Interview with the director Trey Edward Shults
Interview by Léo Soesanto
This is a « home movie » in every sense: a personal work and an exploration of one space — in fact two, one house and Krisha’s mind. There could have been many ways to tell that story. Why did you choose that special mix of tracking shots, chopped editing, close-ups, eery atmosphere, high anxiety and so on?
Before we shot the film, I would tell people it's going to be a cinematic chamber drama. I wanted the challenge of using one location for the entire film, but to tell the story cinematically, without exposition. For me, everything we did was taking Krisha’s point of view and digging further into her head, so by the end we were in her own subjective reality. The aspect ratio changes according to her perception — when she discovers and feels the house, feels fine or oppressed. The editing style was treated in the same way. The film fluctuates between long unbroken takes and montages. All of which are used at different moments for whatever echoes Krisha's state of mind. Everything was done to cinematically capture the soul of the character.
Can you tell us about that amazing soundtrack?
With my composer Brian McOmber, we decided to treat it like an album that goes on a musical arc that is in line with Krisha's experience. It’s meant to echo her point of view, just like the shooting and editing. We also wanted the score to progress, so that each new track took an element from the prior track and built on it. We also tried to use real sounds in the environment. Like clocks, timers, and woodpeckers!
If I had to pitch the film, it would be something like « John Cassavetes remade by Roman Polanski and Jonathan Caouette »…
Yes! Perhaps, Polanski's Apartment Trilogy (Repulsion / Rosemary’s Baby / The Tenant) meets A Woman Under the Influence? I think it's also ironic, considering Cassavetes apparently didn't have a great time on Rosemary's Baby. Cassavetes and Polanski were certainly huge influences. I have to admit that I haven't seen any Jonathan Caouette and I will change that soon!
