Want a slasher with a real sting in its last reel? Well, The Haunted Forest from Keith Boynton is for you. We had a quick chat before its premiere at FrightFest 2025.
NYX: Where did the idea for The Haunted Forest come from?
KB: From the actual Haunted Forest! It’s called Markoff’s Haunted Forest, and it’s been a favourite attraction in the Washington, DC area for over three decades now. From the moment I walked down that trail for the first time, I knew I had to shoot a movie there. And my brother Devin should get a lot of credit for dreaming up the story and helping me develop it! (He also appears in the movie, as Grammy-nominated rapper Fly the Freak-Nasty.)
NYX: Did you write it with a cast in mind?
KB: Honestly, no! The cast is a mix of friends, family, real Markoff’s staff, and professional actors. The leads are all people who submitted through Backstage, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have wound up with such a fantastic cast. As you know, they really knock it out of the park.
NYX: Do you ever add the characteristics of people you meet to your scripts?
KB: Yes, but in a magpie way – stealing a trait from here, a trait from there – instead of basing a character strictly on one person. The character of Mark, who runs the Haunted Forest in the movie, is kind of a composite of the three Markoff brothers – but of course Cedric Gegel brings his own energy to the role.
NYX: How hard is it to balance the humour and the horror?
KB: I probably shouldn’t admit this, but: not that hard! I had a pretty clear sense of what kind of tone I wanted, and I had just watched all the Scream movies, so I had a handy reference to draw upon.
NYX: Grayson Gwaze is perfect as Zach, the young man who finds himself in the middle of all this terror. He’s going to be a huge star, isn’t he?
KB: If there’s any justice in the world, yes! He’s got that movie-star charisma, for sure – plus he’s handsome, talented, indefatigable, and just about the sweetest guy you’ve ever come across. If he doesn’t make it big, someone really missed the boat.
NYX: What’s it like directing yourself?
KB: Honestly, terrifying. I’ve done a lot of acting, but very little of it in front of a camera, and dealing with my own self-consciousness along with the anxiety of a director stepping away from the monitor – it was very nerve-wracking. But I’m fairly happy with the result! I don’t hate my performance, and that’s a huge relief.
NYX: Who did the cool artwork Zach draws?
KB: Fella called Dan Frederickson! He and I had a great time geeking out about our favorite comic-book artists – and his work, as you saw, is absolutely stunning.
NYX: Do you have a favourite onscreen kill?
KB: I love the scene where the villain finally gets it. I’m really proud of the visual storytelling, and I think it’s a very emotional moment. One of my favorite scenes in the film!
NYX: I like the slice you take at the negative impact influencers have on society.
KB: Thank you! It was a ton of fun writing those ridiculous characters. There’s something so inherently funny about C-list celebrities – especially when they end up in way over their heads…
NYX: Do you think places can be cursed at all?
KB: Not in any literal sense, but there’s no question that certain places have a dark history, and that history can have an influence on events in the present. After all, human beings are very suggestible creatures! But if I say any more, it’ll probably be a spoiler…
NYX: What would your costume be if you took part in such an attraction?
KB: I think I’d want to look a little glamorous! The Phantom of the Opera, or a very sophisticated vampire. Something like that.
NYX: Will you be nervous when the movie has its world premiere at FrightFest 2025?
KB: 100%. I’ll be freaking out about an hour before the screening. I’ll be anxious when it starts. And I’ll probably start to relax about five minutes in, especially if the audience reaction is what I’m hoping for…
NYX: So, what are you up to at the moment?
KB: I’ve been pretty busy! I just finished post-production on a new horror movie, Emily’s Dead, and I’m in the casting process for my first zombie movie, Zoe. Trying to keep my hand in the game!
NYX: Keith Boynton, thank you very much.
KB: My pleasure! Thanks for the great questions.
