Ahead of its screening at Arrow Video Frightfest later this month, we caught up with writer/director Scott Lyus, to talk all things Walking Against The Rain.
What can you tell us about crafting Walking Against the Rain?
It’s been a long and winding road to bring Walking Against the Rain to life. We’ve had a lot of heartbreak, broken promises from multiple producers, making the film for 50% less than our original budget due to funding issues. The pandemic, losing my Dad to covid and delayed production dates. It’s a miracle the film ever got made. But myself, Chris Nials and Mel Morley finally said enough was enough and decided to fully produce the film in house at Crossroad Pictures. And I could not be more proud of the little film we’ve created.
Where did you shoot the film?
Walking Against the Rain was shot over 15 days across the beautiful but challenging British Lake District.
What is ‘The Forsaken’ and how does it fit into the story?
The Forsaken are hellish creatures that have risen from the abyss and spread across the land like a plague, destroying all human life in their path. When our story picks up they only hunt at night, but as the story unfolds they soon learn to adapt putting our main characters in even greater danger.
It feels like this is quite an ambitious story, was that your intention?
Yes and no. I didn’t want to take on something that would be impossible on our tiny budget, so I focused the story on the human drama of our main characters Blair and Tommy, and their journey for human connection. But I also didn’t want to do the classic one location, two character first feature you’re told to do. So I adapted that into multiple locations, with a built-in mythology and practical effects monsters.
Would you call Walking Against the Rain a survivalist horror film?
You could describe it as a survivalist horror film, as our main characters certainly struggle to survive within a landscape they share with the Forsaken. But just as important is their internal conflict as they come to terms with grief, loss and rediscover their trust in humanity.
How did the experience compare to Echoes of the Passed and Black Mass?
Making a feature film is worlds apart from making a short. At least it was for us and maybe not in the way you would think. Production wasn’t too different, simply scaling up and shooting over 15 days, rather than 2 or 3 as we have with our shorts. It was more the logistics of it all. Taking our full cast and crew to the Lake District for a month, working with multiple locations, vendors and most crazy of all, liaising with a major Hollywood production that we were sharing our final location with. There’s also the funding side of it all. With Echoes and Black Mass we were very lucky to fully crowdfund those, which is lovely as you’re not on the hook to make any money back. But that all changes once you have investors putting money into the project. Even on a low budget like WATR, there’s an added pressure to get everything in the can on time and on budget ready for a half decent festival run and sales.
What can you tell us about the cast?
I’m in love with the cast of Walking Against the Rain. I’ve been extremely lucky during my short career to work with some amazing actors and that trend carried through to my first feature. Sophia, Johnny and James all return from Black Mass. As soon as we wrapped Black Mass all three were on to me about joining the feature and I loved working with them so much it was a no brainer. The only actor that hasn’t returned from Black Mass is Charlie Bond, and that’s purely because she was super busy creating her own feature that’s screening at FrightFest, Powertool Cheerleaders. So it’s really nice knowing the whole Black Mass team will be represented at FrightFest.Then we have the male lead of Walking Against the Rain – Tommy played by Reece Douglas. I first noticed Reece in Cruel Summer and was really impressed with his onscreen presence. He quickly became my only choice for the role of Tommy. In fact Reece was attached to the project before anyone else.Then rounding out the cast are two actors I’ve wanted to work with for a few years, Francesca Louise White as the Drifter and Diane Spencer as the Cult Follower. While their roles are small, they bring so much to the film and really help flesh out the different characters that inhabit the world of Walking Against the Rain.
I noticed James Swanson in there, I take it he will be doing something whacky in the film?
Haha, yeah. James plays all of the Forsaken creatures. All of them. And he’s fantastic. Especially as I put him through hell. The creature effects are not easy to perform in at the best of times. Let alone in the height of summer in the Lake District. But as always James knocked it out the park. He’s a very special actor and brings a different personality to each creature we meet.
Are you looking forward to screening at Arrow Video Frightfest?
I can’t wait to screen at FrightFest. It’s honestly a dream come true. FrightFest is the one festival we really wanted as a team, and I really wanted to screen as part of the First Blood class as I’m a huge fan of those selections each year. So I’m incredibly honoured that Ian selected WATR for First Blood 2022. Now with that said I’m incredibly nervous too. We always knew a low budget human drama, monster movie hybrid wouldn’t be for everyone, so there’s something a little terrifying about presenting that idea to a packed audience at the legendary Prince Charles Cinema. But whatever the reaction we are honoured to be included in this year’s lineup and can’t wait to see our little monster movie on the big screen.
Walking Against The Rain screens at Arrow Video Frightfest later this month.
Bloody Flicks 