You can read my entire “deMonica” review/thoughts, here.

My FULL interview with Miguel is below.

1.) Lola: Miguel, you have such a well versed background in TV and film.  When creating “deMonica”, how difficult was it to take seemingly oh so familiar horror film tropes and incorporate South American culture to make a new concept?

Miguel: It was a delight actually. To merge two things that I love dearly and to come out the other end with something that people enjoy is a huge blessing. There were tropes that I wanted to steer clear from and new elements that I wanted to bring into the mythology of the genre.

One element for example is the cliché upside down cross in the Exorcism sub-genre to symbolize a Satanic presence. Originally, the symbol had nothing to do with Satan but rather with Saint Peter, who asked to be crucified upside down because he felt he was not worthy of being crucified the same was as Christ was. So in essence it’s the symbol of a Catholic martyr, not Satan. Hence why in deMonica you’ll never see an upside down crucifix. It just didn’t ring true to me and within the realm of my mythology, “demons” would never consciously choose that symbol to announce their presence. Nor would they speak in Aramaic, Latin or any known language – not at first.

2.) Lola: Being that the plot of the film is centered around sex work mixed with the Catholic Church, do you feel at all like you’ve challenged and accomplished  suspending prudish beliefs/ narrow mindsets?

Miguel: There’s a lot more to be explored on the subject. It’s definitely something that runs in the undercurrent of the story. Something that I spoke about with actresses Claudia Serven (Monica) and Daniela Azuaje (Maye), is that these women don’t believe themselves to be victims. Are they victims of the system?

Yes. Of the society in which they grew up in? Yes. Of external forces? Yes. But still – they do what they need to do in order to survive. They accept the cards that life has given them and move forward. Would they wish they were in a better situation, of course, but it is up to them to make the choices that will take them out of that situation. They are women of action, and they know what they’re doing. Very much like Ripley and Sarah Connnor in Alien and Terminator respectively. They are faced with a different kind of monster, both internally and externally. 

I had this conversation with Claudia about how society generally looks down at a woman who is a sex worker, be it in Nevada, Costa Rica where it’s legal, somewhere where it’s illegal, or even through OnlyFans. Sometimes people are too quick to judge and don’t know the full story of an individual. And to those that are quick to look down upon those people I ask, What would you do, if you were in that situation? Would you be willing/able to do this kind of work to feed your family? Would you have the strength? 

3.) Lola:  When filming deMonica, you ran into some very horror like obstacles traveling with the cast and crew. What was your mindset in trying to see this entire production through and can you divulge a snippet of that time that you’ve never spoken of before?

Miguel: We took calculated risks. I never ask anyone to do something that I wouldn’t do myself. So I’m very comfortable with asking because in the event that they say “I don’t feel comfortable” I happily understand and do it myself. Something that I’ve never spoken about before… I got a Venezuelan government ID which I had to pay for, and on the third day of travel we got stopped by a military officer in the middle of the country that told us it was fake. We didn’t know. And he had all the evidence to bring us in. But producer Wil Romero got us out of the situation. 

4.) Lola: In the climate of COVID-verse filmmaking, how do you personally stay inspired and what is your process like day to day with all of the events and projects on your plate?

Miguel: Gratitude. That’s how I stay inspired. It boggles my mind how much we’ve achieved even in the last few months.

The more I’m thankful for the people I work with, family, health and career, the more things land on my plate and the more people I get to hire. Which has always been a dream of mine, to give back to the people that believe in me and the vision behind all of this. To hire my Venezuelan crew on international projects and fly them all over the world, it’s a huge blessing and I don’t take it for granted.

I think that’s what keeps me inspired, to continue to keep my eye on the goals I have for myself and for everyone around me, all the while being thankful for the things we’ve achieved, and the things we’re going to achieve.

Miguel Angel Ferrer is not only humble, but tackles the importance of heritage and challenging others’ views in the process.

Lola Destiny

Self published author, indie horror MUA/film set advisor, & social media manager from Pittsburgh, PA.

The post Artifex Glimpse ft. Miguel Angel Ferrer appeared first on Horror Asylum.

