News

“Tonight It’s You” Twists and Turns to the Haunting End

Published

7 years ago

May 27, 2017

Dominic Haxton really didn’t want to make another short film. He’d already done four and he had his sights set on a feature length horror film that he was passionate about. Luckily for us, his friend convinced him to make one more. “Tonight It’s You” is one for the books.

“Tonight It’s You” opens on C.J. sitting on the side of a pool in serious need of a cleaning. As he stares over the water, we get a sense that life isn’t what he wants it to be. We follow him back to his claustrophobic trailer home and his night takes a turn when his gets a notification from a hookup app. The obligatory torso shot is good and he agrees to meet.

Then he arrives and is instructed to meet in the shed out back. Above all, be quiet.

“I wanted to play on the audience expectation of where the horror was coming from,” Haxton explains. “When he initially gets to the shed, you see occult images and you wonder what’s going on. Then you meet the guy and he’s kind of weird but they go ahead and hook up and you wonder what’s going on. Then the guy’s dad comes out of the house and you think maybe they’ve lured C.J. out there and they’re going to do something to him.”

As the young man, Hunter, goes out to meet his father, we immediately realize that this is not a good relationship. The father demands to know what his son has been up to and when he gives no answer, he’s told to go inside. As they both retreat indoors, C.J. decides to now is his chance to leave. The chance is short-lived however as another car pulls into the drive and a small town preacher and his wife step out of the car.

In a split second decision, C.J. enters the house through a window, only to find Hunter, the sweet young man he’d only had sex with a few moments before, tied and gagged on a bed. He begins to untie him but is forced to hide in a closet as the father, the pastor, and his wife enter the home. And that, readers, is when the real terror begins.

As the pastor prays over Hunter, I was convinced they were trying to exorcise the gay out of him. I’m from a small town in rural East Texas and that idea isn’t so far fetched to me. It doesn’t take long, however, for both the audience and C.J. to realize there is so much more going on here.

You see this guy just so happens to be actually possessed.

“The story I had was playing off the fears of being gay in a small town, living with your parents, and they have no idea about your sexuality,” the director told me. “So we played with this allegory of someone’s repressed sexuality being like a demon inside them. There are people who actually believe that gay people are possessed. You can go on YouTube and see videos of ‘gay exorcism’.”

Haxton turns the gay exorcism upside down, however. What happens when you want to exorcise the gay out of someone and it turns out they really are possessed? Haxton wants to be clear, however, that he’s not promoting the idea that one causes the other.

“A lot of people have made comments that I’m equating being gay with demons,” he says. “There’s this idea that if you make a gay themed horror film then this person or that person can’t be the bad guy because then you’re equating being gay with being bad. They protested Silence of the Lambs because they said it painted a negative picture of trans people. They did the same thing with the lesbian character in Basic Instinct. Anytime we see representations of queer characters in horror or in a suspense/thriller in a negative light or showing them as the antagonist, people think the filmmaker is making a negative commentary on it. But sometimes, the character just happens to be gay and he also just happens to be possessed by a demon.”

The rest of the film jumps with terrifying precision from scene to scene as C.J. desperately tries to escape a situation he never imagined, and Haxton beautifully pulls each scene together He has a keen eye that focuses the terror to pin the viewer to their chair.

Jake Robbins gives a strong performance as C.J. Not only is he a talented actor with classic leading man good looks but he also manages to give a performance that is sympathetic and honest as the fantastic and terrifying happens around him. The love scene he is shares with Ian Lerch (Hunter) is electrifying in its eroticism and beautiful its emotional vulnerability. You can feel Hunter’s need to touch and be touched by another human being and C.J.’s almost protective and domineering desire.

This film is a must see for straight and queer audiences alike. The gay characters are far from stereotypes, even if they meet under the most stereotypical of circumstances. Yet, they are human with all the human failings that come with our condition.

“Tonight It’s You” will be playing as part of a special horror block at the FilmOut San Diego film festival on June 10, 2017 beginning at 10 pm!

Tonight It’s You (Gay Short Film) from Dominic Haxton on Vimeo.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Related Topics:Dominic Haxton Jake Robbins tonight its you

Movies

’47 Meters Down’ Getting Third Movie Called ‘The Wreck’

Published

6 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Deadline is reporting that a new 47 Meters Down installment is heading into production, making the shark series a trilogy.

“Series creator Johannes Roberts, and screenwriter Ernest Riera, who wrote the first two films, have co-written the third installment: 47 Meters Down: The Wreck.” Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine) will direct.

