I recently sat down and watched Amanda Gusack’s In Memorium, and found it to be just as enjoyable as Oren Peli’s smash success Paranormal Activity. You can read my review of the film right here. I also had the chance to briefly interview the screenwriter/director about the state of In Memorium and the possibilities for a wider release on DVD. Check out the interview below!
John: First of all, I just want to say that I really enjoyed In Memorium — a lot more than some big budget horror films I’ve seen in theaters recently. What you’ve accomplished under immense constraint is pretty remarkable.
Amanda: Thanks so much!
Why the paranormal? Why ghosts? What took you toward this subject material?
There’s so much in our minds that we don’t understand. I believe we all carry around a level of fear based on the fact that, despite our best efforts, we ultimately have little control over the world around us. We know enough to be aware of that fear, but I don’t believe, on a deeper level, we know how to cope with or minimize it.
In my mind, ghost stories give us something concrete to attach our fears to; something primal that we can contextualize–to run from or fight (and on that level, conquer)—and at the same time, enable us to acknowledge the vaguer, less explicable dread that we all experience from time to time, but don’t often verbalize.
What led you to make the decision to shoot the film in your house? The claustrophobic little hallway really lent itself to the climax of the film, as did your sliding glass doors.
Thank you. The script was actually written to the layout of the house. We’d just moved in, so we had a location, and I thought: Movie [cue silly string, noisemakers and barking dogs]!
What happened with the release of the film? It obviously played some festivals to acclaim, but did you have your sights set on any distribution that didn’t come together?
The industry is a tricky nut to peel. In my experience, it’s like lining up a stack of barred doors and trying to unlock them all at the exact same time—with only some of the keys. We tried everything we could back then and just couldn’t make it to the other end of the hallway.
Have you seen Peli’s Paranormal Activity? What?s your reaction to a film that very clearly has many similarities (both obvious and subtle) with In Memorium? For the record, yours does quite a bit right that Activity doesn’t.
I’ll plead the fifth on that for now, but thank you for the compliments.
Is there any chance that In Memorium could go on to bigger and brighter pastures considering the success of Peli’s film?
I can’t tell you how much I’d love to get it out there for people who’ve been asking. We’re definitely working on it.
To date, all of your films have been self-written. Do you have any projects on the horizon that people should know about?
I’m writing a few things now. Not sure which ones, if any, will manifest beyond paper, but I’ll let you know if something noteworthy expands into light and sound.
Thank you for your time! Keep up the good work. Really appreciate you sharing your film with us!
Thanks so much for the great review and kind words, John!
