The short film format is an unsung hero. Sure, everyone loves a full-length movie but the short film gives a filmmaker the opportunity to work with atypical formats, smaller settings and, perhaps, more personal reflections. “Horny Kid“, the latest short from director Josh Whiteman, is an excellent example of that expression. In just over 7-minutes, Whiteman seamlessly weaves together media, crafts a genuinely hilarious tale and manages to squeeze in a touch of poignant personal insight.
The setup of the film is simple; Whiteman makes a call to his mother to have her recall stories from his childhood; specifically those around his fascination with women. He casts himself as the titular “Horny Kid;” a tiny little man with suave obsessions. We won’t spoil the specifics as the back-and-forth unfurling is the real treat of the piece – masterfully presented with actual footage from each anecdote. Who among us wasn’t obsessed with a popular TV character or commercialized toy? Whiteman’s youthful behavior isn’t extraordinarily abnormal but it is incredibly entertaining to see it played out in real time. As the stories wrap up, Whiteman’s mother shares her wishes for his happiness but is clear that she isn’t pushing for him to partake in any sort of traditional nuclear family. The visualization at the end is a real cherry on top but it’s his mother’s sentiment to simply be happy that makes the journey so wonderfully fulfilling.
If this is your first experience seeing a Josh Whiteman production, it’s a great place to start. We’re big fans of his work and suggest you use this as a jumping off point to watch more of it. There are music videos for Full Mood, Love Montage and Heaven Honey that are sublime. The Live at Josh’s House sessions are compelling, unique and quintessential to anyone that enjoys the Nashville music scene. We like him so much we actually premiered another one of his short films, “Ignoramus, just over a year ago. Subscribe to his work on YouTube and follow him on Instagram.
“Horny Kid” could be viewed as a goof; nothing more than a funny excuse to dive into some VHS recordings and reflect on days gone by. It is that but there’s a meaningful heart at its core that should not be overlooked. Whiteman is proving that he understands how to balance entertainment and reflection in just 7 short minutes.