PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Hello boils and ghouls, I recently had the opportunity to chat with director Howard J Ford for his new horror thriller, The Lockdown Hauntings. This film stars Tony Todd and is definitely one you won’t want to miss this spooky season and it is now available On-Demand. In this interview learn about Howard’s career, how the pandemic impacted the film, the inspiration behind the film, what it was like working with Tony Todd, and much more!
PopHorror – Hi Howard, how is 2021 treating you so far?
Howard J Ford – Well even if it’s been a strange year, it’s been quite a busy one, to be honest. I have had a couple of films finishing both production and post and I’ve even been to Africa to do TV commercials so I really can’t complain!
PopHorror – That’s fantastic to hear! What inspired you to become a director?
Howard J Ford – I was so impressed with the way some films when I was growing up scared me, or took me to an emotion I was not feeling just moments before watching it and I somehow knew I wanted to do that. I started making short films when I was 13. Probably the horror came into it after being terrified of Sam Rami’s The Evil Dead and Romero’s Dawn of the Dead.
PopHorror – Amazing films! Speaking of which, some of your work centers around the horror genre. Do you enjoy horror and if so what’s your favorite horror film?
Howard J Ford – Although I have made some horrors such as The Dead and of course now The Lockdown Hauntings, I only choose horror to watch if there is an angle on it that interests me in another way. To this day I am still blown away by the power of The Excorcist and other classics such as Halloween.
PopHorror – Can you tell us what The Lockdown Hauntings is about?
Howard J Ford – The Lockdown Hauntings, which was shot in the very first Lockdown, literally with actors stuck in their own homes tells multiple stories relating to the ghost of a serial killer who is back out during lockdown stalking new victims. It’s a mix of Paranormal Horror and also has a detective thriller thread.
PopHorror – That’s awesome and scary all at the same time. What inspired this film?
Howard J Ford – Everything came from what was going on in the world with the virus and the lockdowns. I found out that the virus is not a living thing, hence my killer had to be the same. I started with Fear, Isolation, and Anxiety and asked myself, can I do anything cinematic with that? And more importantly, perhaps, can I do it right now, in lockdown? When I came up with the idea, I just had to hit go and get shooting.
PopHorror – The film has a great cast including Tony Todd. How was it working with him?
Howard J Ford – I love Tony Todd and he was an absolute joy to work with, he’s surprisingly funny too and he had Angela Dixon and me cracking up before we started rolling. I find his voice and presence have real gravitas and I really wanted to find a way to weave him into The Lockdown Hauntings in a key role. So he plays Jordan Myers, the paranormal expert whom detective George (Angela Dixon) calls in to help decipher why these young women are being murdered by a malevolent spirit. I was very lucky with all my cast, both established and new talent.
PopHorror – Any favorite scenes?
Howard J Ford – Given we were all locked down for real whilst shooting it, the scenes where characters decide to run from their homes after being attacked, to get help were refreshing as we had a great excuse to be on the streets for a moment!
PopHorror – I bet! What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
Howard J Ford – We have all been affected by this virus and the lockdowns, so I hope audiences can go on a journey through this experience but with a very different take on it. I hope The Lockdown Hauntings is partly a filmic reflection of the strange and fearful time we have all shared, but at the same time gives us a good few jump-scares and thrills on the way. This film has been a totally different experience to me as a filmmaker as I had to make it completely alone, just actors, so I hope it inspires too.
PopHorror – Definitely. You should be proud of this piece! Any other upcoming films?
Howard J Ford – I have a brutal climbing movie called The Ledge about a female climber trapped on the side of a mountain fighting off her would-be killers. This is getting released early next year. I am also working on a supernatural thriller and I hope to get back out to the deserts to make another indie film that edges into horror too.
PopHorror – Awesome. Can’t wait. Thanks again for chatting with me and I hope you have a safe and fun Halloween! The Lockdown Hauntings is now available On-Demand and will be available on DVD on November 16, 2021. Be sure to check it out and let us know what you think!
