Film Name: Forty-Five
Director: Bazz Hancher
Writers: Bazz Hancher, Michael Walcott
Starring: Kemal Yildirim, Grace Woolgar, Scott Mullins, Andrew Elias, Laurence Saunders,
Micheala Revel-Maton, Laura Liptrot, Sean Botha, John R. Walker, Sarah Rorbach
First, he destroys his mind, then he destroys his body.
In a new exclusive interview on Blazing Minds, I had the opportunity to ask Writer-Director Bazz Hancher a few questions about the film ‘Forty-Five,’ which will have its World Premiere at Horror-on-Sea on Friday, 23rd January, at 22:30 hours.
Q. Your film Forty-Five has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival. Can you tell us what we can expect?
A. Our story is of a man’s desperation to find his daughter’s killer as he feels the police haven’t done a good enough job. However, along the way, he begins to understand that the search for the truth, the effort to understand biblical meanings, and what is happening to him. This leads to a finale that he had refused to consider.
Q. You co-wrote the script with Michael Walcott. What were some of your inspirations when writing the script, and what was your process for writing together?
A. Music plays a massive part in both mine and Michael’s visions. I tend to use music I have heard as the spark that lights the idea for a film. In the case of Forty-Five, I listened to a track on a good Friday of all days called Apricots by Bicep, I then imagined the movie from that track and the video by Mark Jenkin. Even though there is little reference to this in the film, the inspiration came from the song and video. Of course, any film that involves the antichrist will have links to the Omen (1976), Exorcist (1973), and the like, and this film does have elements, as I love that genre. Both Mike and I always discuss and contribute ideas to our scripts.
Q. Did you have any of the cast in mind for the characters when writing the script?
A. I think having a cast in mind for the characters is dangerous because if they say no, you feel the film won’t be as good without the person you originally wanted. After saying that, I always like to work with different actors and meet many of them at film festivals such as HOS. Just because someone has offered or asked to do a film with us doesn’t mean we will pick up the phone and say, Hey, you’re in our next project. I feel this is a disservice to both the actors and ourselves. I think, in most cases, I will have a part for nearly all of them, but it has to be a part I know I can get the best from them. Working this way works for both parties; this sometimes can be three films from when we first met. For example, I had spoken with both Andrew Elias and Sean Botha about roles at previous festivals, so when Forty-Five came along, I knew they would fit the roles. Regarding Kemal Yildirim, we had worked together on Axel Falcon (2024). We thought he would have been a good chief of police, but after discussions with Michael, we decided the main character would fit him better, and I feel that was the right decision.
Q. What were some of your influences for the look and style of the film?
A. I wanted the film to look more like a mainstream film. With Michael’s help, I feel it looks more like a serious film than the mad stuff we have done previously. So, to do this, we shot it in widescreen. I’m a big fan of Dario Argento and Michael Mann as influences. We tried to look more professional with this film, as I feel this is our best script, delivered by some terrific actors. I’m not sure you will see the influence of Argento or Mann in this film, as our budgets differ a little.
Q. Did you make any changes from the original script during filming?
A. I think you must be really confident and lucky if you don’t make changes to the script during filming. I feel actors play a big part in this, as I’m happy to give them licence to change their lines as long as it means the same and doesn’t take away from the story. Everyone needs to be comfortable because when you’re relaxed, you will do your best work. This sometimes means you change and then change back, as I feel it’s the nature of filmmaking and writing.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. I always love the FX and gore scenes; this keeps you on edge, and when you get it right, it is the best feeling. I also like the banter, especially with the team we have. I’m not the most politically correct person, and I could be cancelled at any moment. That said, the people I work with are fantastic and diverse, and I have genuine friendships with them outside of filmmaking. This allows us to have a sense of humour or a point of view we don’t necessarily agree with, without that defining our relationships. This is why I love filmmaking with all kinds of people; it’s my favourite part.
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
A. This was a fantastically smooth shoot for a change. We had the typical issues like the camera in reflections, people’s hands, etc, in shot, but other than that, we were fortunate with this film, which is weird considering the subject matter.
Q. What makes Forty-Five stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. This is a difficult question because how do you stand out in a congested soup of film subject matter? The truth is, the film doesn’t stand out; most films are variations on ideas that have come before. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a better answer than that; even so, I feel people will enjoy the film for what it is.
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. I hope they say, bloody hell, a White Raven film with a story and a more serious vibe. That makes a change from the usual dross they make. Seriously, I would welcome their thoughts on what the film meant to them; that would certainly be useful and interesting to us.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. Yes, we are working on a trilogy of short films at the moment and another movie in the same vein as 45, but with a different subject matter.
Q. If someone was looking to write and direct their own film what advice would you give them?
A. God knows, if I’m brutally honest, I don’t think films will be made with a camera or a crew in the next ten years with how quickly AI is moving. So, from that perspective, I hope people starting in this game stick to the fundamentals of film, pick up a camera, and keep the indie filmmaking community alive. It’s all on their shoulders; ask the questions of today’s filmmakers so you can keep it safe from the money men and their robots. I wish them well, and help will always be there if they ask.
‘Forty-Five’ will have its World Premiere at Horror-on-Sea on Friday 23rd January at 22:30hrs.
You can find out more about Horror-on-Sea and purchase tickets for Forty-Five here
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!
