Your Date Is Here

Friends, it has been quite some time since we have shared a new Saturday Frights offering, I’m not just talking about the podcast of course, which the latest episode is quite late. I am talking about finding and sharing the best retro themed horror shorts and TV shows. I think we have found a memorable on this evening, a delightfully devious short film entitled Your Date Is Here – one that offers a rather wicked version of the Mystery Date board from Milton Bradley. While that board game has received various updates over the years, the game featured in Your Date Is Here is based off the original 1965 version. As a matter of fact it would seem that director Zak White as well as Todd Spence used an actual Mystery Date game – altering it to fit their short film.

Your Date Is Here is a prime example of why horror short films often work so very well. They typically do not beat around the bush, getting to the punch or the true feeling of horror. That is obviously one of the reasons I am so very fond of the short story collections of Stephen King as well as Richard Matheson. Horror or thrillers if you like, sometimes can be the most enjoyable when they are at their simplest. Deliver just enough story for a setup and to allow us to invest in the characters before dropping the scare. Although if I am behind totally honest here, Your Date Is Here is more creepy than terrifying. I found myself with a pretty big grin on my face throughout it’s almost 6 and a 1/2 minute run. The short which made it’s debut back in 2017 at Fantastic Fest, really delivers in spades with atmosphere, moreover instilling a creeping unease that continues to ratchet up until the payoff.

But what of the story for Your Date Is Here? It concerns a Mother and her Daughter who decide to play an old board game one evening – in an effort to help pass the time while they wait for the pizza delivery man to arrive. It doesn’t take long however before some odds things occur while playing the game… such as bizarre ‘phone calls’ as well as the peculiar and somewhat disturbing imagery of the game board itself.

So turn down the lights if you are able, turn up the volume and lean in closer to your monitor and enjoy Your Date Is Here!