PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Get ready for haunted laughs! For Sale by Exorcist was released by Epic Pictures’ horror label, Dread, on March 11th. Ed Sanchez, the director of The Blair Witch Project, is one of the executive producers of the film.
Director Melissa LaMartina is also the writer of the hit horror video game, Amanda the Adventurer. In our interview with her, we asked her about what went into making this horror-comedy (which, admittedly, is more comedy than horror). Written by Chris LaMartina and Rob Walker, it stars Emily Classen, Helenmary Ball, and John Dimes. Check it out!
The Interview with Melissa LaMartina
PopHorror: What inspired the concept of blending real estate and exorcism in this horror mockumentary?
Melissa LaMartina: During our honeymoon in New Orleans a decade ago, Chris and I were delighted by all the “For Sale” signs that included placards declaring a house “Haunted” or “Not Haunted.” That got the wheels turning on what someone’s career and life might look like if they were exclusively selling those haunted houses.
And then there’s the phenomenon of real estate billboards and ads always featuring the agent’s headshot—never the type of houses they specialize in or anything actually relevant—just a prominent shot of their grinning face. So that introduces the idea of the real estate agent as a “celebrity.” And by 2017, all this had led to the creation of Susan Price.
PopHorror: How did you approach balancing horror and comedy to make the film engaging?
Melissa LaMartina: Horror and comedy are two sides of the same coin. They both deal with our anxieties and fears, and both depend on building and releasing tension. So they’re already closer to each other than it might seem.
When combining them in one project, playing the comedy absolutely straight makes it function best within the high stakes of a horror narrative. I wanted them to feel like real people so the audience is invested whether what’s happening is horrific or hilarious.
Did Real-Life Ghost Stories Inspire For Sale By Exorcist
PopHorror: Were there any real-life ghost stories or haunted house experiences that influenced the film?
Melissa LaMartina: Anyone who has bought a house has experienced a sense of dread at some point in the process. Chris and I looked at 11 houses in one day when we were looking for our home. I do not recommend this.
When we returned to our house for the inspection, I went looking for the staircase to the converted attic and was confused and dismayed when I didn’t find it—I had conflated two houses from our whirlwind viewing day. I’m still haunted by that, though I do love our (confirmed two-story) house. Chris did think he saw a shadow person one night soon after we moved in, but he’s just paranoid.
PopHorror: What challenges did you face while directing a mockumentary-style horror film?
Melissa LaMartina: Being a mockumentary, it had to feel real despite the fantastical ghosts and demons. To achieve the aesthetic, I made intentional stylistic choices that some folks challenged. When you make a movie for a studio, you get a lot of notes from multiple people. And many of those notes are good observations that can help strengthen the film.
When we started getting notes on early cuts of the movie, quite a few were about tightening scenes, getting in and out of them sooner, stuff that might make sense if it were a traditional narrative. I had to advocate for my directorial choices that contributed to the sense of discovery important to a documentary, to the feeling that you’re following characters through real-life moments we can’t anticipate. I’m proud of self-advocating, because what’s on screen is the movie I wanted to make.
The Main Star of For Sale by Exorcist
PopHorror: Can you talk about the casting process and what made Emily Classen the perfect Susan Price?
Melissa LaMartina: Originally, Chris wrote Susan as an older character, closer to middle age, but as the project started coming into focus, our minds kept coming back to Emily. In general, I cast people I’d worked with in theater because I knew they were used to showing up fully prepared and off book, which was essential to the way I wanted to shoot the project.
And for Susan in particular, we needed someone with whom the audience would immediately fall in love. Susan is onscreen for, like, 95% of this movie, and it was essential for the actor to ooze charm. Emily is magnetic; you’re instantly hooked, and I can’t imagine anyone else playing Susan. We did the final script polish with Emily (and the fact she’s from the south) in mind—ultimately, the role was written for her.
PopHorror: What were some of the most memorable or difficult scenes to shoot?
Melissa LaMartina: Chris and I cast ourselves as a couple of homeowners being menaced by a succubus in order to save money and because there’s some stunt work we trusted with each other. But it’s one of the most chaotic scenes in the movie.
So we’re shooting the scene, I’m bouncing on this bed punching wildly, and I’m thinking, “I sure hope this is working, because I have no clue how it’s playing onscreen!” We had so much to shoot at that location and only had one day there, so I couldn’t spare the time to pull up each take on the monitor.
My actor brain was firing away as my character, and my director brain was sitting on top of that trying to take in as much as I could in order to shape the other elements of the scene. It somehow worked—people tell me it’s one of their favorite scenes!
Special Effects in For Sale by Exorcist
PopHorror: How did you approach the special effects and practical effects to create the supernatural elements?
Melissa LaMartina: When it comes to practical effects, the goofier things look behind the scenes, the better. Put someone in a closet with a broomstick so they can rock a nightstand on cue. Have people lay on the floor and throw paper into the air while a shop vac at the torn-out back of a file cabinet shoots reams of the stuff into the room. Tie a rope around someone’s waist, throw roller skates on her, and pull her down a hallway. That’s movie magic, baby.
PopHorror: What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
Melissa LaMartina: At its heart, the movie is about fostering community in which there is a sense of belonging for everyone—living or otherwise. And achieving that requires Susan to challenge her perspective on her methods and really her entire raison d’etre.
I also hope people walk away with at least one line they start quoting in their daily lives. For me, it’s almost daily references to “a little treat.”
PopHorror: Did you draw inspiration from any other horror films or mockumentaries while developing this project?
Melissa LaMartina: One of the biggest inspirations and touchstones for me in this process was Christopher Guest’s body of mockumentaries. In all of those, you have these absolutely ridiculous characters, but every actor is playing their role so seriously, so truthfully. I wanted FSBE to feel the same way. I also looked to The Office for stylistic inspiration, particularly those snap zooms that catch characters’ reactions.
PopHorror: Are there any plans for a sequel or expansion of the For Sale By Exorcist universe?
Melissa LaMartina: We’d always pictured FSBE as a great springboard into a series. Each episode would find Susan challenged with a new haunted or possessed house. But it’s in God’s hands now. And by god I mean Dread, as they now own the story and characters!
Thank you for your time, Melissa!
