From MLM madness to sci-fi loops, Grind is a sharp, bloody anthology that turns the modern rat race into a cohesive, terrifying work of art.
I usually approach horror anthologies with a healthy dose of skepticism. While I’m a lifelong fan of the genre, if the stories are not cohesive enough, I find myself checking out halfway through. Thankfully, Grind completely put those fears to rest early on. It tackles the modern work landscape through four distinct lenses – hustle culture, the gig economy, digital trauma, and labor rights – weaving them into a tapestry of corporate dread that feels uncomfortably close to home.
What struck me most was the expert pacing. These stories aren’t just slapped together; they are so seamlessly blended that I found myself eagerly anticipating the transitions just to see how the filmmakers would weave the narrative threads together. Even the introduction, which initially felt a bit out of place, pays off beautifully. By the time the credits rolled, I realized every oddity was intentional, contributing to a world defined by wealth inequality and the insatiable greed of oligarchs.
MLM
As someone who once fell down the rabbit hole of buying LLR leggings for my kids – their designs were just so cute back then! – this segment hit a very specific, very hilarious nerve. I had friends in the thick of the boss babe lifestyle, and I nearly joined them. This history made the segment’s descent into absolute insanity feel relatable in a way.
MLM is easily the funniest of the four, anchored by great performances that lean into the absurdity of hustle culture. While one specific part (the bird…) was a bit too weird even for my tastes, the sheer fun of watching the horror kick in made it a standout.
Delivery
This segment leans heavily into sci-fi, and it’s a breath of fresh air. While some might argue that time loops are a tired trope in horror, Delivery uses the concept to perfectly mirror the repetitive, soul-crushing nature of food delivery apps. I have actually done this job before, so I understood exactly what Grind was trying to say. My heart was pounding as I watched the driver attempt to beat the clock, reset after reset.
It’s a high-tension sequence that had me on the edge of my seat, and the ending delivered a smirk-worthy payoff that solidified it as one of my favorite chapters.
Content Moderation
The first two segments play with dark comedy and sci-fi, but Content Moderation plunges straight into the abyss. This is the darkest segment by far. Having a friend who worked in this field, I know firsthand that the mental toll is no joke; these people see things that can’t be unseen.
Seeing the fictional company DRGN show such blatant disregard for employee well-being felt devastatingly realistic. It’s a terrifying, somber look at the digital trash we produce and the people forced to sift through it.
Union Meeting
Ending on a high note, Union Meeting takes a quirky, ensemble-driven approach to a topic every modern worker understands: the corporate fear of organized labor. The visuals here are top-tier, and once the central threat is revealed, I was completely hooked. It is easily the bloodiest segment of the bunch, and the cast clearly had a blast with their roles.
Grind‘s final segment serves as a fantastic climax, especially in how it circles back to tie the bookended segments together into a satisfying, if cynical, conclusion.
Overall Thoughts
Grind succeeds where many anthologies fail by staying focused on its core theme: the horror of being a cog in a machine that doesn’t care if you break. It’s a cohesive, expertly crafted journey through the worst parts of our modern culture. Whether you’re here for the laughs, the gore, or the social commentary, this is a shift worth picking up.
About Grind
This horror anthology tackles the modern work landscape through four timely perspectives – the hustle culture of an MLM, the endless repetitiveness of a food delivery driver, the online horrors of a content moderator, and the unionization of a familiar-feeling coffee shop. Grind shows what it means to be a worker in a world defined by wealth inequality and ruled by endlessly greedy oligarchs, one not so far removed from our own.
This is a film for anyone who’s ever hated their job, had a bad boss, or felt taken advantage of at work. In other words, it’s a film for all of us.
Grind had its premiere at SXSW 2026.