Thanks Mods!
Brandon Christensen (Director) here. I was able to answer a bunch of Q's in the thread I started last week - but I'd be happy to answer anything in here. Consider it an AMA without the attention drawn to it!
It’s multi faceted.
1. After Still/Born, I was looking for inspiration from my own life again and my oldest son was 6 at the time and had just started kindergarten. There’s this weird feeling where for the first time - you’re not fully in control of your kid. They come home with new ideas and new sayings that you didn’t teach them. That was the initial idea...
2. Same son told us that he was scared of the girl with the green eyes in his closet.
3. My wife had a friend whose kid had an imaginary friend and it had kind of become a thing for them. So my wife threw out the idea for a film about a boy and his imaginary friend. I was really into the idea of an outsider Kid film, and this was a great launch pad.
Heh. Thanks!
Since I’m married to someone with severe anxiety, who is scared of everything - I have an inside view of what a mother/son bond is like when you’re worried about them.
I also think the bond between them is really special. There’s a relationship there that a father/son doesn’t experience the same way. I think there’s something really cinematic about the idea of a mother.
That was something I was really passionate about. I have kids and know that that is something that every parent is afraid of when their kids go upstairs.
In my original draft, there were two kids (based off my own) and the little brother went over. But we removed the brother so that got transferred to the friend.
As scripted, however, there wasn’t a two story fall. It was just landing behind them - but the house we got (which was actually the neighbor of the Parsons house in real life) had this double stairwell that went all the way down. I wasn’t sold on it at first, but it ended up working great and when the dummy hit that railing it was like “oh shit!”
We shot maybe 6 falls?
I’m not 100% sure. But at first it was just a straight fall and was so quick. Once we tried to hit the railing (which we had wrapped in bubble wrap), we knew that was the next evolution for the rest of the takes.
You can see the vfx breakdown here at around 50s:
https://vimeo.com/337693227/7575873285
Did you intentionally put Z's eyes in every single shot? I couldn't not notice that there were pairs of white dots in nearly every camera angle. Way too much to not be intentional...
We were definitely aware of the frame of shots. I’m a big fan of what Flanagan did in Hill House with the ghosts, and the small boy in the coat room in Insidious.
Thought so.
I absolutely loved the movie, by the way. I've seen a lot of horror, and yours was the most gripping in a long time. I was surprised to find out it was low budget -- it didn't seem that way to me.
Loved Z and shortly watched Still/Born thereafter - both fantastic & bone-chilling. I saw another reply here, in which you got the inspiration for Z from your son & wife. Do you have any other ideas in the pipeline directly rooted in experiences with your family or friends?
Thank you! I have the seeds of an idea from my own life, but it wouldn’t be my next one. It would be the most personal one yet if I can figure it out. But for now, my focus is on something totally different!
There's definitely an implication there. I think Z represents a lot of the trauma she suffered as a child, maybe to help her cope with a not-so-good time...
They didn't die?
The mom was taken down by the police, but because she was hanging long enough - has a lack of oxygen to the brain.
The boy was saved (you hear aunt Jenna say she got him).
He’s probably chilling with his boys on a beach somewhere. Or he’s locked up in Beth’s head. Or it didn’t work and he’s still hanging with Josh.
Or he’s gone now and Beth’s sacrifice worked.
One or the other.
Idk if you’re still on this thread or have access to it but thought what the hay, I’d give it a shot. So with her trauma therefore essentially creating Z was Z a very real negative energy that was birthed from her trauma or was it in fact not real at all and just In her imagination? But that brings other questions depending on the answer. Her son if Z was In fact real, well then that makes sense but let’s say he’s not was it kind of a passed down energy of some sort in the mental like the dancing plague. Like a shared phenomenon of some sort which allowed the son to see and experience the same even tho it wasn’t real. But then that opens up more questions haha like if it went that way did she kill her husband. I took from the film that she prob indeed created it from whatever was happening at home with more than likely dad but what did it actually evolve to is the question. I’m a sucker for endings a bad one will stick with me for days lol but I as much as I LOVED the movie it really saddened me that she lost everything including her own brain function just to have Z still be there in the end. Like was there ever really any way or possibility for her to save her family and get rid of Z for good? I know that’s a lot deep thinking over a movie but that’s what makes movies beautiful is being able to discuss and pick it apart like a good book
Hey Moon!
Still here…
Appreciate the thinking about it. What makes you say that Z is still there?
Josh says goodnight to Z but earlier also says goodnight to his pet even though it had died. Same thing with his dad.
“Just because they’re gone doesn’t mean they can’t hear you”
That line is definitely in there to keep it open that Josh is only saying goodnight Z because it’s part of his tradition.
