught up chasing bigger projects, I forget to actually just make stuff with the people I love”.
Talking of bigger projects, Parkes says he’s working on several different film ideas at the moment, but on the back of Craig’s Pathetic Freakout he also hoping to make some more surreal, comedy shorts in the near feature. “I’ve got some pretty wild ideas”, he reveals, “so I’m hoping to get back in the saddle with everyone before the year is done”. - S/W Curator Rob Munday
Written & Directed By - Graham Parkes
Starring - Mat Wright & Lewis Pullman
Produced By - Brendan Garrett
Cinematography By - Christopher Ripley
Music & Sound By - Jack Sobo
With Original Song By - Jack Sobo, Oliver Lewin, Trevor Estes
With - Lev Pakman, as the Director
1st AC - Megan Johnson
Gaffer - Chris Boulos
Hair & Makeup - Wren Witting
Reproduced on this channel with the permission of the filmmakers.

[@QuentinJean93]

Lost it when he said his voice was out of sync, this was genius 😂😭

[@misterandrefriggindoppelga7595]

Hello Mr. SmoovieQ, Mister Andre's POV: I don't recall My VOICE Every Being OUT OF SYNC. but I do recall Me Laughing Out Loud to the Internal.Conversations Within My Mind, while Under The Influence of Marijuana. 🤣LOL, Good😁Times🤣 •By MAFDD, Later😁Days•

[@BozalliCopter]

when his voice was coming in early, that was fantastic

[@JoyaLewisTheMusician]

I was wondering how the other guy wasn’t laughing, and it’s actually part of the plot - i love it

[@GleckODunn]

Someone needs to cast these two for a comedy movie

[@raedgaj3878]

I liked these two in 'The Voice In Your Head' short also, they definitely would make a great comedy duo if they aren't already.

[@abhishekjadhav4572]

If it means anything to you, Lewis Pullman got cast in Outer Range. Its a terrific show.

[@monro2159]

This was great, made me laugh out loud. Mat Wright, playing Craig, did such a great job. His paranoid anxiety was beautifully played and hilarious. Great work from both.

[@gemstar7286]

lol This film was different

[@PirateSamuel]

Man this was incredible. Whoever played Craig is an amazing actor 👏🏻👏🏻 amazing work

[@Derek-Moran]

Brilliant!!! There's always someone that needs to be baby sat, when they can't handle their weed.

[@LAG3]

🖐 that'd be me.

[@misterandrefriggindoppelga7595]

Hello, Howdy, Hola, Yizzo Derek Moran. ¡You Are Speaking The Truth! 🤣LMAO🤣 •By MAFDD, Later😁Days•

[@amazingamerican3958]

Growing up in the 90s this never happened. The weed wasn't so strong back then though.

[@peterlee7844]

I think I've watched this about 15 times in a row and I cant stop laughing, haha! This is so well done

[@MarcusVinicius-we2pg]

Me too ..... i can't stop laughing and i've watched it probably more times than you

[@LAG3]

Dude! This is SO fucking accurate. You could have garbage bags full of weed and I still wouldn't want any. "The Fear"!!! LMAO

[@splubber99]

Omg this duo... I can't after that last short film they were in together lmao

[@shortoftheweek]

A dream team.

[@curiositeconstante404]

The last short films? Which one? I be please to see this duo in action again

[@splubber99]

@@curiositeconstante404 "The Voice In Your Head" is the last one I saw with them. It is on this channel and was uploaded a few weeks before this one. I think I like it even more!

[@curiositeconstante404]

@@splubber99 Yes I did found this one also, really disturbing in a way, because of what it reveal of ourselves, I didn't pick one favourite yet, I wait for them to do some more, soon we will enjoy a new one!

[@splubber99]

@@curiositeconstante404 how do u know?

[@jttakanashi2171]

This concept is genius!!!! This is a masterpiece

[@WildLifez]

My friend and I reference this often and always go back to it. Thanks this is too good. Would love a possible sequel!

