The director of the sensationally chilling Oculus gives his take on horror movies and haunted mirrors.
That film which cost just $70,000 to make put him on a path that eventually led toOculus.
), who are also behind his next picture which has already been shot calledSomnia.
Found footage has to be objective.
You have to believe the frame.
So it was really hard to find partners who were willing to do it another way.
It took like seven years.
It got really frustrating and I would just keep putting it in the drawer.
But I threw it out there and he watched the short and they got in touch the next day.
They went, We really like this short as long as you dont do it found footage.
And I was like, Okay, great, Id love to have that conversation.
So we got together and developed the script together.
That was really hard to crack at first.
Mirrors are kind of a staple in horror movies.
Well, as a kid I did all the Bloody Mary games and using a mirror to scare yourself.
But as I got older, the thing thats awesome about mirrors is that theyre completely ubiquitous.
Its often our first interaction on a given day.
Its backwards to start and then each mirror is slightly distorted.
The imperfections of the glass presents us with what we assume is reality, but it isnt.
So we took that idea that we take for granted that this is an objective reality but its not.
There are always examples of them being kind a cool garnish on a horror story.
Its like, a mirror, really?
Whats scary about it?
But its not the most intuitive movie monster.
Did you grow up reading a lot of the genre?
I did not growing up watching a lot of horror.
I wasnt allowed a lot of it and I was a real chicken.
So I grew up first with authors like John Bellairs and R.L.
Stine for kind of the young adult horror.
But I found Stephen King in the sixth grade and that was it.
I became a rabid fan.
What I loved about his work was the attention that was paid to character.
I thought that was scarier than anything.
I always feel like that takes away some of the scare.
They want everything explained these days.
The more explained stuff tends to evaporate.
Its like you come out of the theater and the movies over and its gone.
IfOculuscan stick with somebody even for a day then it will maybe be something special.
That was just the hope; I guess well see.
When you started watching movies what were seminal films in the genre for you?
Brad AndersonsSession 9blew me away.Lake Mungoblew me away.
Thats a tough thing to sell.
And I really hope we can help with that at least a little bit.
Because as a fan I would just love to see more challenging material get out to the mainstream.
What hat do you enjoy wearing most: director, writer or editor?
Oh, theyre all fun.
I think editing is ultimately the most exciting because it informs writing and directing in a really cool way.
Thats where you finally get to see the movie stand up.
Because youre always doing it in your head, even as youre writing or filming?
And because that one colors everything else so much, I think thats where I enjoy it the most.
Its like, you start alone when youre writing.
And then you end alone again the edit bay.
Ive been really lucky that they were willing to let me edit my own stuff.
Thats when I really get to sit back and actually watch everything come together into something cohesive.
So I think thats my favorite part.
So Jason (Blum), I think, kind of single-handedly blazed that road for the genre.
It was really exciting.
So thats been wonderful.
It has a lot more heart.
Its emotional center is much more kind of beautiful and fragile.
I disagree with that.
I think people respond really positively to that.
So it was really gratifying to be able to make that film.
Its certainly the most ambitious thing Ive gotten to work on across the board.
Is Somnia still in the horror genre?
We would pitch it as a beautiful horror.
But at least nobody can come back at the end and be like, Oh, youre just rehashingOculus.
This has always been kind of a very different little project and I hope it connects with people.
I guess well find out.
Oculusis out in theaters now.
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