Rusty Nixon [Interview]

Welcome to Day 25 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Month of Horror Showcase. Every day during the month of October, we will have a horror related interview and/or film review for your fright-filled reading pleasure! The set up will be the same as usual, but the topics will be far more terrifying. Enjoy!

Welcome back folks! My what a month it has been! And we still have so much more to share with you fine folks! Like today, we are talking with the brilliant writer and director Rusty Nixon. Rusty’s latest film Residue, is an amazing and frightening tale that will seriously freak you the hell out to no end! Same goes for his previous film entitled Candiland. Another absolutely brilliant addition to the world of horror.

Rusty Nixon is quickly rising up the ranks in the world of horror filmmaking, and we are so very fortunate that he was able to share a bit of insight into the world of horror with us today. He gives us such a damn good interview, I feel like we should just get right into it! So without further babbling, let’s get to some words with the wonderful Rusty Nixon! Enjoy!

When did you realize you wanted to be part of the world of film? What inspired you to join the field you are in today?

I was always a very shy kid. But when I was around 11-12 my uncle (who was a huge electronics buff) bought this home VHS video camera. He let me borrow it for a day. It had three huge pieces – I could barely walk with the thing – but without even thinking about it I went around and gathered up about a dozen kids from the neighbourhood and we started going door to door asking people if they had something we could film.

Thinking back I can’t imagine what it was like to have this army of kids knocking on your door wanting to use your backyard to film something. And it wasn’t about being in charge or control it was more like I’d found this giant treasure chest and wanted to share it with as many people as possible. That pure joy I felt by gathering a group of people and working together to tell a story has never left me.

I am intrigued by your latest project entitled Residue. Can you tell us a bit about this film? What inspired you tell this tale?

I had a nightmare a long time ago. I was being pursued by this grotesque demon. Everywhere I went it was there. And because I was in that weird dream state I kept alternating between being myself and being the demon. But when I was the demon I had no idea I was a creature. I was this innocent being who was just trying to help. The monsters in the movie are a living form of your unresolved issues. They’re just trying to give you closure. Even if it means killing you.

Rusty Nixon with legendary actor William B. Davis, of Residue

You and your team have assembled a rather brilliant cast for Residue, if I may add. But I am always curious about this matter: As a writer, did the cast turn out to be close to how you were envisioning in your head as you were writing these characters, or were there exceptions that had to be made based around the many factors we all know that go into actually putting words to screen?

I wrote the original script over fifteen years ago – then reworked sections as we cast the film. I love working with actors on story. I’d have lunches or phone meetings with them and give the screenplay another polish after getting their input. It really helps get me on the same page with them and working with a lower budget – I’ve got to get 9-12 pages shot in a day. So I need the actors to deliver with fewer takes and set ups – but because we both want the same thing we can really help each other.

What is it specifically about the horror genre that you find the most intriguing? What has made you want to work so often in this genre?

I don’t know where my fascination started. Horror films have always had this magical pull on me. When I was a kid I’d walk to the video stores and could spent hours looking at all the horror movies. Other sections would have pictures of people smiling at the camera then you go to the horror section and there’s a rotting hand shooting out from a grave holding a skull and I’d be so instantly intrigued about its story. I’d watch these ultra low budget films like Scarecrows and – if you forgave them for not having the budgets of the big studio films – they could really creep you out.

What is your favorite scary movie? 

I’m a huge fan of the original Dawn of the Dead.  That’s the one that made me want to make movies. And you could really feel the team effort from that film.

What are your plans for this coming Halloween? Any traditions you try to uphold each year?

I love going to Halloween parties. I’m hoping to have a Residue themed party this year. My son’s only 18 months old and I have another one on the way. So I’m really excited to start some new traditions with them as they get older.

What else does the future hold for you? Anything beyond Residue on the horizon that you can tell our readers about?

I have a prequel written for Residue I’m dying to shoot. I have a couple more films on upcoming slates. My first film, Down the Line is coming out soon. That film was made with love, duct tape, and a used-car sized budget. I’m really anxious to see how audiences respond to it.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

My son said ‘dada’ pretty recently. I think I’m still smiling from that day.

Check out the trailer for Residue, available on VOD now, courtesy of BD Horror Trailers and Clips: