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Yeah.

In the nightmare, I was followed by a monster, and I instinctively knew it was bad.

It was very slow, and it was always coming towards me.

It would walk towards me when I was with friends or family, at all different times.

Id have to run away, or climb out of a window, or run down the street.

It was just this constant feeling of dread and anxiety.

Thats where that part of it came from.

Im a huge horror fan, and Id been watching horror movies since I was young.

I started thinking it would be cool to have it be something that could be passed between people.

That was obviously much later, when I put that altogether.

But the basic idea was in the back of my head for a long time.

Taking something that may feel like a cliche and give it a new life.

Without going into specifics, thats something I enjoy, I like doing that with film.

I think that there are a lot of ways to interpret what this monster is.

Thats an interpretation that Ive certainly… there are a lot of ways that I see it.

Theres not one specific interpretation.

I think there are some ways that I even read after a fact that are different, as well.

But yeah, I think thats one of the jobs of horror films.

I think thats one of the things they do really well.

I think its good as well that it doesnt over explain.

I just wasnt interested in that for this film.

Its a situation where these people find themselves within a nightmare.

Within a nightmare, theres no way of finding any logical sense youre simply within it.

The Lets solve it thing feels like more of a movie convention.

The central character you created was really interesting as well.

The rest of them, through their friendship or their compassion, are able to experience it with her.

I think its about that moment, where that small group of people are genuinely her family.

Was it important that you created a strong female character for this?

Jay, what shes doing is completely normal.

Her being strong is definitely important.

Its a great moment of suspense.

Can you talk about how you designed those sequences?

I worked that out at the script stage, that idea.

Im happy with how it turned out.

Its always fun to create suspense in that way.

How important was it to establish the world beyond the suburb?

Because one of the really distinctive parts of the film is the look of Detroit and the empty buildings.

The idea of the separation between the suburbs and the city was an important thing to show.

Its one of many themes in the story.

It was a conscious decision, and specifically written to take place there.

It sort of felt as though the monster came from out there in this jungle of empty buildings.

Yeah, I can see that.

Again, where it came from whos to say?

Ive seen some really interesting reads in terms of interpretation.

Where [the monster] came from and what it means in terms of the separation between those spaces.

What was it like to take it to Cannes, because that must have been an incredible experience.

It was really great.

I was nervous before that, because we hadnt screened the film in front of a real audience.

So Cannes was great, but it was stressful getting it done on time.

Then, when it played, it was really nice to see.

Thats when I knew that it was alright it was working for people.

In the past, it often felt as though there was a certain snobbery directed towards horror.

Do you think that might be abating now?

For example, its hard to imagine something likeHalloweengetting into Cannes back in 1978.

Ive definitely heard people talking about the way that sometimes horror is seen by some people.

Its tough because Im a film lover in general, and I absolutely love horror movies.

Its one of many kinds of movies I really enjoy, and always have.

I really dont know.

As you say, horror cinema is pure cinema in a lot of ways.

Theres a reason so many different filmmakers really enjoy working within horror.

you might do it, but people might not be as receptive towards it.

Whereas in a horror film, I feel like people are open and can really appreciate a different approach.

Those are rare in horror.

The genre can sometimes be quite fidgety.

The movie is often about waiting and the quiet moments in between the chaos.

The way the characters create, even, in those moments.

That was a lot of the draw to me.

So what do you think youll do next?

Do you think youll make another horror film, or switch genres again?

Well, Im trying to set up the next.

Im hoping to make the next film this year.

So it might be a drama, it might be a mystery.

I have all kinds of stuff.

I just like the idea of working in different genres and making different kinds of films challenging myself.

When I made this, I hadnt made a horror film before, but I really wanted to.

Id totally do another one, but its working out what the right thing is.

David Robert Mitchell, thank you very much for your time.