Interview With Filmmaker Charlotte Colbert For ‘She Will’

I love revenge films. There’s nothing better than watching someone make bad people pay for all of the horrible and cruel things they’ve done. Having been bullied for almost my entire school career, man… I would love to exact revenge on some people. I’m actually smiling just thinking about it. But can you imagine being able to do that through your dreams? How cool is that? I would definitely have more balls in my dreams.

This is where the new movie, She Will, by first-time filmmaker Charlotte Colbert comes in. She Will is a psychological thriller about an aging film star who just wants to recover from surgery in peace and quiet and seclusion, away from the prying eyes of the public. While recuperating on the Scottish countryside, she gets way more than she bargained for as “mysterious forces of revenge emerge from the land where witches were burned.” To celebrate the release of the film, I chatted with writer and director Charlotte Colbert about the inspiration behind the film, why she loves horror, what’s up next, and more!

PopHorror: I really loved She Will, so I’m excited to speak with you. It was so beautiful. I can’t wait for more people to see it.

Charlotte Colbert: Thank you so much. I hope some people get to see it on the big screen. There’s something nice about it. Fingers crossed!

PopHorror: I was on the AMC app last night looking at what’s coming up, and I actually saw it listed in the upcoming movies, so that’s pretty exciting.

Charlotte Colbert: Oh cool!

PopHorror: What inspired the film, and how did the project come about?

Charlotte Colbert: Kitty Percy wrote an initial story, and then we developed together. There’s lots of themes that are in the film now that weren’t there. I felt compelled to work with her. I think she’s amazing, and mad, and brilliant. A journey began as we brought in her initial idea of the two women, that connection between them, the retreat, and the revenge through dreams, which I thought was very interesting because it feels like a psychoanalysis but as a literal thing. It was really, really interesting.

PopHorror: Was there anything that you were adamant about keeping in the film, no matter what?

Charlotte Colbert: I’m pretty obstinate about most things. Mostly, we were short on time and battling crazy schedules. By the time the script was ready to shoot, we’d spent quite a bit of time developing the whole language of it and the different things, which I think the actors could really feed in and turn alive. But actually, I had put that thing with the slugs right in the script. I had this obsession with them, with slugs. It’s such an interesting sort of non-binary creature that mates through the head and is completely mad.

PopHorror: This is your first feature film. It’s executive produced by Dario Argento, and it has already received some really amazing awards. How has the journey been with this film?

Charlotte Colbert: Epic. It’s a tale of sweat and mud. 

PopHorror: It’s pretty impressive for a first feature.

Charlotte Colbert: You’re very sweet. I’m crossing my fingers and toes that all goes well. But it’s so interesting, isn’t it? How things take on a life of their own and track different types of characters that congregate towards it. I think, in front and behind the camera, there’s a similarity in some ways between the different people. All question the reality and where things lie. I just loved everyone who was involved in it.

PopHorror: Were you a horror fan before?

Charlotte Colbert: I love all films. From animation to horror. I think that’s what happened. I wasn’t really allowed to watch films as a kid. So, I think what happens as a result is that you completely obsess.

PopHorror: Isn’t that how it works?

Charlotte Colbert: Exactly! It completely backfired. I think horror is an incredible medium. Super creative. A fantastic way to say really interesting, important things in a deductive and entertaining way. It’s miraculous, actually, with the last couple years and all the stuff that’s been made and come out. Obviously for this story, I felt like it’s the most appropriate genre to represent trauma, in some ways. It felt like the most truthful way to explore that. It’s interesting, isn’t it? Because there’s this surge in horror, and I do wonder sometimes if it’s potentially the linear structures of storytelling that are so different from our experience every day now.

PopHorror: What is up next for you?

Charlotte Colbert: Fingers crossed! Cross your fingers and toes. A few little things in the pipeline so we’ll see what happens. 

PopHorror: That’s exciting! I’m excited to see what you have coming up. I especially love emerging female filmmakers so absolutely, fingers crossed!

Charlotte Colbert: Thank you so much! Thank you.

PopHorror: I have just one last question for you today. What is your favorite scary movie?

Charlotte Colbert: Misery. It’s such a great film. It’s a masterpiece.

Thank you so much, Charlotte, for taking the time to speak with us. Be sure to catch She Will, in select theaters and VOD now!