Spores 2016
Frances Poet's darkly comic short film *Spores (2016)* takes the seemingly simple premise of a celebratory 60th birthday party and twists it into a culinary catastrophe.
Director: Frances Poet
Cast




Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spores (2016) about?
*Spores* follows a family's 60th birthday celebration that takes a sinister turn when homemade wild mushroom dishes leave the guests fighting for survival. What starts as a joyful reunion spirals into chaos as the hostess's culinary experiment goes horribly awry.
Who directed Spores?
The film was directed by Frances Poet, a Scottish writer known for her darkly comedic and suspenseful storytelling.
Who stars in Spores?
The cast includes Maureen Beattie, Lorraine McIntosh, John Kazek, and Lewis Howden, who bring the chaotic family gathering to life with sharp performances.
Is Spores (2016) worth watching?
As a 15-minute dark comedy, *Spores* offers a brisk, entertaining twist on the classic dinner-party-gone-wrong trope. While it's unrated, its tight script and strong performances make it a compelling watch for fans of the genre.
How long is Spores?
The film has a runtime of 15 minutes.
About Spores (2016) — A birthday feast spirals into a deadly mushroom mix-up
Frances Poet's darkly comic short film *Spores (2016)* takes the seemingly simple premise of a celebratory 60th birthday party and twists it into a culinary catastrophe. The cozy atmosphere of a family gathering evaporates when the hostess unwittingly serves a deadly batch of wild mushrooms to her sister and their partners. What begins as a heartfelt milestone quickly spirals into a tense, farcical race against time as the guests grapple with the consequences of an unforeseen poison. Poet, known for her sharp wit and knack for blending humor with the macabre, crafts a story that's as much about human frailty as it is about the unpredictability of nature.
With its compact runtime, *Spores* delivers a punchy, dialogue-driven narrative that keeps audiences on edge, balancing grim humor with genuine suspense. The ensemble cast, led by Maureen Beattie, Lorraine McIntosh, and John Kazek, brings depth and authenticity to their roles, making the absurd situation feel unsettlingly plausible. The film's themes of trust, deception, and the hidden dangers lurking in the familiar underscore its clever commentary on how quickly joy can curdle into disaster.