Get ready for a trip! Filmmaker Dugan Gundelfinger, a name as unique as his vision, drops his latest, a hilarious new comedy short titled Heroic Dose. This isn’t your average laugh riot; it’s a wildly inventive, autobiographical deep dive into a psychedelic journey that promises “true liberation from the ego mind”—or at least, that’s Dugan’s version.
Clocking in at a brisk 13 minutes, Heroic Dose unfolds through a raucous dinner party where guests swap their wildest “trip” stories. But the real gold is Gundelfinger’s own mind-bending tale of a “heroic dose” of LSD in Costa Rica.
What makes it brilliant? The stark, comedic clash between Dugan’s vivid, almost mystical recollections and his co-writer (and best friend) Leighton Lovejoy’s hilariously grounded perspective. The story literally bounces between their contrasting memories, brought to life through a playful series of flashbacks.
This film bends genres and perceptions with a vibrant mix of live-action, trippy special effects, and yes, even sock puppets – because how else do you capture a cosmic gazelle? For this epic tale, Dugan and Epoch Films partnered with Bemo Studio to bring the visual effects and animation to life. Bemo Studio pulled out a variety of techniques for this one, including VFX, 2D & 3D Animation, as well as Cel and Rotoscope Animation, ensuring every moment feels both absurdly real and delightfully surreal.
With a killer ensemble cast including Jena Malone, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Nick Rutherford, Heroic Dose guarantees genuine belly laughs. While it might not entirely shift your worldview, it’ll definitely inspire you to ponder your own “golden river of truth.”