Five Horrific Questions with Sage O’Bryant of ‘M is for Model’

The one-sheet for 'M is for Model'

You know how at the end of every horror movie, the movie makers try to get you to believe the film is over? That all is well and you can happily collect your popcorn and go about your business? Then they throw one more big scare at you, just to send you home with your heart pounding and your stomach in your throat?

This is that post! One last scare before the Halloween season is over. And this time we’re chatting with Cleveland filmmaker Sage O’Bryant.

O’Bryant is the man behind Big Jones Productions and has lingered about the Cleveland movie scene for a few years now. He’s a sought after creator, directing two segments of Made in Cleveland, taking home a first place award in the 48 Hour Film Project a few years back (read about that here), and cutting his teeth on terror.

His latest, co-produced with special effects artist Maxwell Desotell, is titled M is for Model. The macabre movie is an entry in The ABCs of Death 2 competition. If selected, the film will be included in the upcoming horror feature.

Five Horrific Questions with Sage O’Bryant

MMM: What’s makes a horror movie scary? 

Sage O’Bryant: The experience of something perceivably unstoppable that is set out to harm you is what drives a solid horror movie.  The feeling of not being able to control the situation can be quite thrilling and scary.  I think this applies across sub-genres of horror… ghost movies, monster movies, infection movies, slasher movies (my personal favorite), and so forth. 

MMM: What’s the scariest movie you ever saw? 

Sage O’Bryant: A movie that has resonated with me for the past few years is Vacancy. They really captured the fear of suddenly knowing that you’re about to be the victim of a snuff film. 

MMM: Who is your horror inspiration? 

Sage O’Bryant: I’m going with Tom Six of The Human Centipede franchise at the moment.  His bold and non-apologetic approach to writing and directing is very refreshing and inspiring to me. I have never seen an audience reactive so strongly to a movie, both positively and negatively, as with Human Centipede II.  Love it or hate it, it stays with you. 

MMM: Why do we like to be scared? 

Sage O’Bryant: I would say it’s the physical rush.  A heart pumping, adrenaline induced high is what we ’re after.  Fear delivers lot of that quickly. The great thing about horror films is that you have an opportunity to put yourself in a terrible and frightening situation from the safety and comfort of your cozy little theater seat. 

MMM: What movie would you like to turn into a horror movie? 

Sage O’Bryant: Although I have not seen the movie, I would like to turn Bridesmaids into horrific bloodbath where the bride turns out to be a psychotic cannibal who begins to kill and eat her bridesmaids. Yet one of them survives… and she is determined to escape to warn the groom.