 |
| Thomas Harvey (Abriel photo) |
As you scan the shelves at the video store for your yearly Halloween fright fest, you脮ll have to sort through rows of straight-to-video monstrosities with titles like Boa vs. Python and Bloodthirst: Legend of the Chupacabras. You脮ve probably wondered what kind of people would actually make those movies.
Meet Thomas Harvey.
脪El Monstercabras comes out of the fact that we absolutely adore those crappy, B-grade, straight-to-video horror movies,鈥� says Harvey, a third-year acting major in theatre with a minor in film studies. 脪We just decided to skip the middle step of trying to be serious and make a comedy film.鈥�
Their creation, El Monstercabras, wears its absurdity on its ripped and bloody sleeve. Directed by Harvey脮s childhood friend and filmmaking partner Josef Beeby, the plot of the 78-minute feature concerns a mad scientist named Professor Van Diem 脨 played by Harvey 脨 who attempts to create a cure for everything by fusing the genetic information of all the dangerous organisms on earth. Of course, Van Diem inadvertently creates a hideous monster 脨 also played by Harvey 脨 which proceeds to hunt down a group of 脪sexy teens鈥� on spring break. No clich沤 is left un-mocked as the monster hacks and slashes through every B-movie stereotype you can imagine.
脪It脮s entirely about clich沤s,鈥� laughs Harvey, who also helped draft the film脮s story and also co-produced the film through his Fearful Symmetry Productions. 脪Every character is a clich沤 or a joke. The humour comes from the movie taking itself 100 per cent seriously no matter how silly and ridiculous it is.鈥�
While El Monstercabras is self-consciously ridiculous, Harvey is completely serious about the movie. 脪We saw the film as the transition between doing this as a hobby and doing it as a career,鈥� says Harvey. The film脮s $1,000 budget was put forward by Harvey脮s father, but not until after the filmmakers presented him with a budget, contract and percentage of profits agreement. 脪He wanted us to treat him like a professional investor,鈥� says Harvey. 脪He脮s been a huge help on the business end of things.鈥�
Fittingly, El Monstercabras debuted at a midnight screening at Halifax脮s Oxford theatre, with a line-up of patrons backed around the block to catch a glimpse at the film. The screening not only earned back the cost of the theatre rental but gave Harvey an experience to remember. 脪We had the entire building to ourselves, this antique, awesome theatre,鈥� reflects Harvey. 脪I don脮t even know how to describe the feeling.鈥�
For their next work, Harvey and Beeby have made a neo-noir short film, their own semi-futuristic take on detective dramas. Harvey is also working to submit El Monstercabras to as many film festivals as possible in the hopes of reaching a wider audience. 脪I love the film, and I want other people to love it too,鈥� he proudly beams.
In the meantime, Harvey has helped produce a two-disc special edition DVD of El Monstercabras, complete with four commentary tracks, alternate endings and dozens of hidden features. It脮s available for purchase from the Monster Comic Lounge at 2091 Gottingen Street.
And who knows 脨 next Halloween you might find El Monstercabras in the horror section of your local video store, just dying to follow you home.