The Psychics (2019)
Director: Tomas Sem Løkke-Sørensen
Writer: Tomas Sem Løkke-Sørensen
Starring: Kirsti Lovas, Frank Thomas Holen Andersen, Oddrun Valestrand, Hannah Karine Giske, Jennie Sofie Lie Pickl
A documentary film maker has to fight against evil forces when she starts to investigate a criminal mystery as a part of her movie project.
In a new interview in the series leading up to Horror-on-Sea Film Festival, I got a chance to ask The Psychics writer-director Tomas Sem Løkke-Sørensen a few questions about what we can expect from the film.
Q. Your latest horror film The Psychics has been selected to play at Horror-on-Sea. Can you tell us what we can expect from the film?
It’s great to have my movie screened at Horror-on-Sea! The Psychics is Norway’s second found footage horror movie (the first one was The Troll Hunter (2010)). It’s a no – budget paranormal thriller shot as a documentary: A journalist starts to investigate the disappearance of her sister. You can expect a very suspenseful movie with original twists!
Q. What were some of your influences when writing the script?
I am very inspired by Funny Games (2007) and Paranormal Activity (2007) – both of which excellent movies and those movies were the main influences when writing the script and making the film. I wanted the actors to improvise so I didn’t write any dialogue into script. I wrote the dramatic line for each scene and we did a lot of trying and failing during the shoot. It was a fantastic experience because we had time to experiment when making the film.
Q. Why did you decide to film it as a documentary found footage film?
I think the documentary style can add a lot of tension to a story if the style is used in the right way. Norwegian found footage horror movies are almost non – existent and I really want to develop this genre here in Norway. I have a lot of ideas for other found footage movies too – ideas inspired by Norwegian folklore and events from the Second World War. Also, I didn’t have any money to make the film so found footage was a good option. We shot he film with a crew of three and five actors. I had a lot of tasks myself – writer, director, producer, editor and actor. Catering-man, co-distributor and poster artist.
Q. What were some of your influences for the look and style of the film?
Definitely fiction documentaries in which the camera is not too shaky, for instance Paranormal Activity and Supersize Me (2004), and also some of Michael Moore’s early works – Roger and Me (1989). And of course the great Norwegian found footage movie The Troll Hunter!
Q. Where there any elements of the original script which were adapted during filming?
Yes, we shot a couple of alternative endings. I wasn’t really sure how the movie should end. But at the end, I ended up with using none of them! The ending was really made in the cutting room.
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
Yes, we lost the main location, the haunted house, a couple of days before we had to shoot the scenes there. Luckily our location manager offered us to shoot on his farm, which saved the whole production. The problem was that this farm was located in the woods close to the runway at Oslo’s main airport, Gardermoen. The sound recordist almost went crazy with all that noise! We had to pause the shooting every time a plane came along every fifth minute or so.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
It was fantastic to work with such good actors. They did a great job on the improvisation. I was lucky to get that cast in the film. Kirsti Lovas, who plays the lead, is a fantastic actress and she is very easy to work with. She has a lot of good ideas and she makes things simple – I like that. If I have to highlight some moments it must be the bath room scenes when Camilla, the main character, is tied up in her own bath room. Not very comfortable for Kirsti to shoot these scenes , but they work so well.
Q. What makes The Psychics stand out as something different in the horror genre?
Great question! I don’t know! The Norwegian dialogue perhaps….? It must be the plot. A lot of found footage movies has a very simple plot- one location, one situation that goes from good to bad to worse to hell. The Psychics has more plot and a lot of different locations. Also, the antagonist is a human being – not a supernatural force/creature like in a lot of other found footage movies.
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
I hope they will like the combination of drama, thriller and horror. And I hope they will appreciate the actor’s great performances. Last, I hope they will find it refreshing with something as rare as a no-budget Norwegian found footage horror movie.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
I’ve just finished a experimental short film and I am editing a series a short films about a my home town Oslo. Of course I am also developing different found footage horror movie ideas. I think something genuine Norwegian (like the trolls in The Troll Hunter) is good – there are so many interesting creatures in our folklore. Or what about a viking found footage movie? Or something from the Second World War?
Q. If someone was looking to write and direct their own film what advice would you give them?
Never forget that film is storytelling. Work a lot on the story and make it simple to produce.! Don’t make your film so expensive to make so you have to take up big private loans. Work hard to get a good deal with a distribution company. I have distribution deals with a British and a American company, for which I am very happy. It’s possible to get your movie distributed even if it’s no-budget.
You can find out more about The Psychics on the website and following social media Twitter – Instagram – Facebook
The Psychics will be playing at Horror-on-Sea on Friday 17th January at 12:30 pm
You can find out more about Horror-on-Sea and purchase tickets for the festival 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!
