Film Name: A Hard Place
Director: J.Horton
Writers: Michael J. Epstein, J. Horton
Starring: Felissa Rose, Lynn Lowry, Rachel Amanda Bryant, Kevin Caliber, Ashley Undercuffler
In a snow-covered forest, a group of criminals find themselves caught in the middle of an ancient
feud between the monsters that roam the day and the creatures that rule the night
In a new exclusive interview on Blazing Minds, I got a chance to ask Writer-Director J.Horton a few questions about his film ‘A Hard Place‘, which has been selected to play at Horror-on-Sea on Sunday, 18th January at 17:30hrs.
Q. Your film A Hard Place has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival. Can you tell us what we can expect?
A. You can expect a wild ride. A Hard Place is part crime drama, part supernatural fever dream, and all attitude. It’s about what happens when the bad guys meet something way worse. Think gritty pulp with a heartbeat. It’s violent, funny, weirdly emotional, and probably not the kind of thing you watch with your mom. But who knows, maybe she’s cooler than mine.
Q. You co-wrote the script with Michael J. Epstein. What were some of your inspirations when writing the script and what was your process for writing together?
A. Michael and I never actually sat in the same room for this one. I wrote the first draft, he did a pass, then I came back in and finished it off. We worked remotely, just trading scripts and notes like two gremlins in a haunted Google Doc.
As for inspiration, I was pulling from crime movies with a supernatural edge like Near Dark (1987), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), and a bit of True Romance (1993). Michael brought in his love for weird Americana Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) stories about people wrestling with their own bad choices. We both wanted something that felt dangerous but still human. The kind of story where you find yourself hoping the worst people might do one decent thing before everything catches fire.
Q. Did you have any of the cast in mind for the characters when writing the script?
A. Yeah a few of them were in my head while I was writing. Rachel Amanda Bryant was always someone I wanted to build around. She has this mix of strength and vulnerability that fits perfectly in a story like this. Felissa Rose brings this wild, unpredictable energy that instantly raises the stakes.
Ashley Undercuffler and Kevin Caliber both worked with me on Craving (2023), and I love writing for people I already trust on set. It makes the dialogue flow naturally because I can hear their voices as I’m typing. So yeah, a lot of the script was written with that crew in mind. They all bring that raw, grounded energy that makes the movie feel alive.
Q. What were some of your influences for the look and style of the film?
A. I wanted the movie to feel grounded and a little grimy, like it could live in the same world as Southern Comfort. The exteriors have that slightly desaturated, dusty look you get from old westerns or seventies thrillers. Then once we move indoors, the palette shifts warmer and more claustrophobic, almost like Texas Chainsaw Massacre but with a touch more polish. I like that contrast. It makes the movie feel like it’s moving between two worlds—the harsh outside reality and the more dangerous, sweaty intimacy of what’s happening inside.
Q. Did you make any changes from the original script during filming?
A. Too many to list. Someone smarter than me once said you make a movie three times. Once when you write it, once when you shoot it, and once when you edit it. Ours definitely followed that rule. The story kept evolving as we went, and some of my favourite moments weren’t even in the script. It’s messy, but that’s where the good stuff usually hides.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. Honestly my favourite moments are always with the actors. That is where the movie really comes to life. You spend months writing and planning and then someone shows up and surprises you with something better than what you imagined. Rachel, Felissa, Ashley, Kevin, everyone brought their own spark. Those moments when the whole set goes quiet because something real is happening on camera, that is the best part. Everything else is just logistics, blood and caffeine.
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
A. It was cold. Really cold. The kind of cold that makes you question your life choices between takes. On top of that we had a big cast which is great creatively but a real juggling act on set. Keeping everyone in sync, managing energy, and making sure each character got their moment was a challenge. But those are the kinds of hurdles that make a movie feel alive. You adapt, you get creative, and somehow it all ends up on screen.
Q. What makes A Hard Place stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. A Hard Place isn’t just about scares or monsters. It’s about broken people trying to do the right thing and usually failing in spectacular fashion. It mixes crime, horror, and a little dark humour in a way that feels unpredictable. You never quite know where it’s going, and that’s the fun of it. It has heart, it has grit, and it’s not afraid to get weird. I think that’s what makes it stand out.
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. I hope people walk away thinking about the choices we make when things get desperate. It’s a story about guilt, redemption, and how far someone will go to escape their own past. But mostly I just hope they’re entertained, a little unsettled, and maybe surprised by how much heart it has beneath all the blood and chaos.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. Yeah I’ve always got a few things cooking. Right now the big one is The Apex Predators Club, which is a monster thriller about the ultra rich hunting creatures. It’s bigger, meaner, and a little more insane than anything I’ve done before. I’m also developing a new documentary and a smaller horror project that leans more psychological. I like to keep moving. The day I stop making stuff is the day I start losing my mind.
Q. If someone was looking to write and direct their own film what advice would you give them?
A. If you’re doing it for money or fame, do something else. There are much easier ways to make a living. But if you absolutely have to do this, if it’s something that keeps you up at night, then go all in. Make stuff constantly. Learn from every mistake. Keep going even when it feels like no one cares. The people who make it in this business aren’t the most talented, they’re the ones who never stop
creating.
A Hard Place will be playing at Horror-on-Sea on Sunday 18th January at 17:30hrs.
You can find out more about Horror-on-Sea and purchase tickets the A Hard Place 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!
