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Writer/Director Chris Moore Talks ‘Triggered’

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Director Chris Moore is gearing up to release his next film Children of Sin. In celebration of that, we thought we would take a look back at this interview Waylon Jordan did with him about his 2018 movie Triggered

Triggered isn’t a film that can be taken at face value, and it’s certainly not one you should give up on halfway through, which I admit I almost did.

In the film, Callee (Meredith Mohler), a self-appointed (aren’t they always?) captain of the PC police, spends her days calling out every perceived social justice infraction in the most shrill voice imaginable. She, most recently, had a blind cafeteria worker fired for serving a black student fried chicken, much to the chagrin of her principal, Gloria Fielding (Amanda Wyss).

Her only friend, Ian (Jesse Dalton), supports her as best as he can, though she makes it difficult when behind closed doors her facade vanishes and her nasty tirades include more than a few homophobic statements hurled in his direction.

The problem is that Callee doesn’t just want to feel special, she needs it, and if the only way she can be special is to spend her time calling out perceived injustices on everyone else’s behalf, whether they like it or not, then that’s what she will do.

When her efforts fail, and more and more people turn against her, she convinces Ian to fake an attack by a legendary serial killer. Little does she know that the killer is watching her every move and he or she might just be triggered themselves.

Moore sat down with iHorror last week to discuss the film’s origins, audience reactions, and the overall message of the film.

For Moore, this all began when a friend forwarded an article to him involving a protest by white university students who were angry that the sushi being served in their cafeteria was made by non-Asian people.

“I kind of had to laugh at first,” Moore said. “But then I started looking and finding more articles about similar protests from across the country.”

By the time he had accumulated dozens of articles, an idea began to grow for a story that could be both dark and comedic. Combining elements from people he knew in real life and from instances he had only ever encountered online, the central character of Callee began to take shape.

“She really makes me laugh, and I figured if she made me laugh, she might make other people laugh as well,” he explained. “But she’s also really complicated. There are times when she makes really good points and then there are times when you just want to ask, ‘What is wrong with you?!'”

Ian (Jess Dalton) and Callee (Meredith Mohler) in Chris Moore’s Triggered

Naturally, it became essential for Moore to find an actress who could pull off both of these facets, but could add an almost dangerous level of intensity to the role, and he was excited when Mohler was able to not only play the duality of the character but in his own words, “felt like someone I could imagine harming me under the right circumstances.”

Once she was attached to the role, Moore also says he had a discussion with her about not making Callee likable.

“When actors have a character who is unlikable, they tend to try to tone them down a bit,” the director pointed out. “I told her she had to make Callee as unlikable as possible so we could see what happened.”

In the end, he admits that some people get it and some tell him they just can’t watch it because the character is a bit maddening.

The entire tone of Triggered can be off-putting. Moore knew this from the beginning.

When we watch a film, the main character is generally the moral center or at least the lens through which we will view the film. In this case, however, Callee’s skewed perspective forces us to look elsewhere for character connections, and Ian and Gloria Fielding–the two characters who have actually been subjected to various forms of bigotry and isolation–ultimately become the humanity of the film.

Dalton, who Moore knew from online interactions, turned in an audition that was funny and moving and immediately drew the director to the quirky young actor, even though Dalton had never worked on a feature film before.

With scream queen Amanda Wyss, however, it was a matter of dreaming big and taking a shot.

Amanda Wyss in Chris Moore’s Triggered

“I had just seen Amanda in a film called The Id, and she was just so good in that, and I thought she could bring the heart we needed for Gloria,” Moore explained.

He managed to get the script into her hands and to his great surprise, she immediately responded to the material and quickly came on board.

With the film finally finished, Moore headed to its premiere anticipating backlash from the audience on a number of levels, but to his surprise, very few of the expected points of contention seemed to come his way.

Rather, it was a love scene between Ian and another man that people found “off-putting”.

“The majority of comments I heard said ‘the scene between the two guys was a bit much,'” Moore said, laughing. “And I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Was it, though?’ For me, it was equally as gratuitous as any hetero sex scene I’ve seen in a horror film and the haters on this point can suck it up. They’re only uncomfortable because it was two men.”

I guess you might say they were triggered…

Triggered is currently on the festival circuit with its next appearance scheduled at Horror on Sea in the UK. To keep up with screening announcements and other news from the film, follow their official Facebook page!

 

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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