Casper Kelly On Why His Secret Grownup Swim Horror Sequel Wanted to Be a Hallmark Film [Interview]

Casper Kelly, the author and director of Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2, opens up on his shock sequel, style mash-ups, the fun of sensible results, and what he’d wish to discover in a component three.

Grownup Swim Yuletide Log was probably the most artistic horror surprises to return out of 2022. Casper Kelly’s vacation bait-and-switch begins as an innocuous Yuletide Log video loop that’s meant so as to add ambiance to at least one’s residence, solely to step by step rework right into a heightened absurdist movie a few sentient Homicide Log. Two years later, Grownup Swim has concocted a macabre sequel to this experimental gem. Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2: Branchin’ Out is by some means even wilder than its predecessor. Yuletide Log 2 mashes collectively an aggressive horror movie with a cheerful Christmas Hallmark film, the likes of which culminates in one other Grownup Swim traditional that’s assured to be one of many community’s most talked about productions in 2024.

To rejoice Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2’s launch, Casper Kelly will get candid on the comforting joys of Hallmark vacation motion pictures, the struggles of bringing this bold sequel to life, the delights of subverting construction and expectations, and his future horror style aspirations.

Bloody Disgusting: Initially, how did the thought for a sequel come about within the first place? Did you pitch the thought to Grownup Swim or did they suggest it to you?

Casper Kelly: I believe I knew that they had been pleased with the consequence. So I knew they might be probably open to a sequel. I had just a few concepts that I used to be eager about and, for some purpose, I used to be very all for Hallmark motion pictures. I used to be in a film membership and we watched one referred to as Vacation in Handcuffs.

BD: Sure, after all! With Mario Lopez…

Kelly: Sure! Okay. What stunned me was that I used to be type of wanting down on the film, however I additionally did get emotionally concerned with it. Then we watched just a few extra. I watched Falling for Christmas – the Lindsay Lohan Netflix film – which isn’t technically a Hallmark film, after which A California Christmas. I simply thought it was one thing type of fascinating to analyze as a result of I had cognitive dissonance the place I kind of didn’t admire these motion pictures, however I acquired emotionally concerned in them and loved them. They made me really feel good. 

BD: That’s fascinating, as a result of I used to be actually attempting to look and see if there’s been a horror Hallmark hybrid earlier than and I couldn’t actually discover any. And even when Hallmark is attempting to type of do one thing darker, it’s by no means a full-on horror film. However I believe that’s an excellent level. Vacation In Handcuffs, once you type of strip every part away from it, you’re like, “This can be a fairly tousled story,” for those who really simply take a look at what’s occurring.

Kelly: Sure. They attempt to play it as gentle as attainable, however it’s a kidnapping. That man is afraid for his life and if he’s going to get shot.

BD: Have been you all the time type of pondering of this “horror meets Hallmark” angle, or had been there different kinds of concepts that you just had been contemplating?

Kelly: Yeah, completely. I’m itching, if I get to do a 3rd one, to go very darkish and really bizarre. Simply deliver it residence within the darkest, weirdest manner attainable. I additionally seen that some trilogies – not all, however some – like the unique Star Wars or Again to the Future, make the center one their darkest entry. So I assumed to perhaps go lighter on the center one – go in opposition to the norm – however then go actually darkish for the final one.

BD: It virtually gave me type of a Human Centipede 2 or Blair Witch 2 vibe, within the sense that the primary film is a textual content on this movie. I all the time love when a sequel can take that meta strategy.

Kelly: A part of the unique plan, which we ended up not doing, was to promote it as a re-airing of the primary one. However then it turns into the second as a shock. For some purpose, by way of scheduling and different points, that didn’t occur. That was the unique concept although.

BD: I actually like that as a result of, yeah, inevitably you may’t simply do what you probably did within the first film. The shock of the primary one is that you just suppose you’re getting a Yuletide Log factor, however that doesn’t work a second time. It’s essential to subvert it. I believe that’s a intelligent approach to do it although the place you suppose it’s only a repeat, however then you definately be taught that there’s extra to it.

Kelly: That was the plan after which, if I get to do a 3rd one, I’ve a plan for that one, too.

BD: I believe one of many film’s most satisfying components is the way you play with the style staples of a Hallmark film, whether or not it’s the lighting, music, or dialogue. That dinner scene that’s cut up in half with the totally different lighting is so excellent. Are you able to speak just a little on fleshing out these components and bringing all that collectively? 