[@melissamartinez8819]

Lmao his facial expressions 🤣 also the concept and writing were both genius! ❤️‍🔥

[@oladimejiagbaje1289]

I love that it's the same two guys from "the voice in your head" short. I really loved their performance in that one..I see a bright future for both of them. Big Hollywood movie soon? if they're interested in that kind of thing.

[@JustinLHopkins]

This is me. Everyone is relaxed and I’m pacing around thinking I’m about to die.

[@christinamayhew3798]

The awkwardness of the paranoid character was palpable...I loved every minute... But maybe he really want paranoid. The other guy said he already knew how his friend acted Everytime he smoked, but to out the box and tainted him anyway lol...

[@NewHeightsCinema]

This is a true gem short film I barely laugh out loud like that even if I find something funny.

[@hailey6246]

wait this is actually super good lmao camera, sound, plotline, everything

[@kingkungu]

It's been a long time since I've cried from laughter

[@MattMorgan813]

The out of sync bit immediately had me laughing

[@shikorinasan9795]

Wow! This idea is amazing!!! I kept laughing through out the whole video. 😂😂😂

[@odix87]

Haha That's why I don't smoke weed. I overthink enough when sober and hearing my thoughts multiple times in my head while carefully trying to piece together out of sync information... it's way too much.

[@pakde8002]

I think someone gave you LSD or mushrooms with your weed.

[@kw9568]

I have this same problem! I can only smoke Indica. Sativa makes me anxiety and I can hear my own thoughts! Means while my friends are looking at me like I'm crazy! 😒🙄

[@gemstar7286]

Weed is fine but just don't smoke it , you can use it in other ways which has health benefits. I will never smoke it .

[@robmunday6225]

CAN'T. STOP. WATCHING. THIS. FILM.

[@brandondoyle2642]

Wow that was really funny. I was laughing out loud throughout most of the video. Great job!!

[@victoview]

I thought this was hilarious!!! Love seeing these two on screen 😂

[@lucasezequielhernandez4802]

Wow! Very well done, Parkes and team. Great acting too. Amazing short this week. Thanks for sharing.

[@UNUSUALUSERNAME220]

My freak-outs are never blocked this well. And I never, well almost never punch out the AD.

[@Yasmin-tv2oj]

Every time I watch this it’s like the first time! It’s so bloody funny 😂

[@Truced]

1:02 buddy was clasping his hand yet there was a snapping sound lol

[@flavi820]

Ah man that was money!! Loved every second of this! Great work!!

[@BlackSilver23]

Nice. There's breaking the 4th wall, then there's running it over with a Mack truck. Well done.

[@addriannodj1990]

PLEASE MAKE MORE! Gratitude!!

[@andpacker]

Omg i’m 💀💀💀 so well done 😆😆😆🙏🏼

[@spazzoutmagazine4418]

He got so paranoid. He thought he was on a show

[@Reapinangel91]

WTF, how did y'all catch me on video lmao?

[@nate5124]

HAHA if this isnt the most fkn accurate thing ever

[@rrokng1rrll99sueann9]

I lost it when he was out of sync but when he could hear the future I laughed so hard I almost choked to death, couldn't catch my breath, so literally, I about died laughing ~ which is the way I want to go!

[@isaidwtfover]

You ok?

[@xuxnx]

This is so well done!

[@juliabrekka9968]

This is hilarious and so well done!

[@anesu4548]

This was pure gold!

[@mr.mrs.hardison8391]

Please continue this. Great laughter great acting just amazing 🤩

[@kevinmunger1842]

Been smoking since about 15, 64 now. I have never encountered anything like this except high, generalized anxiety, excessive giddyness, over experience notice of pain and cottonmouth. I use marijuana medicinally and the varieties of legal weed that present a cottonmouth profile I prefer because it helps to control my rhinitis. That's where you go when you commit to weed for life.

