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Director Andre Ovredal Takes Us Inside “The Autopsy of Jane Doe”

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Jane Doe

It seems almost astounding that Andre Ovredal has really only directed two feature length films.  His first, Trollhunter, was a found footage film set in his native Norway back in 2010.  His latest, The Autopsy of Jane Doe is quickly becoming the must see horror film of the year.

I had the opportunity to sit down and discuss Jane Doe with the director recently, and even he seems to be surprised by some of the response, especially some of those from really big names in the industry.

Director Andre Ovredal

“Edgar Wright was tweeting about it a few months ago,” Ovredal enthused, “and now Guillermo [del Toro] and Stephen King, who is like the God of Horror.  It’s unreal.  I don’t even know how to relate to that.”

Ovredal might not know how to take it, but he’s certainly enjoying the attention for a film that seemed destined to fall into the director’s capable hands.

It all started when he saw James Wan’s instant classic, The Conjuring.

The Conjuring 3
The Conjuring scene

“I remember seeing The Conjuring in 2013, and I was inspired by the playfulness of the direction,” the director explained, “the kind of balance between classic, simple cinematic direction that almost came out of the 70s—obviously the movie was set in that time—and then there was a juvenile playfulness in the direction that I really gravitated towards.  And I thought, okay this is how you do a horror movie.”

He contacted his team in Los Angeles and told them he wanted to find something similar in tone and style to the movie, and within a month the script for The Autopsy of Jane Doe was in his hands.  When he approached the producers of the film, he learned they were fans of Trollhunter and he found himself in the director’s seat quite quickly after that.

From there it was simply a matter of deciding the best way to translate the script to the screen.  He knew that each decision had to be just as meticulous and planned as Ian Goldberg and Richard Naing had been in writing the script and that started with a couple of especially talented actors.

Ovredal admits to being a little star struck at first with both Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch, but, he says, “after an hour of talking and then you’re just there with a couple of fellow human beings.”

Next came the sets, and once again, Ovredal pointed out that the entire map was there in the script.  It was just a matter of realizing the screenwriters’ vision.  That started with a central set that was built in one piece.

“It feels like you could walk from room to room,” Ovredal stated.  “So it doesn’t, in the movie, feel like your cutting from one set to another between scenes.  It feels like everything is integrated, and that makes it more alive somehow.”

He also brought lessons he’d learned from some of his favorite genre films to the set to amplify the tension of the film.  Many shots in the film use low angles, always showing the ceilings in the rooms to reinforce that the action is taking place in a basement morgue, and viewers can almost feel the weight of the ground above as events unfold within the film.  Ovredal also points out that the wide shots he employs were chosen for a very specific reason.

“It’s something I learned from The Conjuring and a lot of other movies. You need a lot of darkness in the frame.  You know the audience will sit and stare into the darkness if they can.  Like you can see that in the most amazing scenes in The Conjuring and Paranormal Activity.  People will just sit and stare down that hallway and wait for what’s coming.”

Throughout our conversation, Ovredal repeatedly returned to Goldberg and Naing’s script, pointing out that everything that he needed was already on the written page for him, and his job was to make sure that the audience felt was he did when he first read the script.

For example, for those who have seen the film already, you might recall a certain bell that rings from time to time and signals danger for Hirsch and Cox.  I pointed out to Ovredal that this could have been cheesy in the wrong director’s hands, but he immediately pointed me to the script.

“It was all there on the page,” he said.  “It was very carefully plotted into the script.  So, I had a similar experience reading it that audience members have while watching it.  It was solid from start to finish.  Character relationships, the mystery, the forensic notes, they were all in the script.”

“So really,” he added with a laugh, “I’m just the lucky bastard who got to put my name on it!”

I, for one, sincerely hope that luck continues for Andre Ovredal.  We need directors like him in the genre to continue to infuse it with new ideas and to take chances on more original material.  The director is preparing to begin filming his next project, Mortal, this Spring which will take him back to Norway and his roots in the world of Norwegian fairy tales.

For now, you can see The Autopsy of Jane Doe on VOD and Amazon Streaming!

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Tara Lee Talks About New VR Horror “The Faceless Lady” [Interview]

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The first ever scripted VR series is finally upon us. The Faceless Lady is the newest horror series brought to us by Crypt TV, ShinAwiL, and the master of gore himself, Eli Roth (Cabin Fever). The Faceless Lady aims to revolutionize the world of entertainment as we know it.

The Faceless Lady is a modern take on a piece of classic Irish folklore. The series is a brutal and bloody ride centered on the power of love. Or rather, the curse of love may be a more appropriate depiction of this psychological thriller. You can read the synopsis below.

The Faceless Lady

Step inside Kilolc castle, a magnificent stone fortress deep in the Irish countryside and home to the infamous ’Faceless Lady’, a tragic spirit doomed to walk the crumbling manor for eternity. But her story is far from over, as three young couples are about to discover. Drawn to the castle by its mysterious owner, they have come to compete in historic Games. The winner shall inherit Kilolc Castle, and all that lies within it… both the living, and the dead.

