The Foul
2021 · 4m · UK
Directed by James Button
Genres: comedy, dark comedy
A dog owner who refuses to pick up after his pet encounters a giant sentient poo that teaches him a disgusting lesson. Originally commissioned as a council PSA about cleaning up after dogs, the film was rejected by the client for being 'too disgusting' and went on to screen at 30+ festivals.
Picked by Zoe
The scouts
Director wearing a giant practical poo costume in a rejected council PSA — this is the kind of unhinged backstory that makes shorts worth scouting. Festival cred earned through bad taste, exactly the right impulse.
A council-rejected PSA about dog mess that became a festival darling — the backstory is funnier than the premise warrants, and the director-in-poo-costume gambit is firmly in the Peter Jackson Bad Taste lineage. Charmingly disreputable.
Four-minute corporate PSA rejected by its own client for being too gross, with the director himself in a practical giant-poo costume, that ran 30+ festivals including London Short Film Festival — the backstory IS the craft achievement. Bad Taste/Braindead comparisons are bold but the lineage is clear.
Reviews
Another absolutely hilarious and reality-bending comedy short from this director.
An insane and hilarious film about the importance of cleaning up after your dog.
Festivals
- London Short Film Festival
- Aesthetica Film Festival
- Carmarthen Bay Film Festival
- Norwich Film Festival 2023
- Screamfest Horror Film Festival
- MotelX Lisbon International Horror Film Festival
- Adbhooture Film Festival 2021, Best Monster Short Film
- Indie Short Fest, Best Editing, Best Special Make-up
- IndieX Film Fest, Best Dark Comedy Short
- British Short Film Awards 2021