[@kevinmunger1842]

In a moment of crassness, I contend that cannabis affects the stupid uneducated differently than it affects the educated intelligent or the artistic or the criminal. Anecdotally, I aver that marijuana has been a huge help to cope with a 44 year old brain injury. The power and the danger of marijuana is that it helps you to accept the reality of your situation. That could be good for you if you are coping with chronic pain or another debility which you must accept, for health, but if you are a low achiever, say, and you intake your cannabis experiences among the criminal or the socially derogate (do not attempt to call me out) you may become a sloth. I've been in the light. So has anyone whom have ever been clocked (I have been clocked - hit with a clock for real) everyone has seen stars. Mine came in a head on collision with a '63 Caddilac Sedan Deville - like hitting a wall at eighty and not having to actually hit the wall. There was no high. Ironically, I was 4.0 squared-away (in the Navy) . I f I were religious, I would proclaim miracle of my accident circumstances. As it is I can merely say that luck was with me that rainy night in Connecticut. Yes, I am under the "influence".

[@manjukodangala5454]

Need series of this... Pls do... Its awesome...

[@jjrdavidson81]

I absolutely love this short. A timeless classic in my book ☝🏾💯😂😂😂

[@RealGrooveRandom]

So funny especially when you've seen people act just like this but you don't get their visual as portrayed here.. Really well done all round, had me laughing all the way.. ✊🏾🤣

[@SpaceMuffin]

hahaha i love it. i loved the out of sync lips part it was amazing. this is great

[@samblovinglife7946]

Loved this here!

[@josevelasco216]

I feel very grateful for the laughs. Seriously. hahahaha

[@christophwetty]

This was so incredible! Nice work! LOL!!

[@bennetthardy]

This is one of the best shorts ive ever seen in my life

[@elizabethmcirvin]

THIS DESERVES MORE VIEWS

[@KevinMacaringue]

Really funny!!!!!!! Love the concept

[@drybandits4407]

Great work!

[@MarcusVinicius-we2pg]

Prabably Top 10 short movie ever..... Top 20 for sure!!!!!! 5 stars.

[@leelal8873]

Wow well done team. It was directed really well

[@reginajarelle]

I just realised I’m the Craig in my circle 🥲

[@angieabsher]

Omg this was so stressful and funny.

[@ImmanuelH.]

Ayyyye this perfect its exact on point😂

[@user-ld4gn3lh7d]

I watch this almost every tome i roll up😂

[@benhunter5959]

eternal sunshine of the spotless mind nod at @5:55

[@arkansasoracle5653]

Best thing I've seen today

[@diggorypuyal1437]

The is easily one of the best short films I've seen

[@juliannavarrete3701]

love watching this. so funny

[@jhenrymusic7588]

LMAO.... WEED DOES NOT DO THAT TO YOU. He smoked alge, Seamoss or some Christmas 🎄 pine needles or something 😆

[@rebeccagrenfell2423]

Shrooms?🍄

[@raedgaj3878]

I think everyone knows a 'Craig'. I've got a few stories about people like this, & a lot aren't funny, especially the one's who start losing it. One funny story I have is though of a friend who thought he was shrinking... he started speaking in a squeaky voice & thought he was so small we couldn't see him. It was hard not to piss ourselves we laughed so much. This short is a lesson to all that you should never smoke with someone who isn't already a seasoned smoker, same with the shrooms yea. You all know what I mean right!

[@filmmafia4297]

this was so fire 🔥🔥Good Laugh😂😂

[@claudiasomers6847]

Thought 'whoops, they left the boom in' then realised. Funny guys!

[@fut4k841]

nice stuff😂love it❤

[@Althea.spider]

I can hear the future but I can't change it

[@DESTRO350]

This is brilliant! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@KurtRatliff]

Amazing.

[@matteveritt1692]

God this is fucking brilliant.

