I recently sat down with Matthew I. Schmidt to talk about his new film MR Sandman, in the interview we talk about horror, jump scares and scariest of all contact lens.

AMR: What Is your favourite horror film?

MS: My favourite horror film is the Exorcist though my favourite all round film is Jaws and many people do consider that a horror film.

AMR: What films inspired you when making this film?

MS: When I was making this a lot of The Shining came into play with certain slow camera moments that I used, a lot of Poltergeist definitely a lot of Poltergeist came into play, such as the little girl in the bed, the storms, certain camera angles from that too. The fear of being in bed and stuff moving around the room like with the little boy from Poltergeist.

Another obvious influence is of course A Nightmare On Elm Street what with the whole dream factor.

AMR: How would you say your film adds to the horror genre?

MS: I think this film adds to the horror genre in the sense that though you have films like A Nightmare On Elms Street I don’t think in horror, or in cinema in general, touches on dreams enough. I think that the ‘dream world’ is a very underused platform for movies in general, but for horror it just doesn’t seem to be used enough as the main platform, I know that characters have nightmares in films, horror or otherwise, but it never seems to be the main platform of the ‘dreamworld’ or the combination of that with the childhood fear of the dark.

AMR: What is one thing you love about modern horror filmmaking and one thing you hate?

MS: With modern horror movies I can’t help but think about the James Wan style, and I would say the visuals these days have been very impressive with regard to films like Insidious with the demons, or maybe The Nun or the Conjuring two.

I think the visuals in these films have been really strong and impactful, I think they are using darkness well as well as how sometimes the demonic character will just stare and that builds tension.

What I don’t like is when modern horror movies use CGI. Whilst I love CGI I think it has a place such as in a superhero film, but in horror movies I think it comes off as cartoonish and I think keeping the creature, whatever it may be, in the dark and using subtly when it comes to creating scares is more effective as opposed to an over the top and in your face CGI creations. I think too much CGI in horror is bad, it does have it uses such as if you want to create a shadow or when practical effects fall short, but when it is overdone that is a bad thing.

AMR: What was your favourite moment from the film and your favourite moment from shooting it?

MS: I am a little hard press to think of my favourite moment from the film but I am thinking about my favourite shot, and it was when we were above the bed and mother and daughter are in bed and we move in on them as she slowly strokes her hair, and I just think that the way it came out with the sound effects made for a beautiful tense moment. That might have been my favourite sequence from the film it really stood out to me and I was very happy with that.

My favourite moment shooting had to be Grandma’s monologue because it was early on in the production and we were shooting it and she was just nailing it so well and I just felt like if nothing else this is coming together well and I felt really excited when we did that.

AMR: Do you have any funny on set stories?

MS: A funny on set story probably has to do with the white contacts that the mum had to wear when she was possessed or at least in the dream possessed, we were struggling with them a lot and found it difficult to put them in, when we did manage to get it into her eye it got stuck, it wasn’t funny at the time.

I went into panic mode and so did the actress and I thought was she going to need to go to the emergency room, and as we were panicking she blinked and her eye lid seemingly moved the lens right into place and I was so happy and relieved. She later made me promise to never have her use contacts again.

AMR: Are you a believer or a sceptic in the supernatural

MS: I am a believer in possibilities, I have experienced two things in my life that I can’t explain, but I am very much an evidence person and always look for a logical explanation. I think it is arrogant to say we know it all, I definitely believe in possibilities and because I believe in an afterlife I am open to the idea that we could be visited.

AMR: How scary would you say your film is?

MS: That is hard to say as it is up to an audience to say how scary it is, however, I try and draw on primal fears such as the fear of the dark as these never go out of fashion. These sort of fears are relatable to everyone as everyone watching it will have been a child suffering those fears at some point.

It is always hard to say how effective something is as a filmmaker as you can think it works whereas the audience can not, however, from the feedback we have received so far and it has only been a relatively small sampling due to it only being out for two weeks we have been told that the film is creepy and that it takes people back to childhood. The way I wanted to be touching on those childhood fears bringing people back like oh I’ve been there or  I did that or I’ve experienced that.

