Sarah Young is a brave new voice in the film world bringing to the forefront socially volatile commentary as well as genuine scares. With “Not Him,” the genuinely talented filmmaker directs a horror film that works as a taut allegory for domestic abuse. “Not Him” is now making the rounds in various festivals and Ms. Young took time out to speak with us.
Hello. Thanks for your time!
Hello, thanks for having me!
For our readers, who is Sarah Young?
I’m Sarah Young, the writer and director of the film “Not Him”. “Not Him” is a suspense/horror short about a wife who believes her husband is possessed but can’t get anyone to believe her. It’s currently enjoying a strong film festival run.
What is horror to you, what makes a work of art one in the horror genre?
I am a big fan of genre storytelling as I think it’s a great way to explore challenging subjects in an accessible way. For example, as “The Shining” uses supernatural elements to show the horror of losing a loved one to alcoholism, my film “Not Him” is a metaphor for the very real horrors of domestic violence through the lens of demonic possession.
What made you want to dabble in the horror genre?
I am primarily a director and I’ve had the pleasure of directing several short films, indie pilots, and webisodes, but with this film I wanted to write my own script for the first time and create something that was truly me, as a filmmaker, on a plate. I knew I wanted it to be a genre film and to be honest, horror is more accessible budget wise for an indie filmmaker than Sci Fi or Fantasy, so I set out to make a horror film.
Where did you get your inspiration for “Not Him”?
One night I had a nightmare that ended up being shot for shot the opening sequence of “Not Him”. No spoilers but in the opening the wife realizes something is very wrong with her husband, and it starts them on the path to her working out that he’s possessed. At the same time, like too many people, I was helping a loved one through their own domestic abuse situation so the subject was very fresh in my mind. I realized this was the theme I wanted to tackle with this film and the story followed from there.
Are You Working in any other genres or have aspirations toward?
As a director for hire I’ve worked on several dramas and a few comedies. Most recently I directed a film called “Counting” about an actress struggling with severe OCD and a short LGBTQ Romance called “An Ending” about the search for the true meaning of home. I am drawn to stories that explore our shared humanity and consider my brand as a filmmaker “radical empathy.” Ultimately, I am happy to work in any genre if I am drawn into the story and the team behind it.
What would you like your legacy to be in the genre (or elsewhere)?
My work is intended to spark conversations around challenging topics and the fight to recognize what makes us all human. If my films help an audience member to feel seen or inspires someone to think about their preconceived notions in a different way I am thrilled. I have several ideas for horror features I want to write that each touch on social issues I think are ripe for exploration in a genre film. So I guess my hope is that my films tell great stories, take the audience on a journey, and will stick in minds for years to come.
What about horror do you think is so good at communicating social commentary?
Using universally scary metaphors for disturbing real world horror can help an audience connect in a way that traditional drama sometimes struggles to do. I already brought up my classic example of “The Shining” but more recently films like “The Babadook” and “Smile” do a great job of tackling grief and mental illness respectively in an accessible way that everyone can experience. Even “Barbarian” I think is another great film that explores the experience of being a woman in this world with fear and even humor that I think is easy for anyone to connect with. And there’s something very cathartic around horror that allows the audience to process real life fears in a way that’s removed from the literal which I think is ultimately important and healthy.
Who are some of the directors or writers that you look up to and who do you want to bring attention to in your field or others?
Jennifer Kent the writer and director of “The Babadook” is one of my heroes. Parker Finn who wrote and directed “Smile” and Zach Cregger the writer/director of “Barbarian” are also people I want to follow in the footsteps of. Bong Joon-Ho writer/director of “Parasite” is another of my absolute favorite filmmakers and I love that film. Its a dark comedy but certainly has some horror elements too and its a no holds bared gut punch of storytelling and social commentary.
What are you currently working on that you can tell us about?
My team and I are working on expanding “Not Him” into a feature which I am very excited about. And at the same time I have two other main horror feature ideas both based in my home state of Oregon, one is a supernatural horror film that seeks to do for the deep woods what “Jaws” did for the ocean, and one is about a daughter who ran away from her family as a teenager to escape their increasingly intense slide into a religious cult who returns to try and rescue her mother and siblings.
On a lighter note, I am almost done with a horror comedy pilot script called “Ghosts Hosts” about a youtube channel of ghost hunters just in it for the clicks who have to contend with the real thing when they hire an intern who turns out to be an actual medium.
What advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers or creators?
If you’re just starting out don’t be afraid to make stuff just for practice. Get your phone out, get a team together, and just make films. Hone your storytelling skills, how you communicate with your team, and most importantly, find out what kind of stories you are most interested in putting out into the world. Ideally your technical skills and your understanding of your own artistic voice eventually come together, giving you the skills necessary to make the films you truly need to make.
Thanks for your time.
Thank you so much for speaking with me today!