No Such Thing As Monsters

I love horror films.

If I were to tell you what my top 5 films of all time were, they would all be horror movies - the great ones: Jaws, The Shining, Evil Dead, Alien and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

I believe horror is one of the most powerful cinematic genres there is, and by that I mean it lends itself to showcasing visual dramatic tension at its best. Unlike so many other genres, the horror genre is built for pure cinematic experiences.

But there’s a problem. Horror is easy and cheap to make ... but extremely hard to make great. I suppose that’s why many first-time filmmakers endeavour in the horror genre because of the misguided belief that ‘all we have to do is to scare people, and people are easy to scare’. The result is a genre that is over-saturated in the market with films driven by blood and gore and loud noises and people who we don’t care about dying by the numbers.

But do the majority of these films really get under your skin and leave an impression? From my perspective as an avid horror film lover, I don’t think so.

A comedian once said “If I tickle you, I technically made you laugh, right?”. I believe the same philosophy applies to horror films - just because you can make the audience jump or squirm, doesn’t mean you have created a memorable film that does the genre justice.

I believe the best horror films are the ones with interesting characters, with unique compelling stories that explore true horrors, ones that have you on the edge of your seat, ones that have you yelling at the screen, ones that make you think and feel. In short, they are the ones that make you care.

This is the type of horror film I want to make. A film that resonates with the audience beyond the end credits, a film that stays with them, in their guts and in their hearts.

Straight up, it’s important to say that I have zero interest in making a film which glamorizes sex and violence or is gratuitous or uses cheap tricks - I want to make a horror film that is smarter, that goes beyond the easy formula, a horror film that uses the audience's own fears and imagination against them. I want to make a horror film in which less is more. I want to make a horror film with layers. A film that is arresting, provocative, mesmerising and - most importantly - terrifying.

I am making a terror film and my terror film is called ‘No Such Thing As Monsters’.
This film has a simple premise and complex characters, very complex characters.

So what is it about exactly?

‘No Such Thing As Monsters’ follows a young couple, Mary and David, as they escape into the woods for a weekend away of rest and relaxation. Unbeknownst to Mary, this is to be the weekend in which David proposes. This all changes however when they encounter ‘The Family’, an odd group of individuals who kidnap Mary and David for their own nefarious reasons.

The film is told mainly from the perspective of Mary as we see her face challenge after challenge in her attempt to not only escape but to also rescue David.

But there is more... much more... darker more... twisted more. This ‘Family’ are not just a bunch of simple minded psychos, they are calculated, deep, and focused on a mysterious grand plan.
They are unlike any villains you have seen before.

So the question is: can Mary escape? And if so, what will she have to do and sacrifice in order to bring them home safely?
I know I’m being quite vague, but the truth is, I don’t want to give away too much too early.

If I was pitching this in a sentence I would say Not for the Faint Hearted is Misery meets Texas Chainsaw cooked up in enough juice to ensure repeated viewing is oozing with flavour.

Exploring themes such as escape, what it means to be different, the role of family and the need for LIFE, No Such Thing As Monsters is going to be an intense, thought provoking, horror-house rollercoaster that will ultimately leave you aghast and satisfied but, most importantly, wanting more.

Stuart Stanton Co-Writer / Director