Film Name: Locked
Director: Niki Cornish
Writer: Niki Cornish
Starring: Wendy Morgan
Locked is a film noir short written and directed by Niki Cornish and filmed by blind photographer, Ian Treherne. Starring Wendy Morgan, with a cast and crew of Niki’s unique friends, this stylish, cinematic motion picture uses magnificent musical notes and stark lighting effects to lure the audience into a chilling anecdote of a fallen soldier’s horrifying revenge.
In another interview leading up to the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival, I got a chance to ask writer/director Niki Cornish a few questions about what we can expect from Locked which will be playing at Horror-on-Sea on Sunday 23rd January at 17:30hrs.
Q. Your short horror film Locked has been selected to play at Horror-on-Sea. Can you tell us what we can expect from the film?
A. Locked is a film noir horror short which delves into the dark and inhumane side of human nature with cynicism and doomed love; written and directed by me, Niki Cornish and filmed by blind photographer, Ian Treherne.
Starring Wendy Morgan, with a cast and crew of my unique friends, this stylish, cinematic motion picture uses magnificent musical notes and stark lighting effects to lure the audience into a chilling anecdote of a fallen soldier’s horrifying revenge.
Q. What were some of your influences when writing the script for Locked?
A. Locked was written at a time of global unrest, a time when loneliness was pivotal in many people’s lives. Locked is paradoxical to its own storyline.
Q. What were some of your influences for the look and style of the film?
A. Working as the official photographer for the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival for many years, I was inspired by the many independent films I watched, I thought it would be exciting to combine cinematic portraiture and film. Locked is like a visual feast of rolling black and white portraits accompanied by incredible musical scores.
Q. Did you make any changes from the original script during filming?
A. Ha ha, yes, if you were to ask Ian he would tell you “she just made it up as she went along”. I knew what I wanted to portray and getting there was an ever-evolving journey.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. All of them! Locked was made with spontaneity and passion. The love, devotion and pure talent of everyone involved shines out for itself. This is my first ‘talkie’, one which was made with a blind photographer with a hearing impairment and me, the director, also with two hearing aids which had its moments as you can imagine! Thank goodness for MUA and actress Debbie Lane for translating between camera man and director in times of need!
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
Taking a year from start to finish, during Lockdown there wasn’t any possibility of reshooting, so each scene was shot in the shortest possible time with very few takes (except the dungeon scene which was shot virtually in pitch black making filming a challenge for a blind cameraman). Locked was only possible because of the cast, crew and musicians love of all which is creative and in that, having a deep sense of human connection, making something during extremely difficult times, which may have seemed impossible, absolutely possible.
Q. What makes Locked stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. Locked is a slow-paced visual feast written with elements of humour and of course torture! Being a staunch environmentalist Locked was made leaving very little in the way of a carbon footprint with scenes being shot within walking distance, with costumes and props being taken from attics, wardrobes and glass cabinets and with a strong sense of family – I even managed to use my Dad’s bugle!
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. I am absolutely certain that after watching Locked you will be humming ‘I lied to you’ in your sleep!
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. I have been described as someone who ‘embodies the spirit of a rolling stone; forever seeking the next project with her camera in one hand and well-worn passport in the other’ so yes, Ian and I have talked about another horror film, we have the concept, let’s see how Locked is received and we will go from there!
Q. If someone was looking to write and direct their own film what advice would you give them?
A. Think outside of the box, in directing a film you can make anything happen! Do not compromise on your vision. Listen, weigh up what others may say and if it does not fit, stick to what you know is right for your film. That said, maintain that essential relationship of trust and respect with all of the cast and crew, without them your film would not be possible and let’s face it, nobody knows it all!
You can find out more about the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival on the website https://www.horror-on-sea.com/
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