The Faceless Lady

The Faceless Lady premiered on April 4th and will consist of six terrifying 3d episodes. Horror fans can head over to Meta Quest TV to watch the episodes in VR or Crypt TV’s Facebook page to view the first two episodes in standard format. We were lucky enough to sit down with the up and coming scream queen Tara Lee (The Cellar) to discuss the show.

Tara Lee

iHorror: What’s it like creating the first ever scripted VR show?

Tara: It’s an honor. The cast and crew, the whole time, just felt like we were part of something really special. It was such a bonding experience to get to do that and to know that you were the first people doing it.

The team behind it has so much history and so much fantastic work to back them up, so you know you can rely on them. But it’s like going into uncharted territory with them. That felt really exciting.

It was really ambitious. We didn’t have a ton of time… you really have to roll with the punches.

Do you think this is going to become the new version of entertainment?

I think it’s definitely going to become a new version [of entertainment]. If we can have as many different ways of watching or experiencing a Television series as possible, then fantastic. Do I think it’s going to take over and eradicate watching things in 2d, probably not. But I think it’s giving people the option to experience something and be immersed in something.

It really works, in particular, for genres like horror… where you want thing to be coming at you. But I think this definitely is the future and I can see more things like this being made.

Was bringing a piece of Irish folklore to the screen Important to you? Were you familiar with the story already?

I had heard this story as a kid. There is something about when you leave the place that you are from, you suddenly become so proud of it. I think the opportunity to do an American series in Ireland … to get to tell a story I heard as a child growing up there, I just felt really proud.

Irish folklore is famous all over the world because Ireland is such a fairytale country. To get to tell that in genre, with such a cool creative team, it makes me proud.

Is horror a favorite genre of yours? Could we expect to see you in more of these roles?

I have an interesting history with horror. When I was a kid [my dad] forced me to watch Stephen Kings IT at the age of seven and it traumatized me. I was like that’s it, I don’t watch horror movies, I don’t do horror, that’s just not me.

Through shooting horror movies, I was forced to watch them … When I choose to watch these [films], these are such an incredible genre. I would say these are, hand on heart, one of my favorite genres. And one of my favorite genres to shoot as well because they are so much fun.

You did an interview with Red Carpet where you stated there is “No heart in Hollywood.”

You’ve done your research, I love it.

You have also stated that you prefer indie films because that is where you find the heart. Is that still the case?

I would say 98% of the time, yes. I do love indie movies; my heart is in indie movies. Now does that mean if I was offered a superhero role that I would turn it down? Absolutely not, please cast me as a superhero.

There are some Hollywood movies that I absolutely adore, but there is something so romantic to me about getting an indie film made. Because it is so hard… it is normally a labor of love for the directors and the writers. Knowing all that goes into it makes me feel a little bit different about them.

Audiences can catch Tara Lee in The Faceless Lady now on Meta Quest and Crypt TV’s Facebook page. Make sure to check out the trailer below.

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[Interview] Director & Writer Bo Mirhosseni and Star Jackie Cruz Discuss – ‘History of Evil.’

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Shudder’s History of Evil unfolds as a supernatural horror thriller filled with eerie atmospheres and a chilling vibe. Set in the not-so-distant future, the film features Paul Wesley and Jackie Cruz in leading roles.

Mirhosseni is a seasoned director with a portfolio brimming with music videos he’s helmed for notable artists such as Mac Miller, Disclosure, and Kehlani. Given his impressive debut with History of Evil, I anticipate that his subsequent films, particularly if they delve into the horror genre, will be equally, if not more compelling. Explore History of Evil on Shudder and consider adding it to your watchlist for a bone-chilling thriller experience.

Synopsis: War and corruption plague America and turn it into a police state. A resistance member, Alegre Dyer, breaks out of political prison and reunites with her husband and daughter. The family, on the run, takes refuge in a safe house with an evil past.

Interview – Director / Writer Bo Mirhosseni and Star Jackie Cruz
History of Evil – No Available on Shudder

Writer & Director: Bo Mirhosseni

Cast: Paul Wesley, Jackie Cruz, Murphee Bloom, Rhonda Johnsson Dents

Genre: Horror

Language: English

Runtime: 98 min

About Shudder

AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film, TV series, and Original Content is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Over the last few years, Shudder has introduced audiences to groundbreaking and critically acclaimed films including Rob Savage’s HOST, Jayro Bustamante’s LA LLORONA, Phil Tippett’s MAD GOD, Coralie Fargeat’s REVENGE, Joko Anwar’s SATAN’S SLAVES, Josh Ruben’s SCARE ME, Kyle Edward Ball’s SKINAMARINK, Christian Tafdrup’s SPEAK NO EVIL, Chloe Okuno’s WATCHER, Demián Rugna‘s WHEN EVIL LURKS, and the latest in the V/H/S film anthology franchise, as well as the fan favorite TV series THE BOULET BROTHERS’ DRAGULA, Greg Nicotero’s CREEPSHOW, and THE LAST DRIVE-IN WITH JOE BOB BRIGGS

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‘MONOLITH’ Director Matt Vesely on Crafting the Sci-Fi Thriller – Out on Prime Video Today [Interview]

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MONOLITH, the new sci-fi thriller starring Lily Sullivan (Evil Dead Rise) is set to hit theatres and VOD on February 16th! Written by Lucy Campbell, and directed by Matt Vesely, the film was shot in one location, and stars only one person. Lily Sullivan. This basically puts the entire film on her back, but after Evil Dead Rise, I think she’s up to the task! 