[@terryf5131]

Good stuff!

[@post-monk671]

So freaking funny!

[@sirapos6550]

L-O-L,HAHAHAHAHA, BRILLIANT !

[@alligatorwoods]

sooooo...good!!!

[@theclasssicks2407]

That was a smash!

[@berka6539]

this was very clever and funny. lol

[@kittykixbootie]

We all know this person.

[@allaroundamazing7007]

Anyone who’s that overly-confident before smoking is a big red flag lmao

[@LAG3]

What? You don't know me! (Freaks out).

[@kittykixbootie]

@@LAG3 😂

[@shabchow8d661]

Holy fucking shit this is amazing

[@matycee]

Ok, Ok... I have something to say... Dear Mr. Parkes, Thank you. Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart. I haven't roared with laughter, the kinda insane kind, in a very long time. Not like that. No, that.... THAT? That was funny.

[@Althea.spider]

LoL I've watched this numerous times

[@MM-me8xh]

Me, I just lmao 😂 when I smoke weed... 🥴

[@shortoftheweek]

We're here to assure you that you're not trapped in a movie.

[@ahsaltwater]

@@shortoftheweek are you conspiring against me?

[@misterandrefriggindoppelga7595]

Hello, Howdy, Hola, Yizzo M M, First with Humor & Respect: I am, Friggin, Jealous of Your High🤪Laughter. Second: Your Comment caused Me to remember the Radio Commercial off of Grand Theft Auto - Vice City about GIGGLE CREAM. 🤣 •By MAFDD, Later😁Days•

[@BestFoodieForever]

Next Level Stuff 😎👍

[@HollyHargreaves]

Loved it

[@joeborrow482]

Just watched this on a shroom trip lmao

[@matthewvengers1291]

I thought this was stupid till the mic.... yo... Fuckin rollin.

[@pakde8002]

I've smoked my whole life, well, not the first 13 years, but I've never seen anyone smoking weed hit someone, but to be fair he was also drinking, so I guess that explains it. Btw I'm 61 yo.

[@fozziethebigbear]

Yep. That's about how it goes :) I stick to craft beer these days

[@kw9568]

Wow!!!!! This is me!!! Other people look at me like I'm the crazy one. I'm like...DID YOU HEAR THAT! STOP PLAYING GAMES!!! 🤯🤯🤯

[@williamjoyner3759]

What was in that weed, right?

[@fqproductions]

I’m actually kind of surprised by everyone thinking how funny this was. As someone who has anxiety attacks when smoking weed, this really triggered that emotion within me. And I don’t mean that in a bad way.

[@kraigklingenberg8873]

What is the song at the very end?

[@Ninja_Squirtle]

Had some déjà vus and some "re-memories" while watching - if you know what i mean

[@misterandrefriggindoppelga7595]

Hello, Howdy, Hola, Yizzo Ninja-Squirtle. I, Mister Andre, am Aware Of What You Are Referring To, AKA I Know Wutcha Mean. 🤣LMAO🤣 •By MAFDD, Later😁Days•

[@DavidRyanBowens]

Wow, well done ha ha.

[@matthewvengers1291]

Wait is that dude just smokin alone. Whoa

[@nancyx591]

I think his friend(?) just wanted to see him freak out otherwise he wouldn’t have started smoking in front of him if he’s such a head case when high ...

[@misterandrefriggindoppelga7595]

Hello Ms. Nancy X, Mister Andre's POV: I find that By Others Freaking Out, under a Drug Induced High, are where, some of, the Largest🤣Laughs Originate From. •By MADDD, Later😁Days•

[@scottyj6226]

Don't smoke weed if its got little mushrooms on it.

[@spazzoutmagazine4418]

The 🎤 I Out of sync lmfaooo

[@arch3088]

Great film! But after one hit?! Where do I get some of that?

[@MM-iy5xr]

Super funny