When Adam (Alex Breaux), a Frankenstein-like monster, film "Depraved"« 2019, appeared at the very end of the werewolf movie "« Eclipse"» 2023, meeting werewolf Charlie (Alex Hurt) was a thrilling teaser for fans of Larry Fessenden's unique, personal horror cinema. It promised a monster encounter similar to «Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man» from Universal, but what ended up being more like a monster mashup in the film "House of Frankenstein"« .
The film "Trauma, or All the Monsters"« , which just had its international premiere at the Montreal International Film Festival Fantasia, brings Adam and Charlie together with Sam, the vampire Fessenden himself played in his 1997 cult classic,« Habit"» .
FANGORIA is on the scene as Fessenden films key moments for film "Trauma"« in a house near his home in upstate New York. It's the abode of Adam and Charlie, again played by Breo (pictured below, a nod to the pronunciation of his name) and Hurt, respectively.
The arrival of an uninvited guest from Adam's past, Polidori (Joshua Leonard, also reprising his role The debauchee ), provokes a brutal confrontation that Fessenden captures with his signature combination of speed, efficiency, and attention to detail, both physical and personal.
Alex Breaux on the set of "Trauma, or All the Monsters"«
During a break in filming, Fessenden explains the storyline that unites his trio of chilling characters. "A girl named Cassandra [a rising star Pitta Laetitia Hollard] arrives in a small town in the north of the state, which turns out to be Talbot Falls from film "Eclipse"« . She begins noticing strange activity in the neighboring house and becomes convinced that these are the very same monsters from various stories about the Upstate. There was the case of the werewolf killed in prison, and there was the Frankenstein story where a guy was thrown off a balcony and the house burned down.
«"The local newspaper publishes her observations of what she saw out the window as an opinion piece, simply saying, 'There's something weird going on here, and the town won't admit it,'" Fessenden continues. "It gets posted online, and Sam, who's been a vampire for 30 years and has nothing better to do, sees it and thinks, 'Oh my God, are there other monsters out there?' So he comes here just to have some fun.".
«"The whole town is suffering from the trauma of all these past events. So the film represents everything from commentary on newspapers and social media to a Hitchcockian scheme like"« "Window in the backyard"» . And, as always, for me it's a story about a lot of characters who have a hard time getting along with each other.".
Alex and Charlie are two residents who struggle to get along and hide their monstrous selves from everyone around them. «I see it as an allegory: we’re like two recovering addicts,» says Bro. “We’re going through rehab together, and we kind of care about each other. In fact, I’d say I care more about the Wolf Man than the other way around. When we meet Adam, he’s already accepted his fate as an outcast, so maybe he’s more resigned to it than given in to the rage and anger that still lingers in Charlie’s soul. So I think Frankenstein is trying to teach the Wolf Man something.”.
Larry Fessenden and Alex Hurt on the set of "Trauma, or All the Monsters.".
Hurt elaborates on Charlie's tormented nature and how it's expressed in the new werewolf makeup created by Fessenden Theatre regulars Bryan Spears (pictured below, applying Hurt's prosthetics) and Peter Gerner. "Charlie's been through a lot of pain, and he's never been able to process his feelings or process what's happening to him. Because of that, he can't fully see another person. He realizes that this other guy, Adam, understands him and feels a connection to him. That's his only connection at the moment. But something pulls him toward wanting to just unleash the werewolf.".
Bryan Spears transforms Alex Hurt on the set of "Trauma, or All the Monsters.".
«"The point is that as long as Charlie lives with this demon, it becomes stronger and takes over," Hurt continues. "And that's very clearly shown. Last time [in «Blackout »"Our werewolf was pretty simple. It was like, 'I got nails in my head, I got a mask, and Brian painted me beyond recognition.' But it was also like, 'We're going to use your body. You're going to create this monster with your physicality.' This time, we have a costume, and the mask is bigger. There's a lot more going on.".
Jack Fessenden films second unit alongside Alex Hurt.
Among the actors returning to their roles from film "Blackout"« , — Addison Timlin, James Le Gros, John Speredakos, Cody Kostro, Mark Senter, Rigo Garay, Joseph Castillo-Midiette, and Barbara Crampton. The film also stars two renowned New York actors, Toby Poser (Hellbender, Mother of Flies) and Emily Bennett (Alone with You, Blood Glow). At the center of it all is Cassandra and Agnes (Aitana Doyle), a local girl with whom Cassandra falls in love.
«"It's a continuation of my other films, so there are a lot of references," Fessenden says, "and of course people who've seen those films will love it. I don't know if it'll attract a new audience, although we do have two younger leads, which is great. It's fun being an old-timer when they correct me on the language in the script. I really enjoy all of that.".
He elaborates on Hollard and Doyle's roles: "Cassandra is African-American, so she has her own story and a sense of alienation in this town. And Agnes is this attractive girl who everyone likes, she has this incredible energy, but she also feels like an outsider, and she and Cassandra find a kindred spirit in each other. Of course, in my films, everyone feels like an outsider. That's my mission: to show that we all feel alone, but that's just part of life. And it's nice that these two characters embody that idea rather than always playing monsters. The point is, we all feel like monsters sometimes.".
Despite all the emotional aspects his film touches on, Fessenden says it will also delight viewers with its horrific side. «Blackout» became the director's bloodiest film to date, and when asked whether he would follow suit «"Trauma" or "All the Monsters"» , He notes, "I don't fetishize it in terms of, like, chopping off heads, but there's a lot of chaos. Honestly, my vision is very dark, although my films are a bit comedic. They're about human foibles, so it's funny, and there's also something absurd about the situation where you have a wolfman and a Frankenstein-like monster and then a vampire. It's just a result of my love for that kind of thing. But ultimately, it's a tragedy because of what's happening, what we do to each other and how we interact, or don't interact—how we can't get along. We'll see how much blood there is. The body count is high, though.".