Film Name: Go to Hell
Director: Dean of the Dead
Writer: Dean of the Dead
Starring: Gary Amos, Charlie Bond, James Hamer-Morton, Lou Jones, Cadaverous Black, Nicholas Benjamin, Mike Fielding
After a fatal fall, unassuming serial killer Robert wakes up in Hell – a bizarre, nightmarish underworld where demons drink, deals are struck, and revenge is just a ritual away. Guided by a sly barfly named Sid, Robert seeks out a powerful entity capable of sending darkness back to the living world. But in Hell, nothing comes without a cost… and some pasts refuse to stay buried!
In a new exclusive interview on Blazing Minds I got a chance to ask Writer-Director Dean of the Dead a few questions about his film ‘Go to Hell’ which has been selected to play at Horror- on-Sea on Friday 16th January at 17:30hrs.
Q. Your film Go to Hell has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival. Can you tell us what we can expect?
A. Go to Hell is a colourful, darkly comic ride that begins when a man is pushed down the stairs by his wife and wakes up in a campy fictional Hell. From there, the film follows his journey through the underworld, leaning into twisted humour, playful visuals, and a sense of fun rather than outright
gore. It’s dark in places, mischievous in others, and driven by irony and revenge, as he learns exactly how he might settle the score with his beloved wife back on Earth. Think hellish antics and a journey where the punchlines are just as important as the consequences!
Q. What were your inspirations when writing the script?
A. I drew inspiration from a mix of filmmakers and shows I love and tried to mash them together on a shoestring budget. There’s a big influence from Rob Zombie , especially the anarchic, grimy energy of House of 1000 Corpses (2003), alongside the pitch-black British humour of Inside No. 9 (2024-2024),
Psychoville (2009-2011), and The League of Gentlemen (1999-2017).
Visually and tonally, I was also heavily inspired by Beetlejuice (1988) and the twisted, colourful worlds of Tim Burton. I’m a big fan of anything that’s bold, playful, and visually striking, while still being creepy and unsettling – and Go to Hell was my attempt to blend all of those influences into one fun, dark, hellish little story
Q. Did you have any of the cast in mind for the characters when writing the script?
A. Yes absolutely, the cast very much shaped the script!
I’d seen my lead Gary’s showreel before writing and was desperate to work with him, so he was immediately in my head for the main role. I’ve also known Mike Fielding for about 20 years, going right back to The Mighty Boosh (2003-2007) days. I was running a club night way back in the day and we had him down as a guest DJ. After his set, he came back to my house for an after-party and stayed for about three days haha – we became good mates after that, and when the barman character came along, he felt like a perfect fit. Originally, I imagined giving him a grand entrance with his back to camera, turning around in true Naboo style, but Mike suggested gliding into shot on a skateboard instead, which was far too good not to use!!
In general, I wanted to work with everyone involved, so I tweaked the characters to play to each actor’s strengths and let their personalities shine through.
Q. What were some of your influences for the look and style of the film?
A. Visually, I wanted the film to feel wacky, bold, and handmade, rather than polished or realistic. A big influence was in fact The Mighty Boosh, especially its fearless use of colour, theatrical sets, and surreal logic. The idea that anything can exist in the same frame if it’s fun enough.
I was also heavily inspired by the early work of Peter Jackson, when his films were scrappy and gross, as well as the twisted, colourful worlds of Tim Burton . On top of that, the anarchic, DIY energy of Rob Zombie’s visuals definitely crept in.
With a shoestring budget, the goal was to combine all of that – surreal, colourful, creepy, and deliberately rough around the edges – and lean into a wacky, playful version of Hell that felt fun, strange, and a little unhinged rather than traditionally scary.
Q. Did you make any changes from the original script during filming?
A. To be honest, not really. I had a very clear idea of what I wanted from the start, and we pretty much captured it all on each of the shoots!
We workshopped a few moments here and there, and I always encouraged the cast to ad-lib or tweak lines if something felt more natural to them. But overall, the finished film is very close to what was on the page.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. My favourite overall moment was filming at Tulleys Farm Shocktober Fest while the event was actually running. It was very much a run-and-gun shoot, and our cinematographer Kemal fully embraced the madness!
