There’s a unique, modern-day dread reserved for the arrival of a stranger at your door. In an era where the gig economy has turned our homes into revolving doors for delivery drivers, we’ve all felt that flicker of apprehension. You open the door, expecting a pizza, and instead, you’re face-to-face with someone whose vibe is distinctly… off. It’s this universal, low-grade anxiety that indie horror Let’s Not Meet attempts to slice into, serving up a narrative that, while promising, ultimately arrives cold.
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This review carves up some plot points and filmmaking choices like a greasy pepperoni pie. If you prefer your horror movies unspoiled, maybe order a different review from the menu. You’ve been warned.
Two horror films that tried to tap this vein in the late 2010s were A24’s Slice and this one, Ryan Callaway’s Let’s Not Meet. Both promised a chilling, perhaps even darkly funny experience, but both left me feeling like I’d been handed the wrong order. Still, as someone who has been known to enjoy pizza both piping hot and tragically cold the morning after, I held out hope. Could this be the one to break my recent drought of satisfying low-budget horror?
The Order Is Placed
The film opens on a familiar tableau: a trio of friends, a fridge barren of anything but booze, and the inevitable decision to order in. The initial disappointment of an empty kitchen quickly pivots to the simple joy of impending pizza delivery. In these early moments, I was cautiously optimistic. The acting isn’t egregious; sure, the line delivery has a peculiar, spaced-out quality, but the dialogue isn’t mumbled, and the writing feels a step above many of its micro-budget peers. The scenario is plausible, and the characters are relatable enough. For a fleeting moment, I thought this might be it, a hidden gem in the vast, often disappointing landscape of free-to-stream horror.
The character development, particularly for a film of this scale, is handled with a surprising amount of care. The protagonists are given just enough backstory and personality to make them more than simple slasher fodder. There’s a genuine story the filmmakers want to tell, one centered on tough, capable women forced to confront a terrifying situation. This focus on building a narrative foundation is commendable and serves as the sturdy, if plain, crust holding the entire enterprise together.
An Awkward Delivery
Unfortunately, that initial optimism began to curdle as the minutes ticked by. The strange pacing in the dialogue never resolves itself. It hangs in the air, creating an unnatural rhythm that feels less like intentional tension and more like actors waiting for off-screen cue cards. This stilted cadence is made infinitely more distracting by the film’s baffling technical choices.
The cinematography (the art of how a film is shot) leans heavily on a rigid shot-reverse-shot technique. For those unfamiliar, it’s when the camera simply cuts back and forth between two characters speaking. In mainstream film, this is seamless. Here, it’s jarringly literal. As one character speaks, the camera is on them. When they finish, it whips to the next speaker, leaving anyone not actively delivering a line to become a temporary statue.
This approach creates a bizarre, stage-play effect that constantly pulls you out of the story. There are no lingering shots, no off-camera sounds building suspense, no sense of a living, breathing world beyond the immediate frame. It’s a filmmaking choice that feels like a half-step toward the found-footage or POV (Point of View) genre without committing to either, leaving it stranded in a stylistic no-man’s-land. The effect is profoundly alienating, strangling any potential atmosphere before it can draw a breath.
The Final, Lukewarm Slice
Despite the technical fumbles that plague its execution, the best thing about Let’s Not Meet remains its story. If you appreciate a horror narrative where the female characters aren’t just screaming victims but resourceful heroines fighting to save everyone, you’ll find something to appreciate here. The film’s heart is in the right place, even if its camera isn’t. Call me a ghoul, but I personally would have welcomed a higher body count to inject some much-needed stakes into the proceedings.
Ultimately, Let’s Not Meet feels like a passion project with a solid concept that was hampered by its execution. It’s a film that doesn’t offer a satisfaction guarantee, and it certainly didn’t leave me with one. But hey, maybe you like your pizza cold. If that’s the case, this might just be the movie to pair with that leftover slice you found in the back of the fridge.
Rating
LET’S NOT MEET is rated: 2 Lukewarm Slices out of 5
An Indie Horror with a Delivery Problem
“Let’s Not Meet” serves up a compelling premise rooted in modern anxieties, but its stilted pacing and awkward cinematography leave it feeling like a cold, forgotten order. A commendable effort that’s ultimately less than satisfying.