Kelly: Thanks a lot for pointing that out. I discovered that very satisfying. It’s nice as a result of it says one thing about individuals’s state of minds. Even once you’re amongst your mates and any person’s depressed and in hell. You’ve gotten a gaggle of individuals round a desk and one type of individual will be depressed, however one other individual is in an excellent temper. It type of visually represents that. So I’m very glad you pointed that out. That was type of an early concept. I considered Halloween and the second Halloween, which picks up proper after the primary one. For my ultimate lady, I knew that she was going to carry onto that ax and, no matter is going on, she’s not going to let her guard down once more. 

Secondly, I simply appreciated the thought of her getting out of city. If she simply will get away then perhaps this log can’t journey 1,000 miles. That’s what I’d do in that scenario. However on this she’s not simply getting away geographically. However she’s escaping to an entire different style. Then I used to be interested in the thought of coloration assortment, altering the music, and so forth. Hallmark film coloration could be very even and there’s not a number of highlights or shadows. It’s heat and comfy. Horror – a number of trendy horror – has that kind of blue tint. It’s just a little extra crushed. There’s larger distinction. Then my DP, Alex Allgood, additionally had the thought of the letterboxed shift. That was actually enjoyable to play with.

BD: I really like that you just use the identical musical theme, however then it simply will get lots creepier when the horror stuff is available in.

Kelly: Thanks! You’re my favourite. Thanks for noticing that. Yeah, I didn’t have a composer for the primary one. For the sequel, I employed a composer, Jonathan Snipes, particularly to strive to do this. He does a number of Rodney Ascher’s motion pictures. Rodney is a buddy of mine. One enjoyable, however hellish factor about making these motion pictures is that they often need us to make it and air it inside that 12 months. That is one other film that I wrote, made, and edited within the span of 9 months. It’s very back-breaking, nevertheless it’s enjoyable to do one thing that quick. So many film initiatives simply fall via in growth. Right here, the cash’s acquired to get spent. You’re locked in. You’re going to have, on the finish of the 12 months, a film. 

BD: How was the finances and filming schedule compared to the primary film? I do know that the primary Yuletide Log took 15 days to shoot. Was this considerably extra intense than that? Plenty of the time, sequels will get a better finances to mess around with. Was that the case right here?

Kelly: It wasn’t considerably larger, to be trustworthy. The truth is, due to two years of inflation, the finances was actually about the identical. The manufacturing staff and media staff had been excellent at placing the cash on the display screen. For instance, a bunch of the places – the police headquarters, the hospital room, the Coral Conservancy places of work, and one different location – had been all shot at Grownup Swim as a result of that’s a free constructing. Issues like that had been simply very sensible selections. However I received’t misinform you. It was laborious and I most likely can’t do this once more. Often I simply go for it and suppose that I’ll work out do it with the cash. 

Now, going ahead, I’ve actually acquired to consider the finances and what will be carried out comfortably with this stage of cash. I can’t simply maintain cashing in favors. This sequel has a a lot greater scope. There are a lot of extra places, many extra actors. You gotta have a bunch of hunks, you realize? They had been like, “Can we minimize down the hunks?” I’m like, “No! We’ve acquired to have a number of hunks.” The hunks had been enjoyable to solid as a result of I don’t have one of the best radar of who’s a hunk and who’s not. So I concerned my spouse and my two teenage daughters. It was enjoyable to do this with them and find out about what they like. 

BD: To that time, I really like when a horror sequel is ready to observe a few of the identical characters and turn out to be a narrative about survivor’s guilt and PTSD. Why was that one thing that you just needed to discover right here reasonably than a sequel with completely new characters?

Kelly: Yeah, I did take into consideration doing a sequel the place it’s the Yuletide Log in a brand new hearth and we begin off the identical, nevertheless it’s a brand new group of individuals. Nonetheless, I assumed that the avenue that we took provided extra alternatives for doing new issues and asking new questions that hopefully will get answered within the subsequent one.

BD: Was it a rewarding expertise to get to increase upon the story and lore of the primary film and push all that even additional? Was it difficult to construct upon these concepts?