The first two films were a moderate success, released in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The second film is titled 47 Meters Down: Uncaged.

^{47 Meters Down}

The plot for The Wreck is detailed by Deadline. They write that it involves a father and daughter trying to repair their relationship by spending time together scuba diving into a sunken ship, “But soon after their descent, their master diver has an accident leaving them alone and unprotected inside the labyrinth of the wreck. As tensions rise and oxygen dwindles, the pair must use their newfound bond to escape the wreck and the relentless barrage of bloodthirsty great white sharks.”

The filmmakers are hoping to present the pitch to the Cannes market with production starting in the fall.

“47 Meters Down: The Wreck is the perfect continuation of our shark-filled franchise,” said Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “This film will once again have moviegoers terrified and on the edge of their seats.”

Johannes Roberts adds, “We can’t wait for audiences to be trapped underwater with us again. 47 Meters Down: The Wreck is going to be the biggest, most-intense film of this franchise.”

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

News

‘Wednesday’ Season Two Drops New Teaser Video That Reveals Full Cast

Published

10 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Cameron McFarland

Netflix announced this morning that Wednesday season 2 is finally entering production. Fans have been waiting a long time for more of the creepy icon. Season one of Wednesday premiered in November of 2022.

In our new world of streaming entertainment, it isn’t uncommon for shows to take years to release a new season. If they release another one at all. Even though we will likely have to wait quite a while to see the show, any news is good news.

The new season of Wednesday looks to have an amazing cast. Jenna Ortega (Scream) will be reprising her iconic role as Wednesday. She will be joined by Billie Piper (Scoop), Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Evie Templeton (Return to Silent Hill), Owen Painter (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Noah Taylor (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

We will also get to see some of the amazing cast from season one making a return. Wednesday season 2 will feature Catherine-Zeta Jones (Side Effects), Luis Guzman (Genie), Issac Ordonez (A Wrinkle in Time), and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Devs).

If all of that star power wasn’t enough, the legendary Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas) will be directing the series. As a cheeky nod from Netflix, this season of Wednesday will be titled Here We Woe Again.

Jenna Ortega Wednesday — Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams

We don’t know much about much about what Wednesday season two will entail. However, Ortega has stated that this season will be more horror focused. “We’re definitely leaning into a little bit more horror. It’s really, really exciting because, all throughout the show, while Wednesday does need a little bit of an arc, she never really changes and that’s the wonderful thing about her.”

That’s all the information that we have. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Movies

A24 Reportedly “Pulls Plug” On Peacock’s ‘Crystal Lake’ Series

Published

11 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Film studio A24 might not be going forward with its planned Peacock Friday the 13th spinoff called Crystal Lake according to Fridaythe13thfranchise.com. The website quotes entertainment blogger Jeff Sneider who made a statement on his webpage through a subscription paywall.

“I’m hearing that A24 has pulled the plug on Crystal Lake, its planned Peacock series based on the Friday the 13th franchise featuring masked killer Jason Voorhees. Bryan Fuller was due to executive produce the horror series.

It’s unclear whether this is a permanent decision or a temporary one, as A24 had no comment. Perhaps Peacock will help the trades shed more light on this project, which was announced back in 2022.”

Back in January 2023, we reported that some big names were behind this streaming project including Bryan Fuller, Kevin Williamson, and Friday the 13th Part 2 final girl Adrienne King.

“‘Crystal Lake info from Bryan Fuller! They officially start writing in 2 weeks (writers are here in the audience).” tweeted social media writer Eric Goldman who tweeted the info while attending a Friday the 13th 3D screening event in January 2023. “It will have two scores to choose from – a modern one and a classic Harry Manfredini one. Kevin Williamson is writing an episode. Adrienne King will have a recurring role. Yay! Fuller has pitched four seasons for Crystal Lake. Only one officially ordered so far though he notes Peacock would have to pay a pretty hefty penalty if they didn’t order a Season 2. Asked if he can confirm Pamela’s role in the Crystal Lake series, Fuller replied ‘We’re honestly going to be covering it all. The series is covering the life and times of these two characters’ (presumably he’s referring to Pamela and Jason there!)'”

Whether or not Peacock is moving forward with the project is unclear and since this news is secondhand information, it still has to be verified which will require Peacock and/or A24 to make an official statement which they have yet to do.

But keep checking back to iHorror for the latest updates to this developing story.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'