Thirsty Review: Is the Short Film on HULU Worth Watching?

HULU has recently turned to international film festivals to expand its library of content. These gatherings are places were mainstream studios debut their latest titles, but there are many quirky, low-budget stories being told on the side-screens. HULU recently paid a record sum for the exclusive rights of Palm Springs, and now they’ve added Thirsty to their growing list.

An unconventional and quirky love story, this short film fits the bill for the type of stories being told on HULU. Thirsty was developed for a segment titled Cake on the Fox network. They were featuring bite-sized short stories that were an average of 15-minutes long.

The streaming service has classified the short film as a one-episode comedy series, so we’re doing the same.

1. Quick Review

Thirsty is a surprisingly aesthetic and touching story about a bug’s desire to feel human. Falling in the genre of absurdist humor, this series manages to add emotional depth and convey a range of desires and needs in just 12 minutes. It is a fun metaphor for unrequited love, and romance told crisply that many viewers would find relatable.

2. Info & Watch Links

3. Is It Worth Watching?

Thirsty is a classic romantic story told from a point of view that you might never see again. On 

On the one hand, it is about love at first sight, and on the other, it is about a literal bloodsucking stalker hunting her target.

THIRSTY Trailer | TIFF 2019

Whatever your interpretation of Thirsty may be, there is no denying that the short film is hilarious, and carries an undertone of emotional complexity. Why wouldn’t you want to watch a complex love story wrapping up in only 12 minutes?

I. Plot 

The story revolves around the desire to be accepted and loved unconditionally, no matter who you are, or in this case, what species you are. Maya Rudolph voices a hilarious mosquito that falls in love with a man after drinking his blood. The man has recently been through a bad breakup with his long-term girlfriend.

Director Nicole Delaney flips the script and tells the story from the point of view of a crazy and obsessed woman making a man her target. The title of the movie is also a pun based on the mosquito’s bloodsucking obsession, and how Urban Dictionary defines a woman desperate for a man as thirsty. 

Through the interchanging lens of the man’s sorrow and the mosquito’s longing, we see an unfulfilled tale of love, intimacy, and desire. The fable never loses track of its vision and the energy it carries from start to finish. Thirsty offers a poignant look into the nature of love and obsession and is filled with puns and jokes.

II. Cast & Characters

The cast does a fabulous job. For a film made on a limited budget Nicole Delaney manages to pull together great actors using a powerful script and past connections and friendships. Maya Rudolph voices the horny, unrelenting female mosquito chasing her obsession. She hilariously describes the man’s scent, the taste of his blood, and takes you inside the mind of a pestering buzzing insect.

Jay Ellis plays the helpless man at the mercy of his tiny admirer/ stalker. After breaking up with his girlfriend, he is crestfallen and can’t figure out how to get rid of this specific mosquito.

The pair turn in excellent performances that are very different from each other but help give the story more versatility. Jay knows that there is something that he cannot see controlling the narrative and that he is a side-character for the mosquito in the driving seat.

III. Visuals

Thirsty’s unique aspect is how the movie shoots a lot of the footage from the POV of the mosquito. Director of Photography John Wakayama Carey has risen to the challenge, shooting everything from the mosquito’s perspective using drones, hand-held cameras, and gimbals. 

The limited budget didn’t allow the use of CGI, so John and Nicole worked with an insect breeder and shot real mosquitoes using macro lenses. The ultra-focused shots of Jay capture every aspect of his heartache, but they are hilariously narrated by Maya, who sees this as an opportunity to swoop in and win his heart.

4. Grade

5. Final Thoughts

Watching thirsty is a win-win as the film ticks a lot of boxes in just 12 minutes. It is directed well, and the visuals are unique and pleasing. The movie doesn’t give us a bug-eyed view and tells a story for mature audiences mixed with humor. It is delightful, quirky, and merits a watch.