AMR: Where do you fall on the atmosphere vs jump scares debate within horror at the moment?

MS: I didn’t realise there was a debate, I mean I think they’re both effective I think that jump scares and slow burns are just as effective just in different ways one of my favourite horror films Exorcist 3 has what I consider the greatest jump scare in movie history and if you don’t know what scene I am referring to, you probably do, but it’s the hallway scene where the hooded figure comes out with the sheers to attack the nurse.

So jump scares when done right can be extremely effective like anything else, I remember the first time I saw Scream at that point the world had been burnt out on slasher films so we weren’t expecting much from it and then all of a sudden we realised wow this is self-aware but the great thing is that they’re also using a lot of jump scares to keep you on the edge of your seat so you’re laughing but you’re jumping at the same time. I was 21 at the time yeah I’m showing my age. I remember me and my friend were walking home from the movie theatre and there were hedges everywhere on the way home because we grew up in a suburban environment and before I crossed each hedge I had a little peak round the corner because I was feeling a little jumpy.  I was like wow like the jump scares were really effective so I I find jump scares very effective when done correctly.

I myself prefer myself a more story driven experience, but I can’t say Scream wasn’t story driven as it was one of the most brilliant screenplays I’ve ever come across but you know I  do prefer a little bit more of a slow burn like the Shining or the Exorcist or to give you a modern example Hereditary. This is because it really just sinks in more, the jump scare  almost more like popcorn fun you know it gets you edgy but it is popcorn fun you know once you’ve seen the film it a few times you cease to jump as much more as a slow burn tends to stay with you longer. This is not a put down in any way shape or form but it is more of a sugar high then let’s just say a big satisfying meal that keeps you full longer. You know Hitchcock has a brilliant quote and I’m going to paraphrase it because I don’t know exactly how he would word it but he basically said the kill is only there to show you that there’s a real threat the real fear is in the build-up in the suspense and I I very much agree with that statement.

AMR: Do you have any upcoming films you would like to talk about?

As far as upcoming projects we really just released this a couple of weeks ago so I mentally I somewhat need a break from creating be ú…cause it is hard when you’re working a full time job and taking on next these things but I do have some general ideas in my head just nothing developed yet.

AMR: Do you have any advice for upcoming filmmakers who might be reading this?

Console makers are few things number one swing back take the chance who cares if your first attempt fails because anybody who says anything or makes fun of you they’re just showing that they didn’t have the guts to try it themselves and I’ve taken plenty of jabs and ribbing and stuff from my friends and coworkers and stuff like that on my especially on my early attempts but then when you get and that’s usually when they’re in groups but when you get them alone they always say hey you know what you put yourself out there and I admire that you know what as I’ve improved as a filmmaker you know they’ve come around so don’t worry about what people think swing the bat take the chance if this is something you’re passionate about.

Now the other piece of advice I would give you is and this is more on the technical side if you have a few different ideas of in your head let’s just say how to and the scene or start a scene or you know some alternative versions of the scene shoot as much as you can without you know going crazy give yourself options because when you get to the editing phase you were going to thank yourself that you have those options because sometimes the movie can take on a life of its own and when you get to the editing phase which is really where the movie comes together one thing they fit a lot more than something you shot that you thought would fit in the tone of what you’re trying to say so as much as it’s practical infeasible film alternatives.

Last but not least whatever you decide to film you know I I would say 2 rules 1 practical 11 not so not so much about practical but more about passion film what you can don’t try to don’t try your first time now too you know make something out of your reach like a big budget situation that’s supposed to look big budget but you know it’s not going to look like that because you have limited resources at it as a first time film maker and the second part of that is film with you know film something you’re passionate about so if it is hard great I’m passionate about horror but I love all genres but film what you’re passionate about because if your passion your love and care for the project is going to come through in the final product so be passionate about what you’re doing film what you really want to be filming not something that you just agree to the get your first time film out or something you thought people might like you know to do what you’re passionate about and that will come through

If you would like to check the film out for yourself head on over to the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gVIOGjl8_8

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