The Pause Media Kit

A Short Film by Sam Grierson
A bold, darkly comic short film exploring menopause, identity, job loss, and reinvention in midlife.

Overview

The Pause is a powerful new short film written and directed by Sam Grierson and produced by So Crocodile. Set and shot in Birmingham, UK, the film explores the complex and often invisible challenges women face in midlife — from redundancy and the collapse of career identity to the profound changes brought by menopause.

Told with dark humour and emotional honesty, The Pause blends social realism with cinematic flair to tell a story that is both deeply human and urgently relevant. It is a film about resilience, reinvention, and the courage to reclaim one’s voice in a world that too often overlooks women after forty.

Synopsis

The real horror is finding yourself…

Charlie, played by Suzy Bloom (Emma [Universal Pictures], The Art of Love [Netflix], Matt Berry’s Snuff Box [BBC3], Sweet), has lost her job, her confidence and her sense of who she used to be. Caught between the dehumanising world of AI job searches and the chaos of menopause, she begins to feel as if her life has turned into a horror film — one she never auditioned for.

Her best friend Sammi, played by Louise Osbourne, is also wondering how life ended up so far from what they imagined in their twenties. Together they stumble through the fog of midlife, confronting identity, purpose and friendship, all while hilariously parodying the clichés of the horror genre that seem to echo their own experiences.

Featuring a voice cameo by Miranda Hart, The Pause is a darkly funny and insightful horror comedy about modern womanhood, self-worth and the absurdity of starting over.

The Pause Louise Osbourne and Suzy Bloom

Themes and Relevance

The Pause speaks directly to some of the most urgent conversations of our time:Menopause and identity: Tackling the physical and psychological impact of menopause without euphemism or stereotype.Work, worth and automation:

Examining how redundancy and AI-driven hiring processes dehumanise candidates and erase individuality.

Midlife reinvention: Exploring how women rediscover purpose and creativity when societal narratives tell them their best years are behind them. Female friendship and resilience:

Celebrating solidarity, humour and shared strength as tools for transformation. This film is both a cultural commentary and a call to action — an invitation to see, hear, and value the experiences of midlife women in a rapidly changing world.

Directors Statement - Sam Grierson

“I wrote The Pause because I was surrounded by women who felt stuck, changed, and out of step with the world. I, too, had lost my job and was questioning who I was.

At a time when only certain types of stories seem to get made — often horror — I wanted to use that language to say something important: that women’s experiences in midlife are dramatic, meaningful, and worthy of the screen.

This film is about visibility, voice, and the power to redefine ourselves when the world tries to erase us.”

Cast

Suzy Bloom (Emma – Universal Pictures, The Art of Love – Netflix, Snuff Box – BBC3, Sweet) as Charlie
Louise Osborne as Sammi
Vrinder Mahey
Tim Parker
Special cameo voiceover by Miranda Hart

Crew

Writer & Director: Sam Grierson (The Programe)
Editor, Art Director & Producer: Gillian Abraham
Composer: Katherine Evans
Stylist & Wardrobe: Rose Hill

Creative Approach & Production

The Pause is a collaboration between Sam Grierson and Gillian Abraham, combining their shared vision for telling vital stories with artistic integrity and cinematic craft.

Shot on location around Moseley, Birmingham, the film is beautifully realised through striking visual design and a distinctive, haunting soundscape composed by Katherine Evans.