Pauly Shore and Doug Jones Face a Monster That Feeds on Anxiety in Viral Horror Short REMAIN CALM

What if having a panic attack could get you killed? That's the terrifying idea at the center of the new horror short Remain Calm, which stars Pauly Shore, Nick Swardson, and horror icon Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth).

The 14-minute film has already racked up more than 5.5 million views on YouTube since its October 12 release, and it's easy to see why people are checking it out.

Written and directed by Jake Lewis, Remain Calm introduces a creepy monster named Mr. Frett, played by Kevin Keppy, who hunts people based on their anxiety. The more frightened you become, the easier it is for the creature to find you. Staying alive means keeping your emotions under control, even when everything around you is going horribly wrong.

The filmmakers explained the concept, saying, “In A Quiet Place, the one rule is: you make a noise, you die. In Remain Calm, the one rule is; you feel anxious, you die. Our monster, Mr. Frett (Kevin Keppy), can only see its prey when they’re filled with anxiety. So, in an increasingly anxious world, how do our heroes stay calm when their lives literally depend on it?”

That's a pretty terrifying situation to find yourself in, especially when the one thing you're supposed to do is the exact opposite of what your brain wants.

The short also features some cool practical creature effects created by Gorgazma (Pizza Panic Party). No digital monsters here. The filmmakers went with physical effects to bring their nightmare to life. Filming was split between real locations and Lewis' own production facility, Reel Ghost Studios.

Shore, who previously worked with Lewis on The Court Jester, has been enjoying the response to the film. He told PEOPLE, “I’m so thrilled by the response of this short that we did with Jake and Sam Lewis, Nick and Doug. I love that people are digging it. And happy Halloween!”

Lewis has been making a name for himself with viral short films, particularly his series of biographical projects. His first focused on Robin Williams and received coverage from PEOPLE, CNN, and Rolling Stone.

He followed that with The Court Jester, featuring Shore as Richard Simmons. The film premiered to sold-out audiences in Park City during the Sundance Film Festival.

His third biographical short, The Cowboy and The Samurai, explored Jack Nicholson and John Belushi. It premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre as part of Dances With Films.

Lewis and his production team have also established Reel Ghost Studios, a downtown production space featuring an 11,000-square-foot soundstage and standing sets that include a medieval bar, a sci-fi cantina, and a cave. The facility is available for rental and can accommodate custom-built sets for other productions.

With Remain Calm, Lewis is trying something different, mixing an unusual horror concept with familiar comedic talent and some seriously unsettling creature work. The result looks like Clerks collided with a twisted science experiment.

Considering the short's popularity and its concept, it wouldn't be surprising if Remain Calm eventually grew into a feature-length horror movie. There's plenty of potential in a monster that can find you simply because you're scared.