Interview – Ti West and Jocelin Donahue

February 2, 2010 sees the Blu-ray/DVD release of Ti West’ throwback to 80′s horror The House of the Devil, which had a successful VOD and theatrical run last Fall. Killer Film had a chance to talk to Director Ti West and star Jocelin Donahue about the quiet horror film that has been receiving rave reviews from critics and horror buffs alike.

Jason Bene: Alot of people are calling The House of the Devil an homage, but I see it as more of a period piece with a nod to Roman Polanksi and Hammer Films To The Devil a Daughter.

Ti West: I agree with you. I don’t see it as an homage as much as I see it as a period piece. You are correct in your assessment that it’s an accurate period piece, more accurate than we had anticipated based on how many people have responded to it. As far as inspirations I wouldn’t say it’s a nod to Polanski; but Repulsion, The Tenant, and Rosemary’s Baby were subsconsciously big influences for me.

Jason Bene: How does it feel to be in a horror film?

Jocelin Donahue: It feels great. I have been really lucky to have done two horror films (The House of the Devil, The Burrowers), both period pieces, both different than the kind of slasher films that I read for. I feel lucky to have been able to do these intellectualized art horror movies.

Jason Bene: You worked with Tom Noonan before on The Roost and he’s such a brilliant actor. It was probably a no-brainer to bring him back for The House of the Devil.

Ti West: It was actually. He e-mailed me wanting to do it as I was looking to cast Jocelin’s role. I hadn’t even got to that role yet and Tom was in my head but I hadn’t really put it together. I got a call from Tom saying he wanted to do the movie and I said great. It was real easy.

Jason Bene: Are you a fan of horror films?

Jocelin Donahue: I am now. Originally I would of said I kind of avoid the violence and gore kind of stuff because I’m a little squeamish. Ti introduced me to a lot of the classics horror films in preparation for this role and now I’m really into early Polanski, The Changeling, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Don’t Look Now. The genre is great because it really allows a big range of performance and theme.

Jason Bene: The marketing on this film has been incredible. The posters look like they were torn from a movie theater back in the late 70′s/early 80′s.

Ti West: I have nothing but amazing things to say about Magnolia Pictures as a distributor and as a group of people who are collaborative in wanting to see this film do well. I have never encountered anyone as great as they are. That’s a testament to them.

Jason Bene: The movies you mentioned before are great because they are not overly violent, they are cerebral, more of a thinking man’s horror film. And that is what Ti is going for with this film.

Jocelin Donahue: I think he did a really good job. It was fun to do the 80′s thing because we got to recreate another time period, not just in wardrobe and art direction but also in tone and sentimentality.

Jason Bene: My two favorite posters are the one with Jocelin in the window, which reminded me of Wes Craven’s Deadly Friend and the one with the hand reaching out of the house which evoked Amityville 3-D.

Ti West: The reason we went with the one with the house on fire is because it’s the most evocative of the film, we couldn’t let the other ones go and we had to release them online. I have to agree those are awesome.

Jason Bene: Are you still doing The Haunting in Georgia?

Ti West: That’s not happening yet but we are working on the script. I’m attached to that and those guys are great, Gold Circle Films has been fantastic.

Killer Film would like to thank Ti West and Jocelin Donahue for taking time from their busy schedules and giving such an informative interview. And make sure you hit Amazon to get the exclusive The House of the Devil release that comes with a VHS copy! If you look really close you can see the Gorgon Video logo on the tape.