However, with that creative freedom and discretion, there lies some leeway to embellish. In the world of foreign films mixed with the horror genre you’re sure to get something unconventional. Now, what happens when demonic possession meets sex work AND the Catholic Church? On top of that add in the backdrop of the “most dangerous city in South America”. In an interview with indieactivity.com Producer of the film, Wil Romero is quoted saying; “I took three flights down to Colombia and had to cross the Venezuelan border by foot due to passport complications.” The filming process for deMonica put the cast and crew in a situation that is film-worthy in itself.

Before we get into the thick of the plot of “deMonica”, let’s explore writer and director Miguel Angel Ferrer’s resume. Miguel is no stranger to having multiple writer, directorial & production credits to his name. Not only has he been highly busy with drama and horror short films, BUT has a long list of commercial relationships.

Including but not limited to: TMobile, Nissan, Sargento cheese, Mountain Dew, MTV EMA’s,  the opening credits of comedy series “Angie Tribeca”, etc. Which are just a few of his award winning commercials & music video achievements.

Now back to demons, sex, and the Catholic Church set in the backdrop of Venezuela. The film centers around a brothel run by a very bad gang of men, the leader named “Kilo”(played by Alec Whaite)  who use women who have prior debts to them (and also gave me a case of the nauseating creeps) It just so happens that ONE of these women- Monica (played by Claudia Serven) is possessed by a demon who- lets be honest, the innuendo writes itself here.

There’s much left open to interpretation but word gets back to Monica’s estranged sister Maye (played by Daniela Azuaje), who then pursues the most sought after Catholic Priest, Father Lopez (played by Francisco Denis)- who swears that this local legend of him working with the Vatican is no more than just that, A tale.

There is so much that I absolutely enjoyed throughout the twenty-two minute short film. Well, for that matter- specifically two things alone. 

The filming style and visuals that come so naturally to Miguel Ferrer very much took my breath away. A mix of stunning Venezuelan localities, clear captured LatinX heritage, and the grungy/gritty style that surrounds Maye’s journey to help her possessed sister. Every angle and scene is a portrait worth rewinding to view again and again.

More than anything in “deMonica”, I felt the need to stand up and generously applaud Daniela Azuaje’s performance as ex-gang member and protective/estranged big sister- Maye. Not only did the film brilliantly capture, but Daniela went beyond channeling the inner struggle of Maye’s own life. She put her own past and horrible things aside for family- risking everything if it will save her little sister.

Despite the many flaws of Maye, there was a thin blurred line between having atrocities in her chose path and love for her family- Maye is a commendable badass whose story I’d absolutely watch a separate feature film on entirely.

Overall, I wish “deMonica” ran a bit longer. Miguel Angel Ferrer did wrap every aspect neatly and tight to finish the 22 minute short, but left me wanting more every step of the way. Each character had an intriguing purpose and intertwining motivation regardless of who they were or their past mistakes/lives. Daniela stole the entire feature, but Alec, Claudia and Fransico made an exceptional ensemble.

According to IMDb, “deMonica” is set for official release on September 19th of 2021. If you’d like to support and follow the cast and crew, their social’s are listed below:

Miguel Ferrer’s Instagram

Daniela Azuaje’s twitter

Daniela Azuaje’s main website

Daniela’s Instagram

Francisco Denis Instagram

Claudia Serven twitter

Claudia’s Instagram

Alec Whaite Instagram

Lola Destiny

Self published author, indie horror MUA/film set advisor, & social media manager from Pittsburgh, PA.

The post DEMONICA (2021) appeared first on Horror Asylum.

It was my task to explain this film without ANY spoilers- and oh boy, does that make this more interesting. Upon first impressions I immediately appreciated the quirky “90’s raunchy horror” ode with the visuals. I was that kid who would crack the parental guidance TV code to expose my brain to that sort of content. Aside from my nostalgia, let’s get into the five minute film.

The best way to “spoiler free” this bad boy, I can only do so as if I were giving charade clues on a game show. Think of it as if your sleep paralysis demon had a voyeurism kink and lack of personal space. This film was weird, hilarious, steamy, and I can’t help but applaud Mortis and Lilian for owning sexuality on screen.

Not often am I left speechless, however? “Valentines Night” was a rare occasion that left me as such.

You can support the film here via their official facebook

Lilian Mortis’ Facebook & Instagram

Lola Destiny

Self published author, indie horror MUA/film set advisor, & social media manager from Pittsburgh, PA.