There were lights, fire, dancers, street theatre, and members of the public who had no idea a film was being shot around them. One guy clocked on and kicked Gary up the ass as he ran past haha!! We also brought some of Tulleys’ street theatre actors into the film and workshopped their scenes on the night, which gave everything a raw, unpredictable energy.
That was also our first night of shooting, which made it a pretty intense way to start the project. What an introduction!! After wrap, naturally, we all went through the scare mazes together. Was such a fun time.
We also filmed a séance scene at Walsall Scare Maze. I’d spotted the room while going through the maze one night and was like I NEED to film in here!
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
A. Not really. The only real hiccup was right at the start when I was let down last minute for our shoot at Tulleys Farm Shocktober Fest . It was my final chance to use the park before it closed for the season, and I was determined not to wait another year for it to reopen, so I put the feelers out quickly. Luckily, our cinematographer Kemal stepped in and completely saved the day – and we ended up keeping him for the rest of the shoot. He was great to work with, incredibly patient, and taught me a lot. He’s hugely talented, has years of industry experience, and has become a really important part of my filmmaking journey. We still work together now.
The only other challenge was a practical effect at the very end involving Charlie. I won’t say what it is because it’s a spoiler, but let’s just say selling that shot with confidence – without a massive budget – was definitely a pain in the ass!!
Q. What makes Go to Hell stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. What makes Go To Hell feel different is its focus on creativity and world- building rather than pure shocks or jump scares. It’s about inventing a strange, playful version of Hell filled with fun, memorable characters, and letting that world do a lot of the work.
I’m a big fan of 80s horror, when films were inventive, characterful, and driven by practical creativity, and I wanted to bring some of that energy back. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously, very much like it’s creator, and the dark comedy is a big part of its identity. While this one leans more into humour than gore, future projects will definitely push the bloodier side further… without ever losing the laughs of course.
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. I hope people come away feeling like they’ve had fun first and foremost.
It’s meant to be an entertaining, slightly twisted ride – something that makes you laugh, wince, and maybe feel a tad uncomfortable in places. Beyond that, I hope the world and characters stick with people. Go to Hell isn’t trying to deliver a heavy message, but there’s a darkly comic idea about consequences and revenge running underneath it. If audiences leave amused, slightly unsettled, and curious to see where this world could go next, then it’s done its job.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. Haha, you’d better believe I do. Always!!
I’m currently working with Mike Fielding again on a ghost-hunting show called Haunt Me If You Can! . It also features Haunted Charlie Hall, Tiff Griffiths, and myself, and we’re right at the beginning stages of production. Kemal is back on board too, we’ve got some fantastic locations lined up, and the plan is to release it later this year as an 8-episode series.
I’ve also got a script ready to go for another short called The Red Manifesto , and I’m currently writing my first ever feature film – my take on a serial killer story. This will be insanely bloody, outrageously gory, and
packed with practical effects. There are a few working titles, but I’m not giving anything away on this one just yet.
On top of that, I’m working on a Squad Ghouls comic book series with regular Dean of the Dead collaborator and artist Jason Miller. I’m also launching a weekly YouTube show on my channel Dean of the Dead TV called The Dead Shed, focusing on metal and horror releases, events, and experiences. There’s also a podcast in the works called Law and Mortuary, where my co-host and I put films on trial as prosecution and defence.
And somehow, alongside all that, I’m also working on a music project with plans to release some physical media by spooky season this year.
…So yeah. There’s a lot going on!!
Q. If someone was looking to write and direct their own film what advice would you give them?
A. First of all I’d say figure out who the assholes are and avoid them like the plague.
After that I’d say just go for it!! Stop waiting for permission and make it happen. Create your own success. If you hit a stumbling block, work out a way around it – there’s always another solution if you’re willing to be flexible. If you need funding, get out there and work your ass off for it.
Make friends in the indie filmmaking world, find your tribe, and collaborate. You’ll learn far more on set than you ever will in a classroom. I’ve never been to film school, yet my work’s been accepted into festivals and has won awards – so go figure!
If you’ve got imagination and an idea, what are you waiting for? Don’t waste time second-guessing yourself. Be proud of what you make, commit to it fully, and most importantly, enjoy the WHOLE journey. The good, the bad, and everything in between.
Go to Hell which has been selected to play at Horror- on-Sea on Friday 16th January at 17:30hrs.
You can find out more about Go to Hell and purchase tickets for the film 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!
