About The Film
When Kyle - a smooth-talking schmoozer with more confidence than common sense - is humiliatingly dumped at a local bar for cheating on his loyal girlfriend, he quickly rebounds into the arms of V: alluring, mysterious, and his match in both wit and charm.
But as he’s drawn deeper into her seductive web, the tables turn, the walls close in, and Kyle is forced to confront the consequences of putting his trust in the wrong places. What begins as a flirtatious rebound
spirals into a night of psychological manipulation, unexpected violence, and high-stakes survival.
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Venus is an exploration of the performative and deceptive nature of identity, told through the stylized lens of horror and neo-noir. Both a standalone short and a proof of concept ripe for feature expansion, Venus introduces audiences to V - a sexy, enigmatic, and psychologically
complex slasher villain designed to both honor and evolve the genre archetype.
Directors
Statement
Akin to my other work, Venus was a vessel to explore and assess the complexities of human nature, in
light of situations I’ve experienced and the personalities I’ve encountered. My approach to storytelling is
to refine my understanding - never to underscore or draw credence to it. This story in particular explores
the performative and deceptive nature of identity: the ways we craft masks for ourselves to cope with
past traumas, or to wear selfishly in the pursuit of personal gain. In some cases, even both - like our tragic
femme fatale villain, “V.”
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Having been fascinated with horror from an early age (my fear of the film Child’s Play once motivated
me to listen to its director’s commentary to alleviate my fears - which also birthed my fascination with
cinema), I felt compelled to write a grounded, psychologically motivated slasher villain with the potential
to be as iconic as the killers who scared and intrigued me on-screen as a young boy—and V is just that.
Through collaborating with my gifted friend Marcos Repollé (Producer, Director of Photography, Lead
Actor), we took my vision for the narrative to new heights. The award-winning up-and-comer carefully
considered my influences (Uncut Gems, Anora, Manhunter, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Good Will
Hunting) and the film’s themes and tone as we crafted the visual style together. Its gritty, chiaroscuro,
and neon-adorned imagery directly reflects the emotional dislocation of V’s inner world - the same world
she deceptively introduces her victims to.
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Lacking in resources but with ambition in spades, the two of us assembled a team of equally passionate
local filmmakers and shot this standalone short film and proof of concept for feature expansion on a
self-funded budget of just over $4K. The finished project is not just a testament to our resolve, but an
indicator of what we can accomplish together with a strong vision on a shoestring budget.
Through its viewing, audiences are encouraged to reflect on the weight of living outside of one’s truth,
and the impact that has on both ourselves and those around us. This tale is both timely and timeless:
while our increasing dependency on social media has bolstered this phenomenon, humans have been
inherently deceptive since the dawn of socialization - most relatably in romantic relationships, as
unfortunate as that may be. Venus is a sexy, scary thrillride packed with thrills and chills—and a reminder
that sometimes, looks can kill.
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