Behind the Camera & Post-Production Buzz
Filmmaker Stamp: Ryan Callaway. As both writer and director, Let’s Not Meet is a clear product of Ryan Callaway’s distinct filmmaking approach. A look at his filmography under the Shady Dawn Pictures banner reveals a prolific creator dedicated to the micro-budget horror space. Callaway’s stamp is characterized by a focus on supernatural and slasher narratives, often featuring recurring actors and a raw, unpolished aesthetic that prioritizes story concept over technical gloss. His work embodies the spirit of a guerrilla filmmaker, crafting tales of terror with whatever resources are available, resulting in films that are ambitious in idea, if not always in execution. This is his feature film debut.
Post-Production Buzz & Trivia As a quintessential micro-budget indie, Let’s Not Meet didn’t receive a wide theatrical release or mainstream critical attention. Its life began and continues streaming, where it has found a home on free, ad-supported platforms like Tubi. This has positioned it firmly within the “Tubi-core” horror scene, a subculture of film fans who actively seek out obscure, low-budget, and often bizarre genre films.
Online discussions and user reviews are predictably polarized, with some praising its indie charm and solid premise, while others are critical of the technical aspects. There is no major controversy surrounding the film; its legacy is that of a passionate, small-scale horror effort that continues to be discovered by curious genre enthusiasts scrolling for their next free scare.
If You Liked (or Disliked) “Let’s Not Meet”, Try These:
- Slice (2018): Another pizza-delivery horror, but this one leans heavily into surreal comedy and genre-mashing, featuring a star-studded cast in a world where ghosts and werewolves work at the local pizza joint.
- The Last Matinee (2020): A stylish Giallo homage from Uruguay that proves you don’t need a big budget to create an incredible atmosphere.
- Scare Package (2019): An anthology film that lovingly satirizes horror tropes. If the technical shortcomings of Let’s Not Meet frustrated you, this film’s clever, self-aware deconstruction of genre conventions might be the perfect antidote.
- Crush (2013): Another indie horror from a debuting director (Malik Bader), this film also explores obsession and stalking.
- “Is Let’s Not Meet “one of the best pizza delivery horror movies? No, that’s why we gave you a bunch of other films you might like with pizza in them, too.
- We love independent slasher movies here at Mother of Movies – here are others you might like: The Strangers Chapter 2 / Bloody Axe Wound / Jeepers Creepers: Reborn
Watch the Trailer | Let’s Not Meet Explained: Micro-Budget Pizza Horror
Let's Not Meet
Director: Ryan Callaway
Date Created: 2018-08-31 19:44
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Pros
- ★ Relatable Premise:
- Taps into modern anxieties around gig work and personal safety, especially the unease of letting strangers into your home. It’s horror that hits close to reality. Is Let's Not Meet based on a true story? No, but at least we told you.
- ★ Strong Female Leads:
- Sidesteps tired tropes with capable, proactive heroines who hold their own.
- ★ Indie Spirit:
- Wears its passion project status proudly. It’s the kind of film that reminds you someone really made this, on love, not luxury.
- ★ Atmosphere Over Jumpscares:
- Leans into slow-burn tension and eerie mood instead of constant loud jolts.
- ★ Solid Story Core:
- At its heart, there's a well-formed narrative with character arcs that show real potential, something a bigger budget could’ve amplified.
Cons
- ★ Pacing Issues:
- The dialogue rhythm can feel a little off, with awkward pauses that slow momentum more than they build tension.
- ★ Basic Camerawork:
- Shot-reverse-shot style dominates, which may leave some scenes feeling flat or stagey.
- ★ Missed Atmosphere Potential:
- While the setting has all the right ingredients, the execution doesn't always capitalize on the creep factor.
- ★ Tubi-Core Aesthetic:
- It has that lo-fi streaming vibe. If you're not already on board with micro-budget visuals, it might be a barrier.
- ★ Lower Stakes:
- A relatively safe horror experience with minimal threat or consequence, more eerie than terrifying.
