All Light Will End is a 2018 horror/thriller about a capricious young author hiding a dark secret who returns home for her brother’s graduation, finding herself haunted by the past and tormented by grimly night terrors.
Being released by Gravitas Ventures November 3rd, Chris Blake’s All Light Will End will definitely have viewers sleeping with the light on at night. The film follows a successful young author, Savannah (played by Ashley Pereira), hiding a dark secret as she returns home for her brother’s graduation. She soon finds herself haunted by the past and tormented by grimly night terrors. All Light Will End stars many familiar faces including Andy Buckley (The Office), Sam Jones III (Smallville), Alexandra Harris (Secret Diary of An American Cheerleader) and for all you horror fans Sarah Butler (I Spit on Your Grave). Since October is officially the month of horror we decided to celebrate this by speaking with Chris, whom also serves as the film’s writer, about bringing All Light Will End to life.
What would your boiled-down elevator pitch for All Light Will End?
Chris Blake: All Light Will End is a psychological horror film about a young novelist who returns to her hometown for her brother’s graduation weekend in the midst of a string of gruesome murders, and the key to unlocking the horrifying truth lies in a dark secret from her past that she can’t remember.
What was your writing process like with All Light Will End?
CG: Well, for me, I don’t outline. I’ll write outlines or treatments if I’m hired onto a project, but otherwise, I avoid it. I’ve found that by the time I’m done outlining something or writing a treatment, I’m bored with the story and ready to move onto something else. The same was true for ALL LIGHT WILL END. I had an opening scene in my head and just started writing. From there, the story grew organically. Once, I have a bones draft, I step away for a little while, and then when I come back to it I adjust structure, character arcs, and callbacks.
All Light Will End has been featured at many film festivals. How important do you find these film fests are to indie horror directors and the actual films for that matter?
CG: Super important. I love the festival circuit. It’s an amazing experience getting to sit in and watch your film with an unbiased and unattached audience. You get to see what they react to and what they don’t – what works and what doesn’t. Festivals also provide an invaluable opportunity to network with other creative minds and industry executives.
How did you decide on the concept for this film? Was it based on something in your life?
CG: The concept was simple – a story about a woman who holds the secret to solving a string of murders, if only she could remember. The script didn’t stick to that concept entirely – because again, I don’t like to box a story in with an outline and prefer to see where it goes as I’m writing it – but I loved the irony of that concept set against a bucolic backdrop. Once I had the opening scene in my head the script just progressed organically.
Which character do you relate to most in the film?
CG: There’s a little of me in all the characters I write and a little of truth to all of my stories – so, it’s difficult to pin it down to one character in particular. I’d like to think I’m most present in the hero of the story, and the least present in the psychopathic antagonists that make their way into my films, but I’m not sure that’s true. Fingers crossed.
What do you think the hardest part of getting a movie made is today?
CG: I know a lot of filmmakers would jump in here and say financing, and while that is of course an uphill battle with every project, I think the toughest hurdle we face today as indie filmmakers is saturation. The film industry has become so accessible and there are so many films being made all over the world, that it’s becoming more and more difficult for projects to rise above the noise. Studios and private equity investors are pitched so frequently, and have so many options to choose from, getting them to see the value in your project is the most pressing challenge we’re all facing.
Do you have any directorial influences?
CG: Absolutely. I could make a list three pages long. But I won’t. My main influences, although it varies from time to time, are Cameron Crowe, David Fincher, Paul Thomas Anderson, JJ Abrams and Steven Spielberg. I know that’s casting a wide net that lands all over the spectrum, but each of them have qualities I aspire to as a writer and director.
You can pre-order All Light Will End here