Culver City Film Festival Best Horror Short 2018 - Old Mrs. Jenkins
Reminiscent of the campy horror films from the 80s, Old Mrs. Jenkins tells the story of what happens to a couple after a thunderstorm leaves them in the dark. With only candles, a broken flashlight and a fireplace to light the night, together they learn that some scary stories should never be retold.
Interview with co-Writer/co-Director/co-Producer Taryn Hough
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Taryn Hough and Thomas Norman, the writers and directors of Old Mrs. Jenkins, are huge fans of 80s horror. We love the campiness and lightheartedness of horror from that decade, there was always something fun about the films. The kills were deliberate, you were laughing and cringing at the same time, and they just had a fun vibe about them. We wanted to recreate that with Old Mrs. Jenkins. We wanted to create a new monster/urban legend that hadn't been done before, telling the story in a setting that was new and fresh but still harkens back to a time of better horror cinema.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch Old Mrs. Jenkins because it's a fun horror film that flies by! The film is under 6 minutes long and it's a rollercoaster from beginning to end. We start off with a really upbeat vibe, that starts to unravel and turns dark, fast. The film is set in the 80s, so there's a great feeling of nostalgia that you get when watching the story unfold. The short has something for everyone, laughs, great effects, scares and blood. what more could you ask for in 6 minutes?
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Well, without giving too much away about the film’s ending, the title character, Mrs. Jenkins, is killed by the townsfolk. She is ultimately done in by "mob justice", and seeks her revenge for what was done to her. It leaves the audience wondering, was Mrs. Jenkins evil, or did the town make her evil?
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Originally the script was more light hearted. We maintained the humor and lightness in the beginning, but the actual character of Mrs. Jenkins became darker as we developed the script and gave her more of a back story. In the first draft, she didn't steal eyes, she was just an unfortunate old woman that got struck by lightning. Jenkins went from that, to a murderous, eye stealing witch, that was burned alive by an angry mob.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
All of the feedback we have received has been positive. People dig the film’s vibe and say that it reminds them of old school horror, which was our intent.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It's always a plus when people like your film. We set out to create a fun, old school horror film, and it's really resonating with people. It's confirmed our belief that people want more 80s horror!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We want to get the word out about Old Mrs. Jenkins. The film just started its festival run, so bringing awareness to the film would be great.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Festival directors, mainly. The film has just started its festival run, so fest directors are our main focus.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We wanted to create a film that allowed the audience to laugh and have fun, but be a bit disturbed at the same time. That's the exact reaction we're getting from audiences, which is great!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
We took a really interesting approach to making the film. I live in California, where the film was shot, and Thomas lives in New Jersey. Due to schedules, Thomas wasn't able to be on set, so he co directed via Skype. The irony is that, in the film, the catalyst for everything happening is that the power goes out, which wouldn't be scary in today's world because of modern technology. But we wouldn't have been able to make the film in the 80s, without today's modern technology.
Would you like to add anything else?
If you would like to learn about future screenings, make sure to check out the films Facebook and Instagram pages.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Taryn Hough has a short documentary that is on the festival circuit now, The Last Doll Lady. She is also working on a new documentary about The Aquadettes. Filming has already started, and will be complete by late 2019. Thomas Norman is working on a new horror project that involves vampires.
Interview: December 2018
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Old Mrs. Jenkins
Reminiscent of the campy horror films from the 80s, Old Mrs. Jenkins tells the story of what happens to a couple after a thunderstorm leaves them in the dark. With only candles, a broken flashlight and a fireplace to light the night, together they learn that some scary stories should never be retold.
Length: 6min
About the writer, director and producer:
TARYN HOUGH was born and raised in Southern California. Her love for cinema started at a young age when her mother would take her to the movies every weekend, sometimes resulting in seeing not-so-age-appropriate films. Her love for horror film started at a young age and she has always been drawn to the bizarre. Taryn has worked in front of and behind the camera for over 10 years, and while Old Mrs. Jenkins is not her first horror film, it is her favorite.
Key cast: Jaclyn Carmichael, Taryn Hough, Bill Rogers
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Film festival directors and journalists
Facebook: Old Mrs. Jenkins short film
Instagram: @tarynissuper
Made in association with: Chain Smoking Monkey Productions
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
The film just screened at the Culver City Film Festival, where it won Best Horror Short. Stay tuned for more screenings in 2019!