As a lifelong horror enthusiast and aspiring filmmaker, I find myself deeply moved by the journey of Steven Kostanski, a fellow genre aficionado who dared to defy trends and create a unique, lovable monster in “Frankie Freako.” His unwavering dedication to his vision, even when faced with skepticism, reminds me of my own struggles to convince friends that a documentary on the history of paperclips could be an enthralling cinematic experience.
Filmmaker and horror specialist Steven Kostanski, renowned for independent successes such as “The Void” (2016) and “Psycho Goreman” (2020), often finds his passions differ from the popular tastes favored by fans of the genre.
He has been urging his filmmaker peers for quite some time to consider producing a small-scale creature flick,” he notes. “Ideally, we’d have puppets causing havoc and terrifying people. Isn’t that an appealing concept? Yet, they all responded with, ‘There’s no demand for that.’ They seem to discuss what’s trending in horror, like ‘What’s the current fad – is it zombies?’ However, nobody mentions ‘mischievous gremlin creatures.’
Ignoring criticism, Kostanski embarked on creating a film that mirrored timeless genre films such as “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” and “Ghoulies”. This creation is “Frankie Freako”, set to be released in theaters by Shout! Studios starting October 4. In this movie, Conor (Conor Sweeney) is a rigid businessman whose monotonous lifestyle fails to please his wife (Kristy Wordsworth) and superior (Adam Brooks). Seeking change, he dials a 900 number, inviting the eccentric puppet Frankie Freako (Matthew Kennedy), along with his companions, to host an unforgettable party at his home. The narrative then unfolds as a blend of party-centric storyline, a journey film where the characters travel back to Frankie Freako’s planet to overthrow an evil ruler, and a dose of sentimentality, where valuable lessons are learned by all involved.
The overall ambiance has a distinct ’80s vibe, featuring accurate period details such as tone, apparel, and interior design, serving as a deliberate tribute to the era that spawned numerous small creature films. However, Kostanski and his crew drew inspiration from an unexpected source to capture the visual aesthetic accurately.
[DP Pierce Derks and I] found inspiration, surprisingly, from De Palma films,” he explains. “I’m a huge fan of ‘Body Double,’ so he approached it with the mindset of, ‘What if a De Palma movie got disrupted by a group of mischievous creatures?’ You can see some of that in the types of lenses and filters we use to create that hazy appearance, but also in the production design, costumes, and set design.
However, the crucial aspect that needed careful handling was the characters themselves, known as Freakos. This Ontario-produced project operated on a limited budget of CA$50,000 and had just eight weeks to complete all tasks involving the movie’s puppets. Director Kostanski recognized he would face significant restrictions.
He commented, “I already knew going into it that this would be a project requiring careful management of resources. So, we made do with what we had and found creative solutions.” Indeed, we did so. I must acknowledge the exceptional effort of my team who went above and beyond to make this production remarkable. It was an enjoyable, albeit challenging, experience.
Even with the obstacles, Kostanski expresses great enthusiasm about creating another installment in the “Frankie Freako” world; however, he’d like to incorporate some downtime and relaxation into the creation process.
After we’ve ironed out the issues with the puppets, he suggests it would be less demanding if we repeated the process. He mentions that Conor and Adam are keen on returning for another round, but they prefer minimal exertion this time around. It could turn into a ‘Freakos in Hawaii’ scenario, where we film for a week, followed by three weeks of relaxing on the beach. Perhaps it’s not the sequel everyone anticipates, but it’s the sequel our worn-out bodies need.
Watch the “Frankie Freako” trailer below.
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2024-10-04 00:16