I would love to sit here and tell you exactly what Secret Menu Beauty Pageant is all about. 

But, well, that's unlikely. 

Described as "An offbeat odyssey into the world of dead shopping malls, fast food secret menus, and basement beauty pageants," Secret Menu Beauty Pageant is an experimental beast all its own. Co-directed by Frankie Campisano and SG Egan, this 15-minute short film debuted online in mid-January and is the kind of film best experienced for oneself. You can do that at www.secretmenubeautypageant.com. 

Secret Menu Beauty Pageant is the kind of short film destined for popularity at indie and experimental film fests. The film has screened at the likes of Burbank International Film Festival, Buffalo International Film Festival, Wyoming International Film Fest, and a host of others. Along the way, the film was named Best Experimental/Video Art Short Film at We Make Movies International Film Festival, Best Comedy Short at Circus Circuit Film Festival, and Best Student Film at Queer Fear Film Fest. 

The film, produced partly via funding from Campisano's alma mater Elon University, is a bit of a mind-f**k yet also strangely emotionally resonant throughout its 15-minute running time. It won't take long for you to realize that these images mean something, a certain nostalgic commercialism constantly present both soothing and jarring. 

I'm a fan of filmmakers who think outside the box. I'm also a fan of filmmakers who just toss that box aside and completely go for it. This is clearly a team interested in really going for it. 

There's something special about Secret Menu Beauty Pageant. This film may not be to everyone's taste, however, for those who embrace the more experimental side of cinema this is definitely a flick worth watching. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic