Phil Haney is one sick fuck. And trust me, that’s an ode of respect and praise to the man who created one of the best times I’ve had with an online short movie in a while. “The Kegger” is a film that seems obvious and yet will pretty much sweep the rug out from even the most cynical viewer who thinks they’re watching an “Animal House” wannabe. Even as a darkly demented frat house romp, “The Kegger” is rather hysterical with some great acting, and hilarious gags that left me breathless.
There’s the girl who just can’t get out of the way of vomit, the idiotic frat brother jocks, and the girl who works in a McDonald’s… in a Wal-Mart. Suffice it to say that without the ace performances, this material wouldn’t be as sharp as it is on-screen. Every performer here is great, and Haney directs them into comedic gold that entertained the heck out of me; Lindsay Wilson is great as Danielle, the dreamy girl who got away that our two main characters Eric and Richard are trying to scope out and possible re-connect with, while Ben Fuller and Robert Lambert are funny and memorable as the two inadvertent party crashers who intend to “score” with the drunken chicks at the party if it kills them. The twist that Haney hands us in the finale was surprisingly very well delivered and thankfully never felt shoehorned or forced.
The way that our characters go from inept partiers to, well—you’ll see, really felt natural, and Haney handles the change in tone and genre with utter perfection. I laughed, and then upon this twist I gasped utterly taken aback and pleased that Haney just didn’t want to give us another frat house romp, however funny it was. The fact that Danielle leaving main character Eric has such repercussions is an interesting direction Haney takes beyond the typical comedic conventions of the man simply being heartbroken, and there’s an innate psychology and observation at hand, along the statement that these two guys are not who they appear to be. I raise my Corona to you, Phil. “The Kegger” is an obviously low budget production with an apparent stripped down budget, but damned if Haney doesn’t take it and make it in to something original and worthwhile with tight performances, great comedic timing, and a twist you won’t see coming.