Larry Fessenden talks to Macabre Daily at the premier of his werewolf opus, "Blackout!"

Just me and Larry Fessenden, talking beer.

Last month, Manhattan’s IFC Center hosted the premiere of Larry Fessenden’s new werewolf film, “Blackout” from Glass Eye Pix and Dark Sky Films. Fessenden is New York mainstay, who has been churning out quality indie films for over 30 years.  His latest is a story of a small-town painter named Charley (Alex Hurt), who grapples with the fact that he’s the one killing locals when the moon rises.  Fessenden spoke to us on the red carpet about the new film, shooting in upstate New York, and of course, beer.

Macabre Daily: Let’s start with the most important question: what is your favorite beer from Old Tappan?

Larry Fessenden: [Laughs] I like their lager. I’m always after their lager.  You know [their cans] in the movie?

MD: Of course.  I interviewed them a while ago. 

LF: Yeah, that’s Brent Kunkle and Matty Cryan, who used to work for me.  I’m one of their best customers [Laughs].

MD: “Blackout” was shot in upstate New York like a lot of Glass Eye Pix’s films. What draws you there, of all places?

LF: I just love the community.  Everybody really chipped in on this movie and a lot of the local stores I've gone to for 20 years were happy to let me film in them.

MD: What’s the most challenging part of shooting up there?

LF: Well, the weather, but that’s true with shooting exteriors anywhere. It’s a great place to shoot.  My heart is with upstate New York.

MD: I saw Trey Lindsay got a “special thanks'' credit.  Was he involved in shooting?

LF: He did something at the very end.  He lent us his green screen and we had a great time connecting.  Of course I loved his latest film with the Adams family, “Where the Devil Roams.”  We love geeking out.

MD: So you’ve directed a vampire film with “Habit,” a Frankenstein film with “Depraved,” and can we count “Beneath” as your ‘Creature from the Black Lagoon?”

LF: That’s pretty far-fetched, but I’ll take it!

MD: It’s a stretch.  I tried.  

LF: [Laughs]

The IFC Center has an upstairs gallery, which showcased concept art and poster from several Glass Eye Pix productions.

MD: And if “Blackout” is your werewolf film, what does Larry Fessenden's mummy movie look like?

LF: Everyone asks that, but I won’t do a mummy movie.  I have no interest, but I love a lot of other monsters, so who knows?  

Fessenden with “Blackout” star Alex Hurt (left).

MD: Structurally, “Blackout” is a bit of a travelog, like a mix between “Winesburg, Ohio'' and “Silver Bullet.” As a writer, how do you decide on the characters and beats Charley hits along his journey?

LF: Well, the way I write it, it unfolds slowly.  I think about the personality of the monster and then the events, and then I think about locations that I'm aware of. So it's fairly holistic.  This one, in particular, because a werewolf suggests this idea about traveling.  [The character] is also putting his house in order, which is what I ended up with at first, but the monster always dictates what the story will be. With “Depraved,” I did a different kind of story.

A great poster from the gallery.

MD: The werewolf has a great, classic look, too.

LF: Thanks.  That's Brian Spears.  You should talk to him.  He’s the make-up man and he designed it with Peter Gerner.  They did a great job.

Interview edited for length and clarity.  “Blackout” arrives nationwide on digital platforms and VOD on April 12th, 2024.

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