Scare Me
Scare Me is a 2020 American comedy horror film written, directed by, and starring Josh Ruben, with Aya Cash portraying a successful horror novelist who encounters Ruben's aspiring writer character during a power outage in a remote Catskills cabin.[1] The narrative unfolds as the two strangers challenge each other to tell increasingly intense scary stories, which begin to manifest in unsettling ways, blending improvisation and meta-commentary on horror tropes.[2] Premiered as a Shudder original, the low-budget production emphasizes verbal storytelling over visual effects, earning praise for its originality and performances despite mixed audience reception.[3] Ruben, known for comedy sketches, drew from personal experiences in crafting the film's tense, dialogue-driven structure.[4]
Production
Development
Josh Ruben conceived Scare Me as his feature directorial debut, drawing from his background in comedy sketches at CollegeHumor and a desire to blend horror with improvisational performance.[5][6] The film's core premise—two strangers trapped in a cabin during a blackout, competing to tell the scariest stories—emerged from Ruben's interest in low-budget, dialogue-driven horror anthologies reminiscent of Tales from the Darkside and Tales from the Crypt, emphasizing sound design and minimal effects over visual spectacle.[6][7] Ruben began writing the script in April 2018, motivated by personal frustrations with commercial directing gigs and broader cultural tensions, including the #MeToo movement and reactions to cases like that of Aziz Ansari, which prompted him to "write angrily" about gender dynamics, creative insecurities, and male fragility in storytelling.[5][6] After parting ways with a previous directing partner, he developed the project independently, focusing on a single-location setup in a cabin to minimize costs and props while maximizing actor improvisation.[5] Early collaboration with cinematographer Brendan Banks helped map out the visual and narrative structure, treating the location itself as a narrative element.[6] Funding proved challenging but resourceful; Ruben withdrew $26,000 from his 401k and partnered with producer Dan Powell, whom he connected through his CollegeHumor network of over seven years.[5] Additional support came from Last Rodeo Studios after agents facilitated introductions, allowing pre-production to emphasize a small crew, favors from contacts, and a commitment to proceed even on a shoestring budget.[5] Principal photography occurred over 14 days in January 2019 in upstate New York, navigating blizzards and limited actor schedules, such as Aya Cash's nine-day availability and Chris Redd's 2.5 days.[6]Casting
Josh Ruben, who wrote, directed, produced, and starred in Scare Me as Fred, a blocked horror writer, leveraged personal and professional connections for the principal casting.[1] The film's low-budget, independent production, shot over 14 days in upstate New York, prioritized actors comfortable with improvisation and risk-taking in a dialogue-driven, single-location setup.[6] Aya Cash was cast as Marion (also known as Fanny), the established horror author who challenges Fred during a blackout, based on Ruben's prior acquaintance with her through mutual friends and a collaboration on the series You're the Worst.[4] [6] Ruben selected Cash for her versatility in portraying multifaceted, non-sexualized characters, aligning with her expressed interest in unconventional roles; she committed after reading half the script, trusting Ruben's vision without a formal audition.[4] Her scenes were filmed over nine days, emphasizing creative freedom in performance.[6] Supporting roles included comedian Chris Redd as the pizza delivery man, whose limited availability—due to Saturday Night Live commitments—restricted his filming to 2.5 days, necessitating efficient scheduling.[8] [6] Rebecca Drysdale rounded out the key ensemble, contributing to the film's improvisational storytelling dynamic, though specific casting details for her were not publicly detailed beyond Ruben's praise for her comedic timing.[1] The casting emphasized performers from improv and sketch backgrounds, facilitating the film's meta-horror structure reliant on verbal escalation rather than effects.[6]Filming
Principal photography for Scare Me occurred primarily in a single log cabin located in Bearsville, a hamlet near Woodstock, New York, during January and February 2019.[9][10] Additional filming took place in nearby Phoenicia and at Woodstock Film Studios to support the production's needs.[11] The choice of a secluded cabin in the Hudson Valley region aligned with the film's plot, which unfolds entirely within such a setting during a power outage, emphasizing isolation and intimacy.[12] Director and co-star Josh Ruben described the cabin as the "fifth cast member," integral to the storytelling through its textured walls, dark crevices, and natural lighting effects like simulated firelight and moonlight filtering into irregular nooks.[12] Every scene was shot within the cabin, turning it into a versatile stage that enhanced the horror elements via shadows, sound design, and performer interactions rather than relying on extensive visual effects or multiple locations. Ruben noted the challenges of shooting in the space, stating, "Though it wasn’t always the most pleasant to shoot in, this log cabin is the fifth cast member. We shot every corner of it... it was our stage, and it’s, in part, why this one-location flick is so fun to watch."[12] This constrained approach suited the low-budget indie production, focusing on dialogue-driven improvisation and meta-narrative tension between the leads.[13]Plot
During a power outage in the Catskills amid a storm, two neighboring cabin renters—struggling multi-hyphenate artist Fred (Josh Ruben) and established horror author Fanny (Aya Cash)—meet and begin exchanging improvised scary stories to pass the time.[2] [3] Fanny, confident in her genre expertise after publishing a bestselling novel titled Hackers Die Screaming, challenges the inexperienced Fred to craft a tale capable of frightening her.[14] [15] As their narratives unfold—Fred's initially fumbling attempt evolving into a creature-feature premise involving a monstrous entity, countered by Fanny's more assured vignettes featuring familial betrayal and supernatural possession—the storytelling competition intensifies, with escalating commitments blurring the line between fiction and emergent reality.[1] [16] The session exposes personal insecurities, professional rivalries, and creative frustrations, transforming their verbal duel into a psychological confrontation laced with meta-horror.[2] [17]Cast
The principal roles in Scare Me are portrayed by Josh Ruben as Fred, a struggling horror writer and aspiring filmmaker; Aya Cash as Fanny, an established horror author; Chris Redd as Carlo, Fred's friend and neighbor; and Rebecca Drysdale as Bettina, Carlo's wife.[18] Supporting characters include Lauren Sick as Meredith, a bookstore employee.[19] Ruben, who also wrote and directed the film, drew from his background in comedy and improvisation for the lead performance, emphasizing verbal storytelling over visual effects.[20] The casting prioritized actors with improvisational skills to enhance the film's dialogue-driven horror elements, as noted in production accounts.[12]| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Josh Ruben | Fred |
| Aya Cash | Fanny |
| Chris Redd | Carlo |
| Rebecca Drysdale | Bettina |
| Lauren Sick | Meredith / Bookstore Owner |