Pleasant: First Look (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Pleasant: First Look is a short comedy-thriller proof of concept about Henry, a stranded man in a hot dog costume whose unusual night continues inside a store that stays open late. Hugh J. Service writes, directs and stars in this 10-minute American production.

Pleasant: First Look is a 2026 short film that blends comedy and thriller elements around an immediately unusual predicament: a stranded man wearing a hot dog costume and spending a strange night in a store open late.

Written and directed by Hugh J. Service, the film also serves as a proof of concept for the upcoming independent feature Pleasant. Its compact 10-minute runtime leaves the premise at the center of the experience, with an ensemble cast filling out the story.

Pleasant: First Look movie details

Story without spoilers

The film follows Henry, a stranded man in a hot dog costume, as his unusual night continues inside an open-late store. The supplied synopsis frames the story as a strange, contained situation, while the film’s proof-of-concept role connects it to the planned indie feature Pleasant. Further plot details are not provided.

What to expect

Viewers can expect a short-form mix of comedy and thriller built around an eccentric central image and a confined nighttime setting. The premise suggests an offbeat tone, while the 10-minute runtime points to a focused introduction rather than a full-length narrative. As a proof of concept, the film also functions as an early presentation of the world connected to Pleasant.

Cast and creative team

Hugh J. Service writes and directs the film and plays Henry. Andrew Portwine is Ricky, Ayden Williams is Wolf, Kristina Ferrer is Joan, Matthew Wright is Babe, Zach Frost is Jackie, Kefir Klee is Lou, Ciara Nester is Strum, Alex Graziano is Mopguy, and Nate Welch is The Suited Man.

• Hugh J. Service as Henry
• Andrew Portwine as Ricky
• Ayden Williams as Wolf
• Kristina Ferrer as Joan
• Matthew Wright as Babe
• Zach Frost as Jackie
• Kefir Klee as Lou
• Ciara Nester as Strum
• Alex Graziano as Mopguy
• Nate Welch as The Suited Man

Release and production context

Pleasant: First Look is listed as released on September 1, 2026. It has a runtime of 10 minutes and is in English. The film is from the United States of America, with production credited to Great Lakes Film Collective, The 317 and Cottage Productions.

Production companies: Great Lakes Film Collective, The 317, Cottage Productions

Reported production figures:
Budget $500

Movies Dock view

Pleasant: First Look presents a concise, unusual setup while introducing a project intended to lead toward the independent feature Pleasant. Its short runtime, comedy-thriller classification and distinctive central situation make the premise clear without revealing more of the story than the supplied information supports.

Film data:
TMDB