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There's no more fertile ground for indie filmmakers than horror, and for a few extremely talented directors like my guest Matt McClung, you can even exceed expectations of the genre with a film like INHABITANTS (2025). The film tells the tale of a young woman who moves in with her lapsed Catholic boyfriend, only to discover...uh oh.

In this episode, we discuss:

• how he got started in filmmaking;
• the benefit of film school -- he says the relationships were the most beneficial part;
• why he decided to take on such heavy themes -- religion, Catholicism, families, and stones -- for INHABITANTS -- he calls it a throwback film;
• the film has a "personal character driven component and a sort of an emotional mystery component";
• how he aimed for an element of "audience participation";
• the amazing potential of horror and what would he tell people who say they don't like the genre?;
• the marketing challenges associated with horror;
• the importance of casting in INHABITANTS and how he has a great casting director to thank -- thank you, Bess Fifer, CSA!
• his plans for the next year -- does he stay in the horror genre and does he feel like directors can get pigeonholed?

Matt's Indie Film Highlight: BONE LAKE (2024) dir. by Mercedes Bryce Morgan

Links:

Follow INHABITANTS on Instagram

Follow Mercedes Bryce Morgan on Instagram

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