The post VALENTINE’S NIGHT (2021) appeared first on Horror Asylum.

You can read my main review of “The Waiting” here.

Yet F.C. Rabbath’s 2020 independant film “The Waiting”, did just exactly that. It got me thinking so much that I decided to reach out to the creator himself- to get a NEVER before discussed perspective on the film.

According to IMDb;

“F.C. Rabbath is an American film/commercial director. Rabbath is also an inventor, author, comedian, former journalist (AP winner) and entrepreneur. Rabbath has lived in several countries before the age of 16 due to his father’s work, exposing him to several different cultures. Later Rabbath moved to the United States in 2003, where he continued filmmaking there.”

He has many  impressive attainments to his resume. The thirty-five year old certainly has quite the reputation and intellect, which shines a spotlight on his way of filmmaking.

INTERVIEW // (Potential spoilers ahead)

1. Lola: When creating the love story for Eric and Elizabeth, did you at first want to go for the undead route?

FC: This film is basically an allegory for long distance relationships. Talking to someone who’s not there via phone/FaceTime and the horror of ‘waiting’ to see them again. “Dating is a horror movie”. I think we have such a horrible dating culture now, and wanting to give my commentary. Homage to older films like the shinning. And add a modern twist to it.

2.) Lola:  You have a background in comedy, and I got immediately reminded of films like 50 First Dates, Ghost, even reminiscent of Ryan Reynolds early work. Who were your inspirations?

FC: M. Knight’s early films use a lot of comedy, I really love how he disguises his work. Romance films don’t sell anymore, and I wondered “how can I sell this film to get horror buffs interested?”.

Comedy is like a weapon, that can make or break you. It can offend and destroy careers. Like a Japanese chef preparing a poisoned puffer fish. You need to cut only the non-poisonous part.

I didn’t want to focus too much on one genre. You want to make the audience care about the film and not make the same movie as everyone else. The film touches on the importance of patience, instead of moving fast like this day and age.

FC: It’s always scary when you’re done filming. You never know how the audience is gonna react. – Audience – Reviewers – Festivals.

They all want different things. I’m an engineer by trade. I want to reverse engineer films then add my own thing to it, wanted to understand what makes everyone happy. I used basic elements to use / proved successful to recreate then add something new that is personal to myself. 

Lola Destiny

Self published author, indie horror MUA/film set advisor, & social media manager from Pittsburgh, PA.

The post Lola Destiny’s “Artifex Glimpse” Series (F.C. Rabbath) appeared first on Horror Asylum.

Specifically there are a very devout and passionate bunch when it comes to horror films. Food for thought, though: what happens when you take the proverbial “yeast” of horror and mix it with other film genres? I’m sure we can all think of some that have been successful and then some that have, well, flopped.

Now that I’ve got you thinking, I’m here to discuss a film that takes all of the aforementioned elements above and turns them into one weird and unexpected cake, one made to look pretty damn realistic like ligaments or your grandmother.

F.C. Rabbath’s  2020 film The Waiting took me on an unforgettable journey of interest, sheer confusion, and idiosyncrasies galore. F.C. establishes the paranormal premise right out of the gate during the opening credits of the film with floating chairs, tables, and other sorts of antique furniture that immediately makes me think “Okay, I’m ready to be scared and caught off guard.” Even then I don’t think I could have done any mental preparation for what was ahead for the 1 hour and 24 minute film.

Film Premise:

The film covers a variety of topics that intermingle with each other, so bare with me here. The Waiting follows main character Eric Brady, who is shown immediately to have no luck whatsoever with women (or in general) during a montage of Tinder dates. Eric lives with his mother who constantly brings up his ex, which is Eric’s main motivation to finally turn his life around.

He’s portrayed by lead actor Nick Leali, who does a scary accurate job of portraying the relatable yet bumbling and clumsy soul of Eric Brady. While looking for a job Eric ends up working for a hotel that has a hidden history that he cannot ignore or keep away from, yet on the flip side the hotel’s history is very grim and dark. The soul of a woman (Elizabeth, portrayed by lead actress Molly Ratermann) who had killed herself in the 1960s, waiting for a love that would leave her hanging and never return, haunts one specific room of the hotel itself. Elizabeth’s residency leaves the hotel’s fate in the balance while Eric cannot keep away from getting to the bottom of everything and finds an unlikely love in the process.

