Interview with Damian McCarthy

"I like playing on the fine line between comedy and horror"

After several short films, Damian McCarthy debuted in feature films in 2020 with Caveat, a movie he defines as the epitome of 100% independent cinema. After making the rounds at festivals, Shudder trusted it for a streaming release and funded his next project. We talked with him about Oddity, featured in the Panorama section, and about his tastes in horror – By Javier Parra

What are your first memories related to the genre?
Probably American horror films. My parents owned a video store, and as a kid, I watched tons of VHS classics, especially from the '80s. The first one I remember is Poltergeist. I loved the idea of a cursed family living in that house. I thought it was very creative, even though it scared me a lot. Watching it now, it’s not as scary, but it still feels genuine.

How did Oddity come about?
I wrote the draft while filming Caveat and developed it during editing. I wanted to create something indie that mixed several subgenres: a bit of ghost story, a bit of slasher, some psychological horror, and a home invasion. That way, I felt I could hook the audience. Caveat ended up premiering on Shudder, and since I had a good relationship with them, they asked if I had something else in mind. They liked the script, and we decided to make it together.

Do you have any key references for the conception of Oddity?
It was a mix of things. I rewatched Friday the 13th and Halloween. Oddity is very different, but there are sequences inspired as homages to those slashers. Beyond that, I revisited Ringu by Hideo Nakata, which is terrifying due to its sound design. Regarding folk horror and witchcraft, I also rewatched the original The Wicker Man.

Have you heard of a movie called The Fear (1995)?
It’s funny. I know it because many people told me: “Oh, there’s a wooden man in this. Have you seen it?” At first, I’d say no because I truly hadn’t, and I still haven’t. Now I’ve seen some clips, and it seems like a good reference. I wish I’d seen it earlier. When writing or filming, influences show up subconsciously. You may not even realize they’re there. People have also said that Oddity reminds them of Creepshow and EC Comics.

How would you define your conception of horror in your movies?
My main goal is to entertain. I don’t think my shorts or Oddity take themselves too seriously. I like playing on the fine line between comedy and horror, and my idea is never to disgust or disturb. When someone watches one of my films, I want them to feel nervous. Ultimately, the feeling I want them to leave with is that it was fun. Some films take themselves too seriously. Some are brilliant but so serious and draining that I might never rewatch them, even if I like them.

What’s your take on the current landscape of horror or fantasy cinema?
We’re in a great moment. I don’t think there’s a clear trend, which is wonderful. Without a specific craze, I feel people are becoming experimental. Take, for instance, In a Violent Nature or Longlegs. One is an ultra-violent auteur slasher, and the other is something very strange, cerebral, and open to interpretation.

What can audiences expect from Oddity?
It’s a compact and engaging movie. It’s an hour and a half long, and audiences will be surprised at how many characters, scares, and tense scenes we packed into such a short runtime. We won the Audience Award at South by Southwest. People laughed, screamed, and got scared. It was the same at BIFAN in South Korea. Many were surprised by the film’s dark humor. Just when people start to relax, things turn macabre. Then comes the nervous laughter.

Who are your main influences in horror?
John Carpenter, Sam Raimi and Guillermo del Toro are my classics. If I had to name my favorites, it would be Carpenter and Bong Joon-ho, who, between Memories of Murder, Snowpiercer, and Parasite, has an excellent grasp of spatial use. The way he moves the camera and edits his films makes him a very skilled storyteller, probably the best working director today.

What are your favorite horror movies?
The Thing and Evil Dead 2. The latter is brilliant as a perfect blend of comedy and horror. I rewatched it recently and had forgotten how good it is. The final shot of Ash traveling to the past is incredible.

If you had the chance to remake a film, what would it be?
Tough question. It’s funny because I’ve talked with producers and studios about projects in development. The problem with remaking a movie is that it’s always compared to the original. It’s hard to create something entirely new. With a remake or sequel, there’s the added pressure of living up to the original. I was in Neuchâtel and rewatched They Live. It’s strange that no one has dared to remake it. It has so much potential for a remake. Actually, if I could remake anything, I’d redo Caveat.

Do you have any new projects in the works?
We’re in pre-production. I can’t reveal much. It’s horror, and we’re filming again in the southwest of Ireland, just like Caveat and Oddity. It’s quite different in some ways, but it’s going to be good, and we aim to release it by late 2025.

[interview taken for the Festival's Official Newspaper of October 5, 2024]