Horror thrives on the intersection of the seen and the unseen, the tangible and the supernatural. In this chilling new film, a cursed Polaroid camera becomes the bridge between past betrayals and present horrors, weaving a terrifying tale of love, guilt, and possession. Inspired by ancient myths about photography capturing souls, the film masterfully blends supernatural dread with psychological tension. In this exclusive interview, the filmmaker delves into the creative process behind crafting a horror story that transcends mere scares—building an atmosphere thick with suspense, emotional depth, and a haunting sense of inevitability.
(UM): What inspired the idea behind this film? Was there a particular myth, legend, or real-life event that influenced the concept of the cursed Polaroid camera?
Michael Marentette (MM): I was inspired by the theme of combining supernatural mythology with modern technology. Many ancient cultures including the Native American Nations believed that cameras could capture the light of people’s souls and had supernatural properties. I thought to myself, “what would this look like if it were true and how could this lead to a conflict between good and evil?”
(UM): Beyond the horror elements, the film explores themes of love, betrayal, and sacrifice. How did you develop these emotional layers within a supernatural framework?
(MM): This film centres around an act of betrayal by the main antagonist Jill. Prior to the events of the film, she had slept with the Bride-to-be, Rita’s fiance James. They agreed never to speak of it, but it weighed so heavily on her conscience that she felt moved to confess. The confession led to a skirmish ending in the accidental death of Jill, which in turn activated the curse of the camera, causing her possession. After Jill wounds and captures Rita’s brother Will, her love empowers her bravery to descend into darkness to rescue him.
(UM): Horror relies heavily on atmosphere, tension, and timing. What were some of the biggest challenges in directing this film, especially as a first-time filmmaker?
(MM): It was my intention to create an atmosphere for tension using low-key lighting, hand-held camera, suspenseful pacing and effective sound design. As the characters trigger the curse of the polaroid, the POV of the Demon as an invisible omniscient force waits and watches in the distance as their relationships unravel. Disembodied whispers accompany this unique shot-list. What is perhaps most suspenseful is that only the audience is aware of the presence of the demonic force, while the characters remain unaware until it is too late. Additionally, the ambient sound design of the approaching storm intensifies simultaneously with the rising plot action.
(UM): The film features intense sequences of suspense and supernatural horror. What specific cinematographic choices (lighting, camera angles, sound design) were crucial in building tension?
(MM): The key to building tension in this film was to make the audience privy to the presence of the demonic force, but to let the main character Rita unravel in her state of confusion. She is made to wonder, “is this all real, or a product of trauma she received from accidentally killing her friend moments ago?” There is one particular scene in the living room where the protagonist Rita and possessed antagonist Jill face off. It is here that Rita realizes that Jill is possessed for the first time. For this scene I employed Dutch-angles to show the character’s internal turmoil and confusion. For lighting, I wanted to show that she was vulnerable to the elements and so I lit her face with firelight from the mantle and behind, her lightning paints the walls of the room and thunder crashes heavily overhead. Behind her is a long vacuum of dark space and in between her and her only escape route, is the demon. This effectively created a feeling of confusion, vulnerability and entrapment for the audience which reflects exactly what the character felt in that moment. That is the key to great cinematography: every lighting and camera choice should be motivated by the intention to remove the gap between the audience and the screen, effectively creating a state of meditative absorption for the audience. You don’t just want to keep the audience focussed, you want them to feel like their living in the shoes of your protagonist.
(UM): Were there any horror films or filmmakers that influenced your approach to storytelling, cinematography, or sound design?
(MM): I love Sam Raimi and his Evil Dead series. The 2013 version is the scariest film I have ever seen even to this day. The low-key lighting, sound design, use of natural elements such as fire, thunder, lightning and shadow as well as abstract camera angles has left a lasting impression on my style of filmmaking.
(UM): Possession horror often requires physically demanding performances. How did you work with the actors to bring out both the psychological terror and physical intensity of the possessed character?
(MM): The character Jill who becomes possessed is played by Kate Hargrave, a wonderfully talented stunt actor and coordinator whom I have had the pleasure of working with many times. Her and I agreed from the start about what this should look like and how to portray it. We agreed, that we should give the demon a backstory which was that the Demon had been trapped in hell and starving for souls as food and when it had been unleashed by the camera, it went on a hunting-spree. All the while, the demon needed to look like it enjoyed taking its time, hunting them down before consuming them, in essence: playing with its food like a lion.
(UM): The film has received multiple awards. How has this recognition impacted your journey as a filmmaker, and what are your next steps after this Project?
(MM): I’m thrilled to announce that The Recipient has received multiple awards and recognitions!
Here’s a quick rundown:
- Los Angeles Independent Shorts Awards – Silver for Best Horror Short Film & Best Editing, Bronze for Best First-Time Director & Best Sound Design.
- Toronto Independent Film Festival – Best Short Horror Film.
- Phoenix Shorts Film Festival – Best Horror Short Film.
- Venice, Los Angeles Shorts Film Festival & Fade-In Short Film Awards – Semi-finalist in multiple categories, with results pending.
Since experiencing success with my proof of concept short film “The Recipient” I have written the accompanying feature script and four additional feature films, which I intend to produce and direct. I have recently been accepted into the Hollywood Pitch Fest for August 2025 and intend to obtain agency representation, producing partners and sell a number of scripts there. I am currently in pre-production for my next proof of concept short film, “I Promise” to accompany the feature film script. Production for this short film begins in April.
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