Psychological horror is always a crowd pleaser at FrightFest and Matt Harlock's Blockhead is prime fodder. We chatted to him about this chilling feature.
NYX: Where did the idea for Blockhead come from?
MH: As an occasionally blocked writer myself, I really wanted to find a story about the darker side of creation. I had always loved films about the process - Adaptation, Wonderboys, Synecdoche, New York and All That Jazz – but I wanted to explore how it can also feel oppressive, maddening and even horrific. I was also interested in how far someone would be prepared to go to achieve their creative goals – would they lie, steal, even kill? And so the character of Will, the film’s once talented but now blocked novelist, desperate for a way out of his stagnation, began to take shape. And then I had a fortuitous chance encounter with a drunk decorator who was fixing up the downstairs flat, and the cackling Faustian spectre of Mikey came to life. Exposing one’s inner soul, for being completely raw and open in the name of your art is one that writer’s aspire to, but there can be a cost - so I think Blockhead explores the madness of that creative dilemma – but hopefully wrapped up in a fun, twisted downward spiral into surreal psychological horror!
NYX: How did you go about casting the movie?
MH: I had seen Joe Sims in a great short film called Hungry Joe, and was struck by his chameleon-like ability to go from your best mate one minute to absolutely terrifying the next – this was just what we needed for Mikey. Luckily I knew the short’s director, Paul Holbrook, and he connected us, Joe liked the script and we met and got on famously, and he was in. Next stage was collaborating with our great casting director Zita Zutic Konak from ET Casting, who managed to find us the uniquely brilliant Danny Horn (who had played Ray Davies in Sunny Afternoon). Danny was really the only person we found who could bring to the role the very specific combination of innocence, intelligence and manic intensity that Will required. She then proceeded to find us the fantastic Michele Moran, Jake Mavis, Charlotte Pyke, Hussina Raja and Israel Solomon – thank you Zita! I was able to cast the wonderful Richard Glover, Kellie Shirley, Simon Lukacs and Simon Meacock from other relationships.
NYX: Danny Horn and Joe Sims are amazing together; did they have much time to rehearse?
MH: We spent a lot of time, over months, talking to them both individually, but we had just a day to go over most of their scenes together before the shoot. This was fascinating for all three of us to start finding the ways that they would spark off each other. Joe, as Mikey, owns every room he’s in, Will tries to hide away in the corner – but as he gets sucked into Mikey’s world, he starts embodying more of Mikey’s traits. Michele Moran also joined us as Will’s writing mentor Maggie – they all came prepared, with great ideas - it was a real bonding experience that set us up for the shoot.
NYX: This is your first narrative feature, were you nervous the first day on set?
MH: I had done several drama shorts (for Film4, HBO, etc) so I felt confident with the actors and the script. The only nerves came from practical production issues to do with shooting in cramped locations the first 2-3 days, and keeping the crew happy – but the crew were all there because they liked the script (certainly not due to the huge salaries!) and so we all pulled together.
NYX: What lessons in directing did you learn from this production?
MH: Work with people you know – our sales agent partners, genre specialist Blue Finch Films have supported the project since script stage, back in early 2023, and its our third film with them. Hire people more talented than you and let them be creative. The director needs to be the one that has the whole story in their head, and know the energy/mood of each scene, so do your prep. Hopefully find a shorthand with your actors in discussion beforehand – then try and let them do their thing on the day. And of course, be willing to accept others suggestions if they are better than yours - and then take credit for them.
NYX: This is a tense and dark movie, what was the atmosphere like on set?
MH: It was actually great fun – Joe and Danny were hilarious together, and our crew were also all top people. It was a short, hell-for-leather shoot with no down time, so the energy was high and everyone was excited to be there. We shot quickly, with almost all our main locations were within one building complex, which the crew loved (very few unit moves). The last day/night was probably the most stressful, with fights, SFX make up, action and stunts, and a big set build (the womb). We were shooting outside from 1pm to 2am, and there were storms forecast, which would’ve screwed us, but luckily they passed by, and we nailed all our scenes with 10 minutes to go!
NYX: How much of you is reflected in your work?
MH: I once interviewed renowned screenwriter Tony Grisoni, who said about script writing and the personal: “If you’re not prepared to go there, what’s the point?” and that changed my view of how I should be writing – that revealing something of yourself in your work, however painful, is a requirement. In Blockhead, I gave a moral dilemma that I’ve certainly experienced (desperation for a creative idea can lead you to unhealthy obsession) and then took it to the extreme for Will. But this is the beauty of genre - you can put all your personal stuff in there, and it’s obscured by all the stabbings, blood and falling off buildings.
NYX: What’s the best conspiracy theory you’ve heard?
MH: I love the Room 237 theories on what The Shining really means – some of them are silly but others (like the carpet changing direction, the stickers on the fridge and the 12 times that Jack looks to camera) are hard to ignore as being mistakes from the master of the controlled frame. I also like the weird (and very sinister) reading of the final toyshop scene in Eyes Wide Shut.
NYX: What do you do when you suffer from writer’s block?
MH: Steal someone else’s idea - that usually works.
NYX: Will you be nervous when the movie has its world premiere at FrightFest 2025?
MH: More thrilled and extremely proud to be sharing the brilliant work of all the great people we made it with – our fabulous cast, dedicated and brilliant crew, our lovely supporters and partners Mintcake, xFilm and BlueFinch. Film is a group effort, and that’s what I’m proudest of. Just really looking forward to celebrating their work with the Frightfest audience.
NYX: So, what are you working on at the moment?
MH: A very exciting new project is bubbling away… ;)
NYX: Matt Harlock, thank you very much.
