Horror Archives - Directors Notes

An Injured Young Man Incites a Surreal Encounter in Björn Rühmann’s Psychological Thriller ‘MirrorMirror’

Björn Rühmann discusses the use of darkness and shadow to emphasise the aura of mystery in his unsettling psychological thriller.

Live Action, Premiere

Jim Vendiola’s Horror-Comedy ‘Pretty Pickle’ Reveals Why Our Lover’s Quirks Are Perhaps Best Left Alone

Jim Vendiola talks about marrying disparate moments of eroticism, mystery, horror and comedy in his unconventional and shocking tale of modern dating.

Live Action, Premiere

Masculinity Is a Toxic, Menacing Curse in Dima Barch’s Gripping Queer Russian Horror Short ‘Dead End’

Dima Barch walks us through his use of long takes, dynamic lighting set-ups and an ambiguous mode to create an ambitious and menacing queer horror film.

Live Action

The Sole Survivor of a Climbing Accident Recalls His Supernatural Encounter in Giles Buchanan’s Horror ‘Terror’

Giles Buchanan divulges the practical trials and tribulations of shooting on the Ben Nevis mountain face for his ambitious Lovecraftian horror short.

Animation, Live Action

Humans Are the Houseplants in Benjamin Roberds’ Twisted Horror Comedy ‘Your Houseplants Are Screaming’

Benjamin Roberds tells DN how keeping his crew small allowed him to maximise his creativity during the pre-production of his role reversal horror comedy.

Live Action

Haunting Visions Seep Into the Mind of a Lonely Drifter in Eli Powers’ Psychological Horror ‘Skin & Bone’

Eli Powers tells DN how leaning into the genre elements of his concept enabled him to creatively flourish when mapping out the script of his tense horror.

Live Action

Erik Odom Excavates the Enduring Effects of Shame in Thrilling Horror Drama ‘Box on the Hill’

Actor Erik Odom tells DN why rehearsal time with his scene partner was key to the success of his directorial debut about shame manifest in demon form.

Live Action

An Author’s Hope for Isolation is Disturbed by a Strange Couple in Alex Fofonoff’s Cosmic Horror ‘While Mortals Sleep’

Alex Fofonoff breaks down the refined screenwriting process that birthed his eerie and otherworldly 16mm cosmic horror short.

Live Action

A Mystery Devours a Group of Stranded Men in Andrey M Paounov & Alex Barrett’s Chilly Thriller ‘January’

Director Andrey Paounov & Screenwriter Alex Barrett expound on how they created the absurd, maddening atmosphere of their snowbound folk horror feature.