PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I recently had a chance to chat with Caleb Michael Johnson, the director behind the new LGBTQ horror comedy, The Carnivores. This film was fantastic and I couldn’t wait to pick his brain about it. Learn about how he got involved with filmmaking, the inspiration behind this film, the casting process, and more!
PopHorror – Hi Caleb, how is 2021 treating you so far?
Caleb Michael Johnson – Genuinely tremendous, thank you.
PopHorror – That’s great to hear, how/why did you get involved with filmmaking?
Caleb Michael Johnson – I have a fluency in visuals that just feels safe and fluid. Communicating verbally and textually has always been a lot of work for me, even just in casual conversation. Given the option, my mind always goes to images, so I’ve had a lifetime of practice putting them together. Filmmaking was a natural progression and seemed like it would be a kind of key to the floodgates for so much bottled-up expression. Turns out floodgates are super heavy and hard for all kinds of other reasons, but the work feels good, and do think I get those gates open a little bit more each time.
PopHorror – That’s awesome. You are a producer, writer, director, etc. Is there one you prefer doing over the other?
Caleb Michael Johnson – Writing and directing feel like part of the same process to me. I could separate them but wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much. I produce only out of necessity, I’d happily let that go.
PopHorror – Do you enjoy the horror/thriller genre? If so which film is your favorite?
Caleb Michael Johnson – I’m notoriously and intentionally out of touch so my watchlist is all over the map and in no particular order. It does speak to me though when I see it. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (70s version) and The Thing (80s version) were both very formative for me, I was way too young when I saw those, and a few things were knocked loose in me I think.
PopHorror – Fantastic films! Speaking of good films, The Carnivores is your first big feature? How does that feel?
Caleb Michael Johnson – I made a previous feature, Joy Kevin which also stars Tallie Medel giving a spectacular performance. It’s pretty easy to find and people should definitely dig it up. But this is my first film in wide distribution and it’s a very deep thrill.
PopHorror – I’ll have to check it out. What was the inspiration behind The Carnivores?
Caleb Michael Johnson – There’s a grocery store here in Austin with the most glorious, illuminated, blood-red display of meat you’ve ever seen. I came across that at a time when I’d been thinking a lot about how there are these things your body demands… sleep, food, sex… and how it will find a way to get them whether you like it or not. When I saw that meat case, it felt like a kind of altar to those animalistic forces that can take over, and I wanted to draw all of that out.
PopHorror – I’m picturing it in my head. I love hearing about inspirations. I also loved the characters. How did the acting process come about?
Caleb Michael Johnson – We cast Tallie and Lindsay because they were the most talented actors we knew. Part of that was the knowledge that they would shape their characters beyond what we could plan simply from a story perspective. We were all responding to each other as the scenes unfolded, not without conflict and disagreement, but always with a sense for staying true to the story and effects, we were after.
PopHorror – They were perfect. Any favorite scenes?
Caleb Michael Johnson – Many, but the final 2 minutes still get me every time even though I’ve seen that climactic sequence to death and beyond. The idea and visuals for that came whole very early on and remained potent to me all the way through. The night we shot that scene felt like we’d pulled something mystical up from the bottom of the ocean, something we hoped existed but feared didn’t really. And then it was there for real, and it worked every bit as beautifully as I imagined it would.
PopHorror – So much so! Any difficulties with filmmaking due to covid?
Caleb Michael Johnson – We were originally slated for SXSW 2020, so we wrapped all production well before Covid hit but just in time to have that fest and premiere get scrubbed by it.
PopHorror – What do you hope audiences take away from this film?
Caleb Michael Johnson – Strong feelings and some long-lasting visual scorchings.
PopHorror – Thanks again for chatting with me and I think everyone is going to love this film. To all those reading, The Carnivores hit select theaters and VOD on June 4, be sure to check it out.
