The Sohome Horror Film Festival: Pride Edition is just a handful of weeks away, and we got the chance to quiz filmmaker Graham High about horror comedy short The Housesitters.
Can you tell us how The Housesitters started?
The Housesitters is based on the night that Matt McConkey and Erin Pineda (who play Matt and Erin in the film) were housesitting down the street from the site of the Manson murders on Cielo Drive. They were plagued by phantom doorbells, creepy neighbors, and a spooky balloon that followed them from room to room.
After they saw my previous short, ZER0 0NE ZER0, Matt and Erin asked me to direct a script based on their murder house experience. The idea was so fun and hilarious I knew I had to do it.
I love the comedy sprinkled into the film, how hard is it to make a horror comedy?
For me, the hardest part of a horror comedy is the horror. The Housesitters script and cast were so funny, the comedy came naturally. As long as I was recording, we were going to get great stuff.
Horror is similar to comedy in that you have to commit to what you’re doing, no matter how ridiculous it is. So when we found moments to draw out suspense or do a jump scare, we really leaned into it. The hardest part is balancing between the two.
How crucial is the chemistry of Matt and Erin to The Housesitters?
To borrow some old school Hollywood verbiage that we use on our poster: Matt and Erin are The Housesitters. There is no movie without them. The story came from their experience. They are playing the most vapid, insecure parts of themselves. My job as a director was helping them find the freedom to play and discover. Comedy duos are potent cinema, and Matt and Erin have it.
Tell us how Matt and Erin’s script evolved when you started filming?
Early on, it was important to me to really play up the horror moments when we could. The more dire we could make it for the characters, the more their true selves would come out. We had to strip down these vacuous Hollywood types to their most vulnerable core. Matt and Erin uncovered an emotional arc for their characters that elevates the film while keeping it a fun, breezy short.
In regards to the comedy, some of my favorite moments are ad libs and throwaways that we discovered on the day. Burl Moseley, who plays the neighbor in the film, always gets a big laugh with his improvised line, “The devil lives in that house. I ain’t coming by.”
How did this compare to your previous short films?
This was my easiest short film to produce so far. Matt, Erin and Brittany High (my producing partner and sister) made a great team. This is my second short that I’ve shot on an iPhone, so we kept it an agile, low pressure production that prioritized enjoying the process. I think that joy comes through in the film.
How exciting is it to be screening at Sohome Horror Film Festival soon?
We are very excited! We filmed a special intro just for the festival that we think people get a kick out of. And the fact that there is such an audience for queer horror is so encouraging.
What was your favourite sequence to film?
I loved doing all the horror stuff towards the end of the film. I got to play with some expressionistic lighting and do some weird camera moves and try to scare the audience a bit. Whenever I see it live and people actually jump or tense up, it feels just as good as getting a big laugh from the crowd.
Do you want to make the step-up to feature films soon, and if so, do you want to do a horror film?
I’m starting production on a feature doc that I’m really excited about, but I’d love to make a narrative feature as well. A horror film would be amazing. Horror audiences are so great. Hopefully your readers can help me to convince Matt and Erin to make a Housesitters feature film!
Catch The Housesitters and plenty more at Sohome Horror Film Festival: Pride Edition from 29 June to 1 July.
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