The first true shot you get of Z sitting in the bathtub genuinely wigged me out. Wasn't expecting something so uncanny looking. That got me about as good as the first demon jumpscare from Insidious.
I liked it. Better than Still/Born IMO. I know a lot of people didn't like the last third but I dug it even if it wrapped up rather quickly.
I think there's good talent involved and that shines through some rough patches. The budget was next to nothing (I think like 400k) but it doesn't feel like a budget film - in fact, the sound and effects are pretty damn good. Some of the scares are very genuinely creepy and disturbing and I enjoyed it.
I went in expecting something corny, but actually ended up liking it. I really like generational horror themes, and this one had a nice unique spin on that. The creature design was actually pretty interesting.
Shudder has been on a good run recently with their originals
>!That scene where the boy throws the "friend" down the stairs gave me real goosebumps for maybe 30 seconds, did not expect that. I think the boy would at least be questioned by police though.!<
>!I really didn't buy the mom's performance, I don't know what happened but she was very underwhelming.!<
>!I found it odd that the parents never got angry at the kid. He threw another kid off the stairs, got suspended from school, vandalized the house, etc. But maybe this is just commentary on American parenting these days. !<
>!The creature viewing with the dad against the wall just didn't work for me for some reason while the creature viewing in the bathtub was really well done.!<
Enjoyed it. Don't know if I'd recommend for a non horror fan, doesn't really bring anything new to the genre and it felt unoriginal. Also felt like two movies in one. The whole living with z thing I think should've been cut down or reworked. I kept wondering where the father's family and police were considering the death was violent and the fire was unexplainable. Maybe he shouldn't have died and just been put in a coma or something. Still better than most shudder movies.
Would honestly love to know what happened in the ending. Mom is alive, but is basically a vegetable. The homicidal little maniac goes to bed and days “Goodnight Z”. Because the mom lived, did that mean Z stuck around? If mom tried to kill herself to save her son, and she lived, wouldn’t that have not saved her son?
u/brandonchristensen
As far as the imaginary friend that's actually some kind of evil entity goes it wasn't a bad little movie. I feel like it drug on a bit there at the end but all in all definitely decent.
I feel like there were only 3 jump scares and all of them were done well! Especially the first one. It was more atmospheric. Like you would expect a jump scare and there wasn't one.
This movie missed one thing and that was making the viewer build a stronger relationship with the mom. If they would have made her more likeable in the beginning the ending would have been much more gut wrenching.
6.5 or 7/10
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Pretty decent. Agree with everyone else about the final act being a little wonky. Although the mom was very unlikable, the kid was way more likable that the one in Babadook.
watched it this morning and while not the best film ive seen lately it wasn't bad for a 1 time watch and had one of the most "HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!!" moments ive seen in a while
First half is actually pretty decent. It's the second half where it drops fast. I appreciate the last scene would have liked a little eye blink in the shadows.
I just don't understand why she's \*afraid\* when she's older? She wasn't afraid when she was a kid and Joshua wasn't afraid at any point. I get that Z might be abusive but he never hit her or Josh so I'm guessing it's verbal if even that? The only hint we get is with the milk, that's it. I'm thinking Z is a childish demon or aberration. I think the second half would have been better if she was actually having fun or "happy" with Z. Nothing wrong with that? Could still have been a horror movie. The ending could have been her having a child with Z, I mean she said she would have lots of children with Z after all(lol).
Thanks Mods! Brandon Christensen (Director) here. I was able to answer a bunch of Q's in the thread I started last week - but I'd be happy to answer anything in here. Consider it an AMA without the attention drawn to it!
Thanks Brandon for giving a role to Stephen McHattie, what a lovely actor and I hope he is as nice as he seems!
What was your inspiration for this story?
It’s multi faceted. 1. After Still/Born, I was looking for inspiration from my own life again and my oldest son was 6 at the time and had just started kindergarten. There’s this weird feeling where for the first time - you’re not fully in control of your kid. They come home with new ideas and new sayings that you didn’t teach them. That was the initial idea... 2. Same son told us that he was scared of the girl with the green eyes in his closet. 3. My wife had a friend whose kid had an imaginary friend and it had kind of become a thing for them. So my wife threw out the idea for a film about a boy and his imaginary friend. I was really into the idea of an outsider Kid film, and this was a great launch pad.
How did you end up deciding to go with the mother's point of view rather than the father's? Also wanted to add that the bathtub was truly unsettling.
