Finally, a horror film for people who are inexplicably grossed out by the idea of kombucha. Saddled with a mind-numbing day job, musician Luke (Terrence Carey) buys into the company’s free kombucha scheme in an attempt to meet his quotas. The gunk has the desired effect of enhancing Luke’s productivity, but leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.

Adapted from Jake Myers’ short film of the same name (he must really hate kombucha and office work), Kombucha expands on the ideas and subtext, going bigger, harder and gooier than before. A cross between Office Space and David Cronenberg before he became A History of Violence and Crimes of the Future‘s David Cronenberg, Kombucha is a snarky comedy-horror satire for those frustrated artists out there who have been saddled with a sucky day job. It’s a slow burn, but Myers is successful in adapting a short film to feature length without it feeling padded out or as though anyone is stalling for time.

Kombucha is playing with a lower budget than, say, The Substance, but both kombucha and having a day job are yucky enough that what it does deign to show works. As tortured artist Luke, Carey is phenomenal, demonstrating a big enough talent during the opening scenes that we can buy into his frustration at being turned into a dead-eyed, kombucha-swilling office drone. The effects, while on the cheaper end of the spectrum, still get the job done, veering between the otherworldly purple of Color out of Space and the oily slime of Society.

An office horror satire which will resonate with anyone who’s ever had to work a soul-crushing day job… or just really hates the idea of kombucha.

KOMBUCHA premiered at UK FrightFest on August 22nd, 2025.