Overall Thoughts:

The combination of horror, paranormal, comedy and romance that F.C Rabbath so eloquently mixes was such a fresh and unexpected take that I personally have never enjoyed that much before. In all honesty, I was very stubborn in opening my mind to the unusual means used—everything from odd camera cuts to short bits of dialogue, to shifting genres frequently. F.C also blew my mind with his sense of lighting. As a film fan, I feel that there are things that go so underappreciated, unnoticed, or forgotten—lighting and overall on-screen aesthetics especially. I was so impressed with each scene set.

Molly Ratermann and Nick Leali’s performances and chemistry as Eric Brady and the undead Elizabeth pulled at every heartstring and emotion within me. Molly did an above and beyond job of acting with her body language and facial expressions (Spoiler: Elizabeth is not much of a talker), paired and balanced with Eric talking plenty for the both of them should be highly praised.

Also, I want to give a huge shout out to Michelle Feliciano, who plays Michelle, and her hotel housekeeping counterpart Laura Altair, who plays Sally. Their work banter and antics (with Michelle’s sass/feisty attitude paired with Sally’s modest/introverted personality) makes the film so much fun and relatable.

I will absolutely be watching The Waiting again. It reminded me of a cross between Adam Sandler’s 50 First Dates and Patrick Swayze’s Ghost, with a mix of humor that heavily reminds me of the early 2000s rom-com humor that I have a soft spot in my heart for. The only real nit-pick that I have is that it did take some warming up to—so if you’re impatient like me, it could be a watch that you really have to pay and give full attention to.

You can follow everyone at the links provided below!

F.C Rabbath’s twitter

Molly Ratermann’s twitter

Molly’s main website

Nick Leali’s twitter

Laura Altair’s main website

Lola Destiny

Self published author, indie horror MUA/film set advisor, & social media manager from Pittsburgh, PA.

The post THE WAITING (2020) appeared first on Horror Asylum.

My literary “drink of choice” this time around is a short novel by quite accomplished author, P.J. Blakey-Novis named “Four”. 

Let’s unpack the journey P.J. had taken me on.

“Four” begins with setting the stage with a group of friends who aren’t particularly close, deciding to set off on a camping getaway to escape their individual lives. P.J. incorporates the sometimes overplayed yet flawed and relatable complexion of how humans portray themselves drastically on social media as opposed to the very real life troubles and frustrations.

A tone is also set of  a certain vulnerability that nature and camping provides – yes it’s a beautiful escape but an unknown lurks and looms. 

Daniel is a real estate agent in his early thirties, married with the new arrival of his second child. In his inner shadow is a severe gambling problem which puts his cushy safe life in danger. Also comes off as the “exhausted and whipped” spouse, and whiny due to a loveless relationship.

Steven is a basic and simplistic man who doesn’t put much effort forth into expressing what his life is like. In his mind however, holds some messed up and dark fantasises that he could get away with due to having an ability to blend into the background. He’s up for any adventure.

Lastly we have the very “touchy feely” couple Martha and Noah – whose idea it was to go on said adventure. They seem like the fun and motivational camp counselors who at the end of the day? Cause Jason to drown in the lake, if you catch my drift.

Each character has flaws that are hinted at to be an obvious reason that at any time they could be the first to be killed, but keeps you guessing as to who. Plus, before and during this entire journey they get absolutely obliterated and wasted- and we all know that really won’t fair well.

Although the set up and introduction of the drunk musketeers are well written, the cliches at this specific point are overdone and admittedly have me bored. However! I decide to push forward because I’m willing and open to the idea of being pleasantly surprised.

So I do what’s necessary to keep it spicy and interesting – I internally narrate P.J.’s text in Simon Pegg’s voice (which might I suggest makes a difference).

The four spend the night around the campfire telling stories and have a little unspoken competition amongst themselves. (This is also set in 2018, mind you.) Just reading every so often about how much liquor they’re ingesting like a whale just makes me feel completely wasted.

Before each tale, I make a prediction of my own. I fully suspected for there to be some “unknown force” within the woods that would make these tales come to life and pluck Daniel, Steven, Martha & Noah off one by one. That or the alcohol causing internal issues to arise and cause some very unfortunate ending.

