There’s an unalienable reality that each one of us know by this level: at any time when witches present up, dangerous information tends to observe. Generally for the general public at massive, different instances for the extremely silly, and infrequently for individuals who completely deserve it. We obtained witches and all they entail found out by now, proper? No run-of-the-mill witch can shock us.
However what about SEWER WITCHES?
Ah, unknown territory, I see. That’s okay, I’m not too properly versed with regards to subterranean sorcerers both, so we’re happening this journey of discovery collectively. Sewers are already harmful sufficient with alligators, C.H.U.D.s, blobs, and the like, so including witches to the combination is simply asking for hassle. Who would dare do such a factor?
Anders Elsrud Hultgreen, that’s who. The director of Hospital Dumpster Divers is taking to the underground to indicate us some gutter magic in his new brief movie—Septichexen!
The synopsis reads, “Within the sewers of Bergen, a microbiologist tries to uncover a contamination of the consuming water.”
The brief is 13:49 minutes lengthy. Based on IMDB, 1349 is the 12 months when the Black Dying reached Norway. Enjoyable tidbit, only for y’all.
In comparison with the Road Trash/Ghoulies-inspired romp that’s Hospital Dumpster Divers, Septichexen explores a extra auteur path to its horror, akin to one thing like Werner Herzog’s Nosferatu the Vampyre or Neil Jordan’s The Firm of Wolves. Its focus stays on shows of vivid visible stimulation, showcasing hauntingly stunning imagery to progress its story in lieu of conventional storytelling. There’s a narrator explaining the fundamental gist, and in phrases a bit extra easy than one may anticipate, however the visuals are the place the emotional affect is.
We’re getting a bit forward of ourselves, although. First, we should always talk about the place the concept of Septichexen started gestating. Fortunately, Hultgreen hasn’t stored that reply buried.
Hultgreen mentioned:
“I used to be studying about outdated city legends from the small coastal villages of Norway, and instantly I got here throughout this city-witch legend. Concurrently, I used to be studying and gathering numerous tales and information articles describing unusual issues related to the sewer system and incidents of consuming water provide air pollution within the metropolis of Bergen.
“As in cinema, work, and literature, the visualization of dying and the plague as residing characters is widespread. In Septichexen, I wish to personify “consuming water air pollution” as a residing character — a witch.”
Witches being the reason for water air pollution appears preferable to the common suspects, however I digress.
As per the synopsis, the movie follows a younger microbiologist attempting to find out what’s happening with the native consuming water. As an alternative, she stumbles upon a psychedelic fever dream changing her actuality and the witch inflicting it.
Hultgreen mentioned:
“I would like the viewers to witness a witch ritual the place an outdated witch is brainwashing a youthful individual, in a mission of shifting her everlasting witch soul right into a younger new human physique. I wish to discover when a witch takes over one other individual and speaks through another person’s mouth.”
Septichexen champions temper and environment over narrative, being nearly whimsical, fairy tale-esque in a nightmarish type of manner. I’d even go as far as to say “cosmic” in nature.
Hultgreen agrees, saying:
“Sure, nightmarish and cosmic are good descriptions. I’ve been impressed by cosmic horror for a very long time.
“In Septichexen, I needed to discover a extra fluid and dreamy narrative storytelling slightly than the high-tension bodily and rhythmical storytelling of Hospital Dumpster Divers. I consider the worldless visible language is a particularly wealthy narrative language. In a manner, Septichexen is an experiment the place I mix wordless visible language with numerous spoken phrases, however the place the phrases don’t serve to tug the storytelling language ahead… slightly work as indoctrinating monologues.
“One other concept, if evaluating Hospital Dumpster Divers and Septichexen, is that there are plenty of explorations and imaginations of hallucinations ensuing from the inhalations of unusual gases from sewers and medical waste.”
By the best way, that title — Septichexen — has a incredible ring to it. Brings to thoughts Häxan, which exudes comparable vibes, come to consider it.
Hultgreen mentioned:
“Thanks. I needed to make a homage to the cinema historical past of explorations of witchcraft. And Häxan is, for me, the magnum opus of witch cinema, a pure masterpiece.”
Hultgreen is somebody to control, together with his work becoming proper in place with the most effective of A24 and Neon arthouse indie-horror. Simply wants a much bigger finances is all! From the place I’m standing, it’s not a matter of “if” he’ll get an opportunity to develop a full function, however a matter of “when.” You may try Septichexen proper right here.
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