Writer and director William Bagley puts a supernatural spin on suburban life in Hold the Fort, a horror-comedy that follows Lucas and Jenny, a young couple whose first home comes with an unexpected and deadly responsibility. After moving into a neighborhood governed by an unusually strict Homeowners Association, they discover the community is tasked with defending against an annual invasion of monsters from hell. Combining creature effects, action, and comedy, Hold the Fort offers a fast-paced take on the anxieties of homeownership while embracing the fun of practical horror filmmaking. We spoke with Bagley about the origins of the film, its unique premise, and the creative process behind bringing this monster-filled neighborhood to the screen.
Interview with Writer / Director William Bagley.
iHorror: Hold the Fort takes the relatable milestone of buying a first home and turns it into a battle against monsters from hell. What attracted you to blending the everyday challenges of homeownership with supernatural horror, and why did that concept feel like the right foundation for this story?
William Bagley: When Scott Hawkins pitched me the idea of an HOA fighting a monster invasion, something about it just clicked! I grew up in an HOA neighborhood, so I knew the pros and cons of having to deal with one. I had also just bought my first house (no HOA, thankfully). I also love stories where incompetent people have to fight something much bigger than themselves. In this case, a supernatural horde of monsters!
iH: In your director’s statement, you describe Hold the Fort as “an experience” and say your goal was to create a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while still telling a story with heart. How did you approach balancing the horror, comedy, and emotional moments throughout the film?
WB: Multi-tonal films are always challenging. First, I try to make sure everything flows in the script. Then, during production, it’s a lot of remembering what the audience should be feeling in the scene and directing to match that. Lastly, it takes a lot of finessing in post. But hopefully you end up with something that flows seamlessly from one tone to the next. I always tell my actors to play it straight. Whether that’s being scared, making a joke, or being badass…it needs to be authentic to the character. They might be doing something extremely stupid, but to the character, it’s not. The characters in the movie shouldn’t be in on the joke. So all ofthose cheesy one liners were delivered from a “This is actually a badass thing to say right now” perspective. Making them much funnier in the final movie!
iH: The film is based on a story by Scott Hawkins, with you writing the screenplay and directing the feature. What was it about Scott’s original concept that resonated with you, and how did you shape it into the film audiences will see?
WB: Hold The Fort started from a very interesting place. In my first feature film, there is a scene where the character watches a fake movie on TV. That fake movie was about a witch getting shot out of the sky and a character saying, “Guess magic can’t stop bullets.” Something I just wrote thinking it’d be a silly joke and that was it. Scott thought that was so funny and kept saying we should make the fake movie into a real one. So I told him if he came up with an idea, I’d write something. A few weeks later, he gave me a onesheet with the premise and a few characters. I wrote a script, and the rest is history!
iH: Hold the Fort stars Chris Mayers, Haley Leary, and Julian Smith, each bringing a different background as performers. What made them the right fit for their roles, and how did their performances help define the film’s tone?
WB: I am so proud of the cast of this film! I think everyone did an incredible job and I love all the performances! When writing, I sometimes have specific cast members in mind (Lucas was written for Chris specifically), but for others, they are found in the casting process. Haley did a table read for us, and she was great and understood the character so well that I cast her right away. It is also about melding an actor and the character together. I don’t try to force the exact version of the character I see in my head onto the actor. I like to blend the two together, and I think that gives better results. It’s also more fun for the actor!
iH: Your career began with award-winning short films before your first feature, The Murder Podcast. Looking back, how was your approach to filmmaking evolved, and what lessons from your earlier work proved most valuable while making Hold the Fort?
WB: Oh man, there are so many lessons I have learned from each project. And there are so many I learned from Hold The Fort that I can’t wait to take to the third feature! I think the most valuable lesson I learned on The Murder Podcast was to be confident in my vision. When making that film, I remember thinking, “Is this going to work? Will that cut together right? Am I giving the right direction?” It wasn’t until I got into post that I was able to confirm I was making good decisions. With Hold the Fort, I was able to feel more confident from the get go, which I think helped me make more exciting decisions on the day.
iH: Horror-comedy is one of the most challenging genres because both the scares and the laughs have to land. Were there any scenes that proved especially challenging to execute, whether because of the action, creature work, comedy timing, or other technical demands?
WB: We actually had a pretty smooth time on set. Our biggest hurdle was always time. There was never enough time in the day, and because of our small budget, we had to move FAST. We were averaging 40–60 setups per day. One of the things that stands out though, is any of the scenes where McScruffy is taped to Lucas’s shoulders. When writing that, I was trying to make things as hard as possible for the characters, but I didn’t realize that would also make it hard to film! The logistics of having a 6’4″ guy on someone’s shoulders, then having them run full speed while pulling a yard sprayer, were quite a challenge! We ended up using lots of fun camera angles and editing to make it work. We also had fake legs taped to Lucas most of the time.
iH: Beyond the monsters and humor, Hold the Fort also explores the importance of community as neighbors are forced to come together under extraordinary circumstances. Was that theme always central to the story, and what did you hope audiences would take away from it?
WB: Yes, that theme was always present. To me, the film is about banding together and staying brave through the hard times. As silly as it is, I really like Ted’s line about life: “Do I roll over and let life fuck me, or do I fuck life right back?” That’s not easy because life can throw so much at you. But hopefully, with a strong support group and the determination to be brave and keep trying, you can get through it.
iH: After audiences experience all the laughs, chaos, and monster mayhem, what do you hope they’re talking about as they leave the theater or finish watching the film?
WB: For those who need it, I hope the theme sticks. For everyone else, I hope that they had a damn good time! I hope that the audience leaves feeling like that was just a blast! And that they were able to escape the day to day, laugh, cheer, and enjoy themselves.
Hold the Fort is now available on digital platforms!
