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Horror Pride Month: Writer/Director K /XI

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K /XI

For K /XI, her love of horror began, not in front of a television or on the big screen, but in a much more unlikely place.

Calling herself a “sucker for death culture,” the London-based filmmaker recalls being utterly fascinated by the Ancient Egyptians and their process of mummification. That fascination carried over into their studies of Viking culture and their own unique death rituals.

Satiating that fascination for more was not always easy outside of the classroom, however. The multi-hyphenate creative grew up in a strict household where horror movies were kept well out of reach. Her parents, however, did not keep track of what books she was bringing home from the library.

“I read a lot of books,” the out and proud filmmaker told me as we settled in for an interview for Pride Month. “If there was a film I couldn’t see that was based on a novel, I would read it. It was quite nice because a lot of people haven’t read the original stories. I think a lot of people don’t realize Jaws was a book. I was that weird 10 year old kid reading The Exorcist when everyone else was reading Goosebumps.”

Translating that love of the macabre into actually directing, and even starring in, her own films was quite a journey, however, and one that she admits she did not consciously make for herself.

It began when she started her extended education at the University of Essex where she began her studies in Literature and Mythology. During her first year, she had to take a couple of extra modules to round out her coursework and she decided to take a film theory class.

Studying the history of filmmaking and the inventors and innovators who created the artform lit an unexpected fire in her, and she had soon switched her emphasis from Literature and Mythology to Literature and Film.

K /XI on the set of Black Lake

In a course focused on short stories that had been adapted to film, she and her classmates went to their teacher and asked if they could make their own short film as a class project. The University of Essex did not have a formal course plan for creating films, but the teacher thought it was an excellent idea and set them up with the campus’s media suite so they could borrow equipment.

“I got appointed to be director for some reason and I thought, okay, let’s do this,” she explained “We made two films as a class with different aesthetics then we had to present it at an academic conference on campus. We had a lot of international filmmakers come to Essex and I got to present this short film. I think that just changed the course of my life. A lot of these academics came up to me to encourage me and tell me that I should be doing this and they were giving me their cards. I decided I had to continue this work.”

In her third year, she again went to the faculty and requested to make a film as her independent study project. After some consideration, her teachers agreed. The film was called Obsidian, and if her path had not been set before, it was most definitely clarified during the experience.

“So I ended up doing what felt like a degree in horror cinema,” K /XI said, laughing. “When it came to my Masters, I continued. I made another short film there as well. I worked at Starbucks for seven years and when I was doing my Masters, I was studying full time and working full time so I could buy my own kit.”

She had become that weird kid running around in the woods with a camera making spooky movies and she was loving every minute of it.

By the time she was ready to make her first feature film, she was well-versed in horror films from all over the world, and she decided to pack up her kit and go to Pakistan, where her family is originally from, to make a film she had conceived called Maya which would be filmed entirely on location and in the country’s language.

“I grew up with stories of djinn and witches from my culture,” she said. “Unfortunately, with the kind of political climate at the time, a film about a girl who is possessed by djinn didn’t seem to do particularly well. I put it on the back bench, just let myself breathe, and then Black Lake happened. And that was just insane.”

Once again drawing upon the culture and folklore of her heritage, Black Lake tells the story of a young British Asian woman who finds herself haunted by a Churail–a malevolent South Asian witch–after she is gifted a beautiful red scarf.

It was K /XI’s most ambitious project to date taking place on different continents, which as it turns out had much to do with the strange, supernatural occurrences that took place on the set of her first film. Though they had requested she come back to make another film, when she arrived, she found that most did not want to work with her again.

“Everyone bailed on me because they were like, ‘Do you remember what happened last time?'” she explained. “I lost everyone. My crew, my cast. It was a nightmare. That film transformed itself and me. The heart of the story is set in Pakistan, but the main film is set in Scotland and we have some scenes set in London as well.”

Though it wasn’t her original intention, K /XI also stars in the film which ultimately became important to her for a lot of reasons, not the least of which were some of the trends we’ve seen in horror filmmaking where writers and directors often make English or American remakes of Asian films rather than simply bringing the originals over in wider distribution deals. Horror also has a history of traveling to Asian countries, appropriating the culture and folklore, but centering the storytelling on American characters.

“That’s something that I really struggle with,” she said. “It’s something I really dislike. It’s that kind of appropriation of something that is ingrained in the  culture. I find it quite frustrating.”

However, she points out that there are positive trends with representation of different groups throughout horror, especially where leading actresses are concerned.

“I love the direction that horror cinema is going in with lead female characters,” she said. “We’ve gotten more diverse. Not just in race and sexuality but just kind of age, as well. I’m much more likely to watch a film with an older female actress in the lead, especially someone like Lin Shaye who is such an icon.”

In the meantime, Black Lake has begun making the rounds at film festival circuit including a stop at the Women in Horror Film Festival circuit earlier this year and she’s used her time in the Covid-19 quarantine to finish other projects and begin new ones.

As a journalist in the entertainment industry, one develops a bit of a sixth sense when it comes to filmmakers and creators, and as we finished up our interview together, I could not shake the feeling that I’d just spoken to someone who will be instrumental in reshaping and furthering the genre. Believe me when I say, K /XI is a filmmaker to watch.

Take a look at the trailer for Black Lake below.

Black Lake Full-Length Trailer from BadWolfFilms on Vimeo.

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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