Kelly: Sure, however in a manner, I didn’t actually increase the lore. I did give it some thought. I imply, I did increase the lore to a level, however I didn’t have Zoe like investigating what that is and attempting to know it. I did give it some thought, nevertheless it didn’t seem to be Zoe can be prepared to do this if this sequel is choosing up proper after the primary one. She must get away. In order that was my strategy, however I am all for exploring the lore additional. Then again, I suppose some motion pictures at this time generally over-explain the lore. I desire a world that feels lived in the place some issues are implied otherwise you don’t actually have all of the solutions. I have a tendency to love that higher. Take any superhero and I don’t essentially must understand how his dad and mom met in a flashback, or no matter.

BD: The sensible results gore set-piece that kicks off the ultimate act is so fantastic. Are you able to discuss placing that transformation sequence collectively and pulling it off? Was it only a dream come true to deliver one thing like that to life?

Kelly: Sure, I’m good mates with this sensible results artist, Shane Morton, who runs Silver Scream FX Labs. He labored with me on Too Many Cooks, Your Fairly Face is Going to Hell, and the Cheddar Goblin in Mandy. I used to be pondering of the way to up the ante and he actually delivered. I imply, I couldn’t imagine the results that he and his staff put collectively. You’re speaking about that “can opener impact.” It was simply wild that he may do this. He has a studio right here in Atlanta and going there’s simply very enjoyable to me. It’s the kind of place the place it’s like, “Hey, do you want some eyeballs? I’ve acquired an entire field of eyeballs over right here. What number of do you want?” You need some blood to go along with the eyeballs? I’ve acquired some on that shelf over there.” It’s only a great spot.

BD: Have been there any particular creature inspirations for the ultimate Homicide Log monster? I acquired a number of Pumpkinhead vibes there…

Kelly: I really haven’t seen Pumpkinhead! I’ve bizarre, annoying gaps in my film data, however I’ll look it up! So no, Pumpkinhead wasn’t intentional. I believe I simply appreciated enjoying with that Alien sensibility and the way these horror components can infect a Hallmark movie. It was all about determining a approach to have or not it’s just a little totally different than what we did earlier than.

BD: There’s a stunning second when Holly from the primary movie reveals up, together with Santa Claus, the place they assist rework the Homicide Log into a distinct kind of menace. Was there extra that you just needed to do with them? How did they enter the equation?

Kelly: Yeah, I simply felt like I ought to do one thing with Holly. It simply appeared proper. After which, weirdly, Santa Claus is a trope in these Hallmark motion pictures. He’ll seem and kind of do one thing magical to get individuals to satisfy. This element actually confused individuals who don’t know Hallmark motion pictures. Like, “Why is Santa on this?” In my thoughts, he and Holly had been type of utilizing Zoe as bait to lure this factor, as soon as and for all. However they weren’t fairly as thorough as they wanted to be.

BD: You now have two options underneath your belt. Are you curious about making extra horror motion pictures and pitching one thing to a spot like Blumhouse, A24, or Neon that would find yourself in theaters, reasonably than these extra experimental initiatives? What do you see forward sooner or later?

Kelly: Sure, undoubtedly! Music out of your lips to God’s ears. Proper now I’ve a film with a script with BoulderLight Photos, who did Barbarian. So we’re working to get financiers for that. I’ve acquired the fever although. I really like making motion pictures and I wish to make a bunch of them. I’ve acquired just a few motion pictures occurring, however simply in between that, I wish to do a Kickstarter to do a really low finances, micro-budget experimental movie. Kind of like Skinamarink, Eraserhead, or one thing like that. One thing that’s very Let’s All Go to the World’s Honest. Grownup Swim provides me tons of freedom, however on the finish of the day, you continue to need to have the ability to ship one thing to a sure kind of viewers. If it was a Kickstarter factor, I may actually – you realize – strive one thing really experimental. That’s on my record of one thing that I wish to try to put collectively. 

BD: On that be aware – and also you type of hinted at this – however have you considered what you’d do in a 3rd Yuletide Log film? Would it not be one other massive stylistic change?

Kelly: Sure, however I would like individuals to be stunned. I do know the leisure enterprise is struggling proper now. Attending to make any film is a present. Who is aware of if I’ll even get to make a 3rd one. However sure, I’ve a bunch of actually darkish concepts that I’d like to get to do.

‘Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2: Branchin’ Out’ is now obtainable to stream on Grownup Swim and Max.