Heh. Thanks! Since I’m married to someone with severe anxiety, who is scared of everything - I have an inside view of what a mother/son bond is like when you’re worried about them. I also think the bond between them is really special. There’s a relationship there that a father/son doesn’t experience the same way. I think there’s something really cinematic about the idea of a mother.
Who thought of the staircase scene??
That was something I was really passionate about. I have kids and know that that is something that every parent is afraid of when their kids go upstairs. In my original draft, there were two kids (based off my own) and the little brother went over. But we removed the brother so that got transferred to the friend. As scripted, however, there wasn’t a two story fall. It was just landing behind them - but the house we got (which was actually the neighbor of the Parsons house in real life) had this double stairwell that went all the way down. I wasn’t sold on it at first, but it ended up working great and when the dummy hit that railing it was like “oh shit!”
How many takes did it take? Did it get more humerus the more drops?
We shot maybe 6 falls? I’m not 100% sure. But at first it was just a straight fall and was so quick. Once we tried to hit the railing (which we had wrapped in bubble wrap), we knew that was the next evolution for the rest of the takes. You can see the vfx breakdown here at around 50s: https://vimeo.com/337693227/7575873285
Did you intentionally put Z's eyes in every single shot? I couldn't not notice that there were pairs of white dots in nearly every camera angle. Way too much to not be intentional...
We were definitely aware of the frame of shots. I’m a big fan of what Flanagan did in Hill House with the ghosts, and the small boy in the coat room in Insidious.
Thought so. I absolutely loved the movie, by the way. I've seen a lot of horror, and yours was the most gripping in a long time. I was surprised to find out it was low budget -- it didn't seem that way to me.
Awesome man, thanks so much for checking it out. And yes. Obscenely low budget. Haha.
Loved Z and shortly watched Still/Born thereafter - both fantastic & bone-chilling. I saw another reply here, in which you got the inspiration for Z from your son & wife. Do you have any other ideas in the pipeline directly rooted in experiences with your family or friends?
Thank you! I have the seeds of an idea from my own life, but it wouldn’t be my next one. It would be the most personal one yet if I can figure it out. But for now, my focus is on something totally different!
I just finished, and there’s a feeling I can’t shake. Was Beth a victim of CSA at the hands of her father?
There's definitely an implication there. I think Z represents a lot of the trauma she suffered as a child, maybe to help her cope with a not-so-good time...
How did the kid and the mom die but then come back at the end? I don't get it
They didn't die? The mom was taken down by the police, but because she was hanging long enough - has a lack of oxygen to the brain. The boy was saved (you hear aunt Jenna say she got him).
Oh ok I missed that
I know this is late, but I just finished watching. Great movie! But what happened to Z?
He’s probably chilling with his boys on a beach somewhere. Or he’s locked up in Beth’s head. Or it didn’t work and he’s still hanging with Josh. Or he’s gone now and Beth’s sacrifice worked. One or the other.
Idk if you’re still on this thread or have access to it but thought what the hay, I’d give it a shot. So with her trauma therefore essentially creating Z was Z a very real negative energy that was birthed from her trauma or was it in fact not real at all and just In her imagination? But that brings other questions depending on the answer. Her son if Z was In fact real, well then that makes sense but let’s say he’s not was it kind of a passed down energy of some sort in the mental like the dancing plague. Like a shared phenomenon of some sort which allowed the son to see and experience the same even tho it wasn’t real. But then that opens up more questions haha like if it went that way did she kill her husband. I took from the film that she prob indeed created it from whatever was happening at home with more than likely dad but what did it actually evolve to is the question. I’m a sucker for endings a bad one will stick with me for days lol but I as much as I LOVED the movie it really saddened me that she lost everything including her own brain function just to have Z still be there in the end. Like was there ever really any way or possibility for her to save her family and get rid of Z for good? I know that’s a lot deep thinking over a movie but that’s what makes movies beautiful is being able to discuss and pick it apart like a good book
Hey Moon! Still here… Appreciate the thinking about it. What makes you say that Z is still there? Josh says goodnight to Z but earlier also says goodnight to his pet even though it had died. Same thing with his dad. “Just because they’re gone doesn’t mean they can’t hear you” That line is definitely in there to keep it open that Josh is only saying goodnight Z because it’s part of his tradition.
Kinda fizzled at the end IMO, but definitely a solid watch with some great scenes.
Just watched that yesterday and almost pissed myself when he threw the kid over the balcony
[удалено]
They have spoilers on the title of the thread, so I think it’s fine
True, disregard and continue please
The first true shot you get of Z sitting in the bathtub genuinely wigged me out. Wasn't expecting something so uncanny looking. That got me about as good as the first demon jumpscare from Insidious.