The campfire tales:

Here is a brief summary of each tale told (in no particular order)

• A crazy farmer and his young psychotic daughters getting rid of the four that they believe are an intruding threat.

• A transportation back to World War II and a deadly gas leak.

• An alien egg that is capable of some weird stuff.

• & A tale of a woman getting revenge and helping other victims of sexist wrongdoings and assault.

I’m not going to lie, I truly felt that each story came off as completely obnoxious and had some criteria that just left me with readers hangover. Then, I remember and realize that those aspects COMPLETELY embody what a drunken tale would be. 

Even though P.J. took his sweet sweet unconventional time to reel me in, he absolutely did not disappoint with the mind blowing payoff and twist that I was hoping to find at the end of “Four”. This novel is a perfect “six chapter” slow burn that I will continue to follow his work moving forward from.

To support and follow P.J. you can find his socials below:

Amazon Author page

Twitter

Audible

Main publisher

Instagram

Lola Destiny

Self published author, indie horror MUA/film set advisor, & social media manager from Pittsburgh, PA.

The post FOUR: A Novella by P.J. Blakey-Novis appeared first on Horror Asylum.

Fear not! Because, Youtube and independent filmmakers who embrace (and use) the red play button platform have you covered. For this piece, we’re diving into Cult Affairs, a short film by content creator Nate Thompson, an American filmmaker, writer, and photographer. His works include Cult Affairs, What Lives in the Dark, and Small Town Michigan, among others.

Nate is clearly an eclectic guy and certainly did not miss the mark when rummaging through the bag of classic horror tropes. Now, let’s face it—seeing the same tricks and stories told in any genre of filmmaking can get old. However, Cult Affairs gave me not only a sense of dread and claustrophobia but also a lingering case of the creeps.

Viewers are greeted by a dimly lit (but otherwise pitch black) room with two men. One is introduced as Mr. James, bound at the mercy of what you can only sense is a very bad man.  Now, my first thought before even reading the description was, “What did this James guy do to piss the candle lit cult leader off?”

As you can suspect and imagine, Mr. James is in some very deep trouble that there’s no chance of escaping.

A few things that I very much enjoyed;

Ambience and lighting; As the viewer, when seeing the pitch black room with an eerily limited glow that barely illuminates the two men, makes you feel as helpless and trapped as James. It almost lures you into a false sense of security as well, one that heightens your sense of hearing—something that I believe is incredibly important when it comes to score and music.

Short and Sweet Dialogue: As James is bound and hushed by duct tape, all he can do is emit muffled screams and pleas. Luckily (or unluckily) for him? The Cult Leader does all of the talking. With each sentence and oddly poetic reflection, it prolongs the fate of James. It also makes the viewer incredibly uneasy, rendering them completely speechless.

The dynamic of feeling like you’re in both James’ & the Cult Leader’s shoes:

Here’s where things get a bit tricky in a moral sense. Let’s start with James. We’ve all probably done something to piss people off, felt in those moments that we should prevent ourselves from digging the verbal hole deeper—or the only chance of shutting up is by duct tape. Or that, in those moments, we feel just as helpless.

The Cult Leader represents himself as misunderstood with sensible justification. That, regardless of James crossing him, there is no other way out to protect themselves but to get rid of the problem. It’s probably the horror fan in me mixed with a bit of cynicism, but for every big bad? There’s a part of you that may even feel bad for them, feeling at times backed into a proverbial corner.

Plus, as a personal bias, I love when villains have or demand a soundtrack play right before the kill—in this case, Frank Stanley’s “When The Mockingbirds Are Singing in the Wildwood.” An eerily upbeat tune that does the opposite of brightening the mood (for James and the viewer at least).

I would give Cult Affairs a solid 3 out of 5. This short film left me with chills, yet the impression didn’t stick around long after viewing.

All in all, if you’re a dedicated horror fan in a time crunch, or if you’re looking for an introduction to send your pals who are on the fence about the genre, I absolutely recommend Cult Affairs. If you want to dive into more of Nate’s work, here are his social media links.

Nate’s Website

Nate’s Instagram

Lola Destiny

Self published author, indie horror MUA/film set advisor, & social media manager from Pittsburgh, PA.

The post Cult Affairs (2021) appeared first on Horror Asylum.