The fantastical horror film The Dark Stranger is released today at Cineplex Yonge and Dundas. Last fall, when the film played as part of the Blood in the Snow Film Festival, I had a chance to talk with director Chris Trebilcock about his motivations behind The Dark Stranger.
Whats
the film about?
the film about?
Its about a young woman whos an
agoraphobic artist and she begins work on a new graphic novel , only to feel
that a character that she created is trying to come into the real world, who is
tearing her life apart.
agoraphobic artist and she begins work on a new graphic novel , only to feel
that a character that she created is trying to come into the real world, who is
tearing her life apart.
What were your
inspirations behind the film?
inspirations behind the film?
Originally, it was just writing something that could
be done for a fairly low budget, but it eventually became about writing about
an artist dealing with depression. Lots of artists deal with depression and
struggle with that, I have in the past.
be done for a fairly low budget, but it eventually became about writing about
an artist dealing with depression. Lots of artists deal with depression and
struggle with that, I have in the past.
What if depression was manifested in like a demon or
something that went to artist to artist, trying to get them to kill themselves?
I never seen that done before. So, thats really what the film is about:
artists dealing with depression and overcoming it.
something that went to artist to artist, trying to get them to kill themselves?
I never seen that done before. So, thats really what the film is about:
artists dealing with depression and overcoming it.
What was the
best thing about the production of the film?
best thing about the production of the film?
We shot primarily in my house and weve since sold
the house and my father and I live in an apartment now. But, growing up I shot
all my short films in that house, so it was nice that my first feature film
would be made in there as well.
the house and my father and I live in an apartment now. But, growing up I shot
all my short films in that house, so it was nice that my first feature film
would be made in there as well.
It was great working with terrific actors, Katie Findlay, Enrico
Colantoni, Stephen McHattie, Jennifer Dale, Mark O’Brien, and producers Paula
Devonshire and Glen Wood were fabulous and very supportive. It was a great
experience.
Colantoni, Stephen McHattie, Jennifer Dale, Mark O’Brien, and producers Paula
Devonshire and Glen Wood were fabulous and very supportive. It was a great
experience.
What were some
of the challenges with the film?
of the challenges with the film?
Well, also shooting in the house. When you bring a whole
film crew into a house for twelve days, it gets very cramped very quickly. We
were shooting at the tail end of winter and the heat went off in the house and
I was living there at the time. And I
had to sleep at night in the house that had no heat whatsoever, so I had to
sleep with a sweater on and a toque, so that was a bit of a pain. We got
through it.
film crew into a house for twelve days, it gets very cramped very quickly. We
were shooting at the tail end of winter and the heat went off in the house and
I was living there at the time. And I
had to sleep at night in the house that had no heat whatsoever, so I had to
sleep with a sweater on and a toque, so that was a bit of a pain. We got
through it.
We had one scene on a soundstage, where we built a set,
where at the end the characters go into the comic book world to battle The Dark
Stranger. So, that was a challenge, but the production designer Lisa Soper did
a fabulous job.
where at the end the characters go into the comic book world to battle The Dark
Stranger. So, that was a challenge, but the production designer Lisa Soper did
a fabulous job.
What is one
thing you want people to know about The Dark Stranger?
thing you want people to know about The Dark Stranger?
Thats a tough question. I think its a film that
entertains and thrills, but it also has something to say about dealing with
depression and its a positive message about that. We can overcome the demons
inside us. As someone who has struggled with depression, and I know many people
who have, its nice to know that theres a story that encourages you. That you
can beat this.
entertains and thrills, but it also has something to say about dealing with
depression and its a positive message about that. We can overcome the demons
inside us. As someone who has struggled with depression, and I know many people
who have, its nice to know that theres a story that encourages you. That you
can beat this.
The Dark Stranger opens today at Cineplex Yonge and Dundas
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