PopHorror Let's Get Scared
We’ve been covering Filmmaker Abel Berry for quite a few years now, since we first reviewed his film, Midnight Devils (2019 – read the PopHorror review here). Now, we’ve heard he’s got a few new projects in the pipeline like the upcoming horror flicks, The House That Eats Flesh starring Drew Marvick (read our interview with him here) and Butcher’s Bluff (read our interview with Director William Innstone here), two films we have been waiting for for awhile now. So when we had the chance to ask him about them, we jumped at the chance.
PopHorror: When did you realize you wanted to be in filmmaking?
Abel Berry: I actually remember it pretty well. I was about 7 years-old. My school would play the show, Reading Rainbow, every Friday. And one day they played the episode where LeVar Burton showed how the series Star Trek is made. It showed the filmmaking process and the special FX behind the scenes. I was captivated. I knew right then that I was going to be a filmmaker one day.
PopHorror: Tell me about your first experience making films.
Abel Berry: I used to draw storyboards for horror movies when I was really young, but I didn’t get my hands on a camera until I was about 19 years-old. My best friend, Jennifer Stone, and my sweet little mom pitched in together and bought me my first camera, a Canon HV20. Me and Jennifer used it to make a couple of short films in the living room of my apartment. My little brother, who was 9 years-old at the time, would play a dead body for us (laughs). But we learned a lot this way.
PopHorror: You wear many hats in the industry. What would you say is your favorite part of filmmaking?
Abel Berry: My favorite part is definitely directing. But I’ve recently put my hand in as producer on a few films, and it is becoming something that I also really like.
PopHorror: You’ve done quite a few horror movies in your career. Are you a horror fan?
Abel Berry: I’m a huge horror fan! I could go on and on (laughs). Most of my favorite films of all time are horror. That’s usually what I’m watching when its movie night.
PopHorror: What’s your most inspirational horror movie?
Abel Berry: From an inspirational stand point, I would have to say Evil Dead and Dead Alive. When I’m on set and it’s been a long day, I always think of Sam Raimi working on a shoestring budget and just going balls to the wall in that cabin. Same goes for Peter Jackson on Dead Alive. He just went for it in such a big way. Super inspiring.
PopHorror: If you could pick the brain of any filmmaker—alive or dead—who would it be and what would you ask?
Abel Berry: I’d normally say Guillermo Del Toro, but if they can be dead, I would probably talk with Kubrick.
PopHorror: I see you’re also involved in Butcher’s Bluff. What’s your role in that one? Can you tell us a bit about that one as well? Is there a release date yet?
Abel Berry: I’m involved in a lot of horror movies right now as both producer and director, and some I just help out on. The most important films to me right now are my
film, Dr. Gift, which stars legendary scream queen Danielle Harris. I shoot Dr. Gift in July. Also my film, Strix, that me and my bestie, Jennifer, just finished will be released later this year. With Butchers Bluff, I just mainly helped with getting it funded on their first and most successful campaign. I also did some art work and a few shots for their trailer. And I’m doing the same type of work for The Macabre, The House That Eats Flesh, and a several other films this year. In other words, I’m super busy (laughs). But I love what I do, so I can’t complain. Dr. Gift and Strix are going to blow people away!
PopHorror: Last but not least, what are you afraid of?
Abel Berry: SPIDERS!
Keep it tuned to PopHorror for more news on Butchers Bluff, Dr. Gift, Strix, and The House That Eats Flesh and updates on Mr. Berry himself.
