The story of Tripping Through the Holidays
Tripping Through the Holidays tells the story of a cop who's trying to get his life together. He's got custody concerns hanging over his head, a strained relationship with his ex-wife, and—most importantly—something to prove about his reliability as a father and partner. Then, in one fateful moment, he accidentally gets dosed with LSD right before he's supposed to show up to her Christmas party. What follows is a descent into visual chaos, awkward family moments, and the kind of holiday disaster that'd make anyone question their life choices. The film's premise is deceptively simple: can this guy survive a few hours of tripping while surrounded by the people who matter most to him—and still convince them he's got it together? It's a high-concept comedy setup that works because the stakes feel real underneath the absurdity.
Behind the making of Tripping Through the Holidays
Tripping Through the Holidays is a Vancouver Film School production, which immediately signals a certain level of craft and ambition. The Vancouver Film School is known for producing technically polished short films that often punch above their weight in terms of visual storytelling and conceptual boldness. At just 11 minutes, this film had to pack a lot of narrative momentum into a tight window—no room for filler, no time to waste on exposition. That constraint actually works in the film's favor. The production team had to make every second count, which means the pacing is sharp and the comedic beats land quickly.
Short films from film schools often serve as calling cards for emerging filmmakers and actors, and Tripping Through the Holidays fits that mold. The budget limitations of student production can sometimes push creators toward more inventive visual storytelling, and in a film about LSD-induced hallucinations, that's exactly what you'd want. The surreal sequences probably didn't require a massive VFX budget—just imagination and some clever editing. Production details around cast and crew haven't dominated the awards circuit in the traditional sense, but the film's premise and execution suggest a team that understood the assignment: make something funny, weird, and ultimately human about a guy in the worst possible situation.
What makes Tripping Through the Holidays stand out
What's striking about Tripping Through the Holidays is that it doesn't just lean on the shock value of its premise. Yes, there's comedy in watching someone hallucinate their way through a family event—that's the hook. But the film seems to understand something deeper: that the real tension comes from the gap between who someone wants to be and who they actually are in that moment. The cop isn't a villain. He's not trying to ruin the party or prove he's irresponsible. He's desperately trying to hold it together while everything inside his head is falling apart. That's the emotional core that elevates it beyond a one-joke premise.
The visual language of the hallucinations is where the filmmaking really earns its keep. I keep coming back to how films handle altered states—some go for pure weirdness, others try for something more grounded and unsettling. Tripping Through the Holidays seems to split the difference, which is harder than it sounds. The family drama elements—the awkwardness with the ex-wife, the pressure of being watched as a parent—these ground the comedy in something recognizable, even as the visuals get increasingly untethered from reality. That contrast between the mundane stakes (proving you're a good dad) and the surreal experience (your brain is melting) is what makes the whole thing work. It's not just a stoner comedy; it's a film about the terror of losing control in front of the people whose respect you need most.
Where to stream Tripping Through the Holidays online
Tripping Through the Holidays is currently available on major OTT services, and Movie OTT tracks exactly where you can watch it right now. Since streaming availability shifts by region and platform, the Where to Watch widget at the top of this page will show you the most up-to-date options in your area. Whether it's showing up on the platform you already subscribe to or requires adding a service, that widget's got the real-time data. Short films like this one often rotate through different platforms more frequently than feature-length content, so it's worth checking Movie OTT's current listings before you sit down to watch. The 11-minute runtime makes it perfect for a quick watch—no commitment, maximum weirdness.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is Tripping Through the Holidays about?
It's a comedy about a cop who accidentally gets dosed with LSD before his ex-wife's Christmas party. He has to navigate surreal hallucinations while trying to convince his ex-wife and family that he's a responsible father and partner, all while his brain is essentially short-circuiting.
Q: How long is Tripping Through the Holidays?
The film runs 11 minutes, making it a short film rather than a feature. That tight runtime means the pacing is quick and the comedic beats land fast without any downtime.
Q: Where was Tripping Through the Holidays made?
It's a Vancouver Film School production. The film school is known for producing technically accomplished shorts that often showcase emerging filmmaking talent and creative problem-solving.
Q: Is Tripping Through the Holidays based on a true story?
No, it's an original fictional premise created for the film. The concept is a high-concept comedy setup designed to explore what happens when someone loses control in front of the people who matter most.
Q: What genre is Tripping Through the Holidays?
It's classified as a comedy, though it blends comedic elements with family drama and surreal visuals to create something that works on multiple levels beyond just the surface-level premise.
Final thoughts on Tripping Through the Holidays
Tripping Through the Holidays is the kind of short film that doesn't overstay its welcome. Eleven minutes is exactly the right length for this story—any longer and the joke might wear thin, any shorter and you'd lose the emotional stakes that make it matter. It's funny, visually inventive, and surprisingly grounded in the universal anxiety of wanting to prove yourself to people who've already written you off. If you're looking for something that blends absurdist humor with genuine character stakes, this one's worth your time. Check Movie OTT to see where it's streaming in your region and give it a shot.
