It is very rare that a teaser trailer of just over a minute’s length can project a real sense of dread and terror. Portrait of a Zombie, however, is a perfect example of a sonic soundscape matched with bizarre aesthetics which permeates such sensations in bucketloads (the trailer is viewable here). The film centres around the Murphy family and the plight that faces them as their oldest son Billy becomes a zombie. Deciding to try and keep him alive draws the wrath of the local community and, as chaos reigns, the American documentary team who are filming proceedings are soon dragged into the action. The film’s director bing Bailey kindly spared his time to answer a few questions. Please be sure to visit the film’s website and become a fan over on Facebook.

For Reelloop readers who have not seen the teaser trailer to Portrait of a Zombie how would you go about describing the film?

 
The film is really about how far a family will go to protect the children they love. They’ve been given a horrible situation “a zombie son” and they are trying to act as if nothing is wrong. They choose to care for and protect their son and they suffer terrible consequences inside and outside the family for their decisions. The film crew are also a family of sorts. The question is how long can they just be observers of an event before they are forced to become involved. The film mixes social satire, black comedy, and a serious horror tone. This is not just another survivalist zombie film, it is a family coping with a horrible disease. The film’s style is a hybrid between documentary and cinematic. It would be more consistent with District 9′s approach than say REC. Most of the film was shot hand-held but not shaky cam style.

One of the things that caught my eye about the teaser trailer is that not only was it able to convey a visceral sense of dread and terror in such a short time but also a very real Irish sensibility. The family unit that provide the film’s protagonists reflect the Irish tradition of strong family values. How much do you believe that Portrait of a Zombie is a uniquely Irish film?

I believe the themes are universal, but the focus on the family dynamic and how society in general influences that family are consistent elements in Irish films. The film was made for a world audience and not solely an Irish audience. It was my intention to present Ireland and Irish people in a modern setting.

Despite a faux-documentary approach, as utilized in spates of horror films such as (Rec) and the likes, the film’s aesthetics seem a cut above genre stable-mates. The saturated colours and shots of a be-muzzled zombie in a strait jacket being comforted by his mother instantly grab attention. What was the film’s cost and how long did it take to shoot?

The budget was under 100k and took 11 days to shoot with several months of pre-production work. The main location was always going to be the street where i grew up. the other locations were chosen for their aesthetic and for logistic reasons.

Portrait of a Zombie appears to be a low budget film at a time when “micro budget” seems to be at the top of many studios buzzwords on the back of the success of Paranormal Activity. Do you reckon this film will appeal to major studios and what are your ultimate aims for this project?

I think the film would appeal to studios who have become sensitive to the needs of genre audiences. We’ve aimed for as wide an audience as possible without removing the edges or taming the harsher aspects of it. We believe we’ve pushed boundaries and show elements that have never been seen in a zombie feature before. The aim is for a theatrical release in the US, Europe and Asia.

The film looks to be a step away from last year’s Zombieland, a feature full of action and comedy but ultimately empty of any point bar escapism, there appears to be a more serious slant, albeit one with hints of black comedy, that is more reminiscent of George A Romero’s classics. Would this be a fair comparison? What were the inspirations for this film?

I deliberately did not go to see Zombieland before we shot the film as I didn’t want to be influenced by it. Portrait of a Zombie is much closer to the social commentary filled Romero Films than Zombieland. Having seen Zombieland afterwards, it’s a fun ride but not much more. I am a huge fan of George Romero and the style of zombie films he created.

What does the future have in store for Portait of a Zombie? After that what projects do you have lined up?

We are aiming do do some of the festival circuit. I’m not allowed disclose which at the moment but as soon as its allowable we will let your readers know where they can see it. Next for me is another horror project set in an eastern European hospital.

Share

Save