The Cracked Mountain Man Chronicles: Satire, Survival, and Safeway’s Collapse
A darkly humorous orginal short film about Estes Park’s fall—and a call for accountability.
I’ve been teaching myself AI-assisted animation and movie-making, hoping to bring my stories and books to life in cinematic style (including a planned full animated movie of my next science fiction novel, The Propagandist’s Daughters that will be free to access when you buy a copy of the book.) Along the way, I’ve discovered a new satirical outlet for storytelling—one that blends humor, commentary, and dystopian fiction to challenge perspectives and spark conversations.
What happens when the shelves go bare, and the leaders sit back, sipping whiskey, as the town falls apart? Mountain Man Chronicles: The Fall of Safeway and Civilization is a satirical short film that takes viewers into a post-apocalyptic vision of Estes Park, Colorado. But beneath the humor and absurdity lies a serious question: What happens when corporate greed and political inaction collide, leaving workers and communities to fend for themselves?
The story follows a ragged, cracked-helmet-wearing mountain man—a relic of better times—as he reflects on the downfall of society. It all began, he says, back in January 2025, when Safeway’s corporate overlords let the shelves go bare. Employee hours were slashed, benefits vanished, and desperation took hold. What followed was chaos—fighting in the aisles, whispers of cannibalism, and the Great Elk Purge that sealed the town’s fate.
This piece isn’t just dystopian fiction. It’s satire with purpose—a commentary on the struggles faced by Estes Park Safeway employees and the community as a whole. Through humor and dark storytelling, the film aims to provoke better treatment of workers and more accountability from corporate leaders and local politicians alike.
As our mountain man peers out over the ruins of what once was, his reflections remind us that societal collapse doesn’t always come with a bang—it often comes slowly, as systems we take for granted fail the people they’re meant to serve.
Watch the Film:
Why It Matters:
This story may be fiction, but its themes hit close to home. Workers deserve fair treatment. Communities deserve leaders who prioritize stability and resilience over optics. And we all deserve to ask hard questions about how we prevent real-life versions of this collapse from happening.
Join the Conversation:
What’s the first thing YOU would do if the shelves went bare? They aren’t far off these days… Share your thoughts with Safeway Corporate and the town trustees! Maybe it’s time for our political leaders to negotiate on our community’s behalf, especially our critical local Safeway employees. Let them know we deserve better from our critical infrastructure…
And if this story resonates with you, don’t forget to subscribe and share to keep the conversation going. Let’s build a better future—before the elk run out.
Tags: #Satire #WorkerRights #EstesPark #ShortFilm #DystopianFuture #SupportLocalWorkers #CommunityResilience
