Horror Movies: “Implanting” a Film into the Audience
2022 NEER Nightmares - Part 1
NEER Artist Thomas Simon - Writer/Director of Bowlhead
Horror is a completely blank creative canvas where you can try crazy things and justify them. We give the audience access to other worlds. Science fiction, supernatural topics, otherworldly creatures… your imagination runs wild. That’s the beauty of horror. Other genres often have too many conventions and rules.
A drama film has to be a bit sad… a bit of human complexity… and all that.
A comedy demands laughs every four seconds.
But a thriller, or horror, can be almost anything: Disturbing, weird, even playful, which makes the genre an excellent medium to “implant” ideas into the audience whilst keeping them on their toes.
“A thriller, or horror, can be almost anything: Disturbing, weird, even playful, which makes the genre an excellent medium to ‘implant’ ideas into the audience whilst keeping them on their toes.”
I also don’t think that every idea should be overly explained or immediately understood. Many of my favorite films are crazy psychological thrillers, where they don't spell everything out for you, but explore a core concept that gives the audience enough bread crumbs to draw their own conclusions. Those horror films who have the power to stay with you for a few weeks or months are often more impactful than other genres.
So that was my approach while making my recent short film, “Bowlhead.” It’s an original take on a known genre. I wrote, directed, and edited the film with an incredible team.
I feel fortunate that everyone who came onboard is a passionate creative and expert at what they do. With this caliber of collaborators, I almost see myself as an orchestra conductor where I facilitate every section member to bring their best to the table. It often means just getting out of the way and letting them work.
For instance, the sound designer Darren Maynard worked on “Joker” amongst other big Warner Brothers movies. “Bowlhead” was an opportunity for him to work on a project where he had more creative input to express his vision. We had a very talented composer in Jordan Lawlor, who was part of a massive band and toured the world. I gave him very basic notes, but I let him bring his own expertise… I don’t try to micromanage. To me that’s being a good director. I know what I want, but I want you to make it better. I want you to bring something that elevates what I want in the same or similar direction. Multiple perspectives is the only way a film reaches its fullest potential.
I’ve become more conscious of the importance of saying something with my work. That’s what I meant by “implanting” an idea. Great art stays with you not just because of technical prowess. Andrei Tarkovsky once said: “Your film should be a safe that contains a precious idea.” That means, if you tell the story well, the audience has the tools to open the safe and find that idea. You never spill it out, you protect it with a plot and story.
That is the kind of film I want to make. Stuff that people can take an idea or concept home with them. Something that lives and grows inside them, and maybe inspires them to go out and create something of their own.
Thomas Simon won “Best Director” Award for “Bowlhead” at the Knoxville Horror Festival. “Bowlhead '' was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Nashville Film Festival and Best Cinematography at Nightmares Film Festival. More from NEER Artist Thomas Simon here
