Horror filmmaker Larry Fessenden has a long-standing reputation for crafting unique interpretations of iconic movie monsters. From vampires to modern Frankenstein retellings, he has left his mark on the genre with his distinctive approach. Fessenden’s latest creation, Blackout, takes a contemporary twist on the werewolf mythos, offering a gripping horror drama centered around a small-town artist named Charley, played by Alex Hurt, who grapples with the unsettling suspicion that he may be a werewolf.
Blackout made its debut at the Fantasia International Film Festival, and following its premiere, Bloody Disgusting had the opportunity to sit down with Larry Fessenden to discuss his passion for monsters, the inspiration behind his old-fashioned werewolf design, and the potential for a thrilling monster mashup in the future.
An Old-Fashioned Werewolf
In an era filled with CGI-laden werewolves, Fessenden’s vision for the lycanthrope in Blackout harks back to the classic bipedal Wolfmen of the ’30s and ’40s. The filmmaker reveals that this aesthetic has been close to his heart since childhood. He states, “Ever since I was little, that’s how I would draw a werewolf. That’s how I think of it. I mean, the truth is, I would defend myself by saying it’s a wolfman. That’s what I’m really doing. In fact, in the movie, they keep saying Hombre Lobo. That means wolfman. It doesn’t really…I don’t know what the word for werewolf is, but it’s a specific thing, and that’s my new way of talking about it. But the fact is that that’s just the aesthetic I always liked.”
A Community Affected
Fessenden’s Blackout not only explores Charley’s internal struggle with his animalistic instincts but also delves into the impact his inner wolf has on the entire small community. The filmmaker explains, “When you’re thinking about a werewolf, part of the question is how would it affect a community? Because it’s not just their drama. I wanted it to be a portrait of a community that, unfortunately, is very vulnerable to division. I feel like this is the story in America right now. We’re literally ripe to turn on each other, and any number of bad actors can affect the conversation and seize on something that’s happening and use it for their own good.”
Absurd Humor and the Absurdity of Life
One of the striking elements in Blackout is the unexpected infusion of absurd humor amidst the horror. Fessenden admits that life’s absurdity often inspires the humor in his films. He elaborates, “I see life as absurd, and people are funny, and they say contradictory things. Human relations have all these microaggressions that hopefully are funny for an audience because they can recognize them. When you’re in it, it’s not as fun. You’re like, ‘Oh, they hurt my feelings.’ But when you see two people talking, my favorite is seeing the cops, and the guy just always has to put the woman down. She says, ‘I had this idea.’ He’s immediately, ‘Oh boy, what’s it going to be?’ And you’re yelling, ‘Oh my God, dude.’ But these things are in life, and you know, you could get outraged by them. But as an observer, you can be amused by them and say, ‘God, isn’t that just the way people interact?'”
A Future Monster Mashup?
Having explored vampires, Frankenstein’s monster, and werewolves, the question arises whether Fessenden may tackle another classic creature, like the mummy or the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Fessenden humorously responds, “First of all, I’m going to get sued by Universal eventually. No, and thank God you said the Creature, at least you said the Creature. Everybody asks if I’m going to make a mummy movie. And I’m like, ‘What are you talking about? Why would you ever make a mummy movie?’ Even though apparently George Romero wanted to make a mummy movie, which bless his soul. Okay, George.”
He adds, “No, what I’m more interested in, I could just say this, is doing a mashup, and that would probably end my business of recreating the Universal Monsters. I want to see them all together, and what would that look like? So, that’s actually what I’m thinking about, and I don’t know who would finance that. I got to get on with it because everybody’s getting older. We’ll see what happens.”
As Blackout brings a fresh take on the werewolf mythos, Larry Fessenden continues to leave his mark on independent horror, always eager to explore new and intriguing territories within the genre.
Note: The film is yet to be released, and the interview with Larry Fessenden took place after the premiere of Blackout at the Fantasia International Film Festival.