PopHorror Let's Get Scared
It’s been 15 years since Jenni Farley, along with her Jersey Shore roomies, became a staple of the reality television world. Over the past decade-and-a-half, millions of viewers have witnessed the evolution of JWoww unfold on MTV, with Farley transforming from a tough-as-nails New Yorker who didn’t hesitate before throwing a backfist at Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino to a fierce and protective mother of two.
Now, Farley is evolving yet again, this time into a world that always beckoned to her: horror filmmaking. Earlier this month, she celebrated the release of her directorial debut Devon, which was filmed in 2020 at the haunted Pennhurst Asylum in Pennsylvania. Farley first visited the facility while filming Snooki & JWoww about 10 years prior, and instantly knew it would be the perfect spot to shoot a spooky movie.
The plotline of Devon, which also marks Farley’s first time penning a script and screenplay, is as follows:
Following their daughter’s mysterious disappearance, Devon’s parents never stopped searching for the truth. After the asylum she disappeared from was condemned, their questions looked like they would remain forever unanswered. Years later, a cryptic website recruits five courageous individuals to explore the abandoned asylum and discover what happened to the girl. Unaware that they are embarking on a perilous, one-way journey, these individuals delve into the sinister depths with only their equipment, leading to a terrifying and deadly experience.
Despite being a public figure all these years, Farley admitted to her TikTok following of 1.1 million that she was “petrified” to show this more vulnerable side of her. After all, Devon was truly a passion project. In addition to directing, Farley was essentially a one-woman operation, serving as executive producer, makeup artist, etc.
During the excitingly stressful release week of Devon, PopHorror caught up with Farley to discuss this new venture, her longtime love for horror movies, and whether or not she sees herself once again getting behind the camera.
PopHorror: This is your first time directing and writing a film. Is this something you’ve wanted to do for a while? What made now the right time?
Jenni Farley: Yes, I’ve always said if I ever grow up, I want to make my own horror film. On a random day in 2020, I texted a friend of mine and basically said, “Should we do this?,” and now the rest is history. I never intended on sharing it with the world. It truly was just a passion project for me, but I’m so excited, and nervous, for everyone to see it.
PopHorror: What inspired Devon?
Jenni Farley: I’m a lifelong fan of the horror genre and I was deeply influenced by my dad’s collection of cult classic horror films on Betamax. I drew a lot of inspiration from The Blair Witch Project [our review], embracing the film’s found footage style.
PopHorror: What was your experience like on set working with the actors and bringing your vision to life? What were some of the highlights and challenges?
Jenni Farley: It was such a unique experience for me to step behind the camera for this project. I think the most challenging part was finding the cast. I used a casting website and I wasn’t even sure if everyone was going to show up on the first day of filming. They all did, and trusted me and this project, which was so rewarding and helped me believe that I could really do this.
PopHorror: Can you talk more about being a fan of the horror genre? What are some of your favorites, both classics and newer releases?
Jenni Farley: Yes, I’d say I’m more drawn to psychological thrillers than to grotesque slasher films, but I love The Blair Witch Project, the Saw franchise, Paranormal Activity, Nightmare on Elm Street, Silver Bullet, the list goes on!
PopHorror: How does directing a horror film compare to reality TV?
Jenni Farley: Coming from a background in reality TV, I used that experience to my advantage. Found footage was most comparable to reality TV in the sense that they’re both filmed almost “documentary” style and follow an unscripted experience. I wrote a very loose script for Devon and our actors never knew what was coming next so we could really capture their emotions in real time.
PopHorror: Do you envision yourself writing/directing another film in the future? If so, are there any ideas you can share?
Jenni Farley: Yes! I’m currently working on my second film, Nanny Cam. I’ve always been drawn to the horror genre, so my next project is also a psychological thriller.
PopHorror: What’s the main thing you hope people say about Devon after watching it?
Jenni Farley: I just hope people enjoy it, and who knows, maybe I’ll get to make a sequel! That would be a dream.
Thanks for speaking with us, Jenni! Devon is available to rent or buy now on digital streaming platforms.