 Recently, we had the chance to chat with Matt Vesely about directing the film, and the challenges behind its creation! Read our interview after the trailer below:

Monolith Official Trailer

iHorror: Matt, thanks for your time! We wanted to chat about your new film, MONOLITH. What can you tell us, without spoiling too much? 

Matt Vesely: MONOLITH is a science-fiction thriller about a podcaster, a disgraced journalist who worked for a big news outlet and has recently had a job taken away from her when she acted unethically. So, she’s retreated to her parent’s home and started this kind of clickbaity, mystery podcast to try and claw her way back to some credibility. She receives a strange email, an anonymous email, that just gives her a phone number and a woman’s name and says, the black brick. 

She ends up in this strange rabbit hole, finding about these weird, alien artifacts that are appearing around the world and starts to lose herself in this possibly true, alien invasion story. I guess the hook of the film is that there’s only one actor on screen. Lily Sullivan. It’s all told through her perspective, through her speaking to people on the phone, lots of interviews holed up in this palatial, modern home in the beautiful Adelaide Hills. It’s kind of a creepy, one person, X-Files episode.

Director Matt Vesely

What was it like working with Lily Sullivan?

She’s brilliant!  She’d just come off of Evil Dead. It hadn’t come out yet, but they had shot it. She brought a lot of that physical energy from Evil Dead to our film, even though it’s very contained. She likes to work from within her body, and generate real adrenaline. Even before she does a scene, she’ll do pushups before the shot to try and build up the adrenaline. It’s really fun and interesting to watch. She’s just super down to earth. We didn’t audition her because we knew her work. She’s extremely talented, and has an amazing voice, which is great for a podcaster. We just talked to her on Zoom to see if she would be up for making a smaller film. She’s like one of our mates now. 

Lily Sullivan in Evil Dead Rise

What was it like making a film that’s so contained? 

In some ways, it’s quite freeing. Obviously, it’s a challenge to work out ways to make it thrilling and make it change and grow throughout the film. The cinematographer, Mike Tessari and I, we broke the film into clear chapters and had really clear visual rules. Like in the opening of the film, it has no picture for three or four minutes. It’s just black, then we see Lily. There’s clear rules, so you feel the space, and the visual language of the film growing and changing to make it feel like you’re going on this cinematic ride, as well as an intellectual audio ride. 

So, there’s lots of challenges like that. In other ways, it’s my first feature, one actor, one location, you’re really focused. You don’t have to spread yourself too thin. It’s a really contained way to work. Every choice is about how to make that one person seem on screen. In some ways, it’s a dream. You’re just being creative, you’re never just fighting to get the film made, it’s purely creative. 

So, in some ways, it was almost a benefit rather than a drawback?

Exactly, and that was always the theory of the film. The film was developed through a Film Lab process here in South Australia called The Film Lab New Voices Program. The idea was we went in as a team, we went in with the writer Lucy Campbell and producer Bettina Hamilton, and we went into this lab for a year and you develop a script from the ground up for a fixed budget. If you’re successful, you get the money to go make that film. So, the idea was always to come up with something that would feed that budget, and almost be better for it. 

If you could say one thing about the film, something you wanted people to know, what would it be?

It’s a really exciting way to watch a sci-fi mystery, and the fact that it’s Lily Sullivan, and she’s just a brilliant, charismatic force on the screen. You’ll love spending 90 minutes sort of losing your mind with her, I think. The other thing is that it really escalates. It feels very contained, and it has a kind of slow burn, but it goes somewhere. Stick with it. 

With this being your first feature, tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, what are your plans? 

I’m from Adelaide, South Australia. It’s probably the size of Phoenix, that size of a city. We’re about an hour flight west of Melbourne. I’ve been working here for a while. I’ve worked mostly in script development for television, for the last  like 19 years. I’ve always loved sci-fi and horror. Alien is my favorite movie of all time. 

I’ve made a number of shorts, and they are sci-fi shorts, but they’re more comedy. This was an opportunity to get into scarier stuff. I realized doing it that it’s all I really care about. It was kind of like coming home. It felt paradoxically so much more fun trying to be scary than trying to be funny, which is painful and miserable. You can be bolder and stranger, and just go for it in horror. I absolutely loved it. 

So, we’re just developing more stuff. At the moment the team is developing another, kind of, cosmic horror that’s in its early days. I just finished up on a script for a dark Lovecraftian horror film. It’s writing time at the moment, and hopefully getting onto the next film. I still work in TV. I’ve been writing pilots and stuff. It’s the ongoing grind of the industry, but hopefully we’ll be back really soon with another film from the Monolith team. We’ll get Lily back in, the whole crew. 

Awesome. We really appreciate your time, Matt. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for you and your future endeavors! 

You can check out Monolith in theaters and on Prime Video February 16th! Courtesy of Well Go USA! 

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