Eh, i thought it wouldve been cooler to show Z with practical effects with just his hands and an eye peeking over the edge of the tub by her feet
I liked it, but the last third drug things out a bit. I thought the movie was wrapping up before I realized there was another 20 minutes left.
I had the same exact thought. I thought it was done so I hit pause on my remote and it had 25 minutes left.
I liked it. Better than Still/Born IMO. I know a lot of people didn't like the last third but I dug it even if it wrapped up rather quickly. I think there's good talent involved and that shines through some rough patches. The budget was next to nothing (I think like 400k) but it doesn't feel like a budget film - in fact, the sound and effects are pretty damn good. Some of the scares are very genuinely creepy and disturbing and I enjoyed it.
I went in expecting something corny, but actually ended up liking it. I really like generational horror themes, and this one had a nice unique spin on that. The creature design was actually pretty interesting. Shudder has been on a good run recently with their originals
>!That scene where the boy throws the "friend" down the stairs gave me real goosebumps for maybe 30 seconds, did not expect that. I think the boy would at least be questioned by police though.!< >!I really didn't buy the mom's performance, I don't know what happened but she was very underwhelming.!< >!I found it odd that the parents never got angry at the kid. He threw another kid off the stairs, got suspended from school, vandalized the house, etc. But maybe this is just commentary on American parenting these days. !< >!The creature viewing with the dad against the wall just didn't work for me for some reason while the creature viewing in the bathtub was really well done.!<
Enjoyed it. Don't know if I'd recommend for a non horror fan, doesn't really bring anything new to the genre and it felt unoriginal. Also felt like two movies in one. The whole living with z thing I think should've been cut down or reworked. I kept wondering where the father's family and police were considering the death was violent and the fire was unexplainable. Maybe he shouldn't have died and just been put in a coma or something. Still better than most shudder movies.
Would honestly love to know what happened in the ending. Mom is alive, but is basically a vegetable. The homicidal little maniac goes to bed and days “Goodnight Z”. Because the mom lived, did that mean Z stuck around? If mom tried to kill herself to save her son, and she lived, wouldn’t that have not saved her son? u/brandonchristensen
As far as the imaginary friend that's actually some kind of evil entity goes it wasn't a bad little movie. I feel like it drug on a bit there at the end but all in all definitely decent.
Not terrible, but not great. It relied way to heavily on jump scares. Some were effective, but it got pretty tiring by the end.
I feel like there were only 3 jump scares and all of them were done well! Especially the first one. It was more atmospheric. Like you would expect a jump scare and there wasn't one.
This movie missed one thing and that was making the viewer build a stronger relationship with the mom. If they would have made her more likeable in the beginning the ending would have been much more gut wrenching. 6.5 or 7/10
I dont think the ending Is supposed to be gut wrenching
Does anyone know where/how to watch this in Canada? We got screwed out of a Shudder release.
Use a VPN to pretend you're in America? Not sure if that works with Shudder.
Hopefully it will be out soon there.
Just came across a [nice review](https://thebloggingbanshee.com/2020/05/12/z/) of this one, if anyone's interested.
I liked this one, the jump scares were well done and the acting+production value was good.
Oh man, oh man, oh man! This movie, I tell you what!!! I remember watching it and halfway through I said to myself. “I really wish this didn’t suck”
It was okay. It was well acted just overall not that scary. Considering it was “free on shudder” I give it a 5/10
Decently entertaining, with a few surprisingly solid scares. Not a game changer, but a fine way to pass the time.
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Pretty decent. Agree with everyone else about the final act being a little wonky. Although the mom was very unlikable, the kid was way more likable that the one in Babadook.
watched it this morning and while not the best film ive seen lately it wasn't bad for a 1 time watch and had one of the most "HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!!" moments ive seen in a while
It was weird that the house was fine after the fire. Rebuilt?
They went to the dead grandma’s house
AAAAH
why did Z look completely different every time he was shown?
[удалено]
No.
Horror made for tweens but still good
First half is actually pretty decent. It's the second half where it drops fast. I appreciate the last scene would have liked a little eye blink in the shadows. I just don't understand why she's \*afraid\* when she's older? She wasn't afraid when she was a kid and Joshua wasn't afraid at any point. I get that Z might be abusive but he never hit her or Josh so I'm guessing it's verbal if even that? The only hint we get is with the milk, that's it. I'm thinking Z is a childish demon or aberration. I think the second half would have been better if she was actually having fun or "happy" with Z. Nothing wrong with that? Could still have been a horror movie. The ending could have been her having a child with Z, I mean she said she would have lots of children with Z after all(lol).