in

True Horror – a short film “Forevermore”

evelyn

Article by Haley Cunningham

Evelyn looks upon the typewriter. She has what it takes and she knows it. She finally sits and begins to write. The keys feel natural under her fingers, her thoughts flowing free and uninhibited. But, her own sad story is being written through the keys as she types. No matter. She has made up her mind. She is a writer and she will be published, whether Adam approves or not. But Adam will be home shortly, and what she doesn’t know is she will soon be dead.

So sets one of the scenes from “Forevermore,” a short film that was written and directed by John Francis McCullagh, part of (Title Pending) Productions along with Cinematographer and Executive Producer Tim Stevens.

“[Forevermore] is a film I have wanted to make since high school” McCullagh said. “It’s of personal importance to me. It has a deeper impact on you when you know firsthand the deep horrors that women in your life have experienced through abuse.”

The film focuses on Evelyn, played by Audrey Ahern, and her dreams to be a writer in the 1960’s. Her dreams however, are thwarted by Adam, her husband. Despite the social confines she lives in, she carries on with the assurance that she will be a writer and one day be published.

Evelyn is a strong willed and empowered character, which is somewhat atypical of female roles in horror. “Unfortunately, women in horror tend to be sex objects or pin cushions,” Stevens says. McCullagh chimes in, “despite her situation and her abuse, she remains determined and doesn’t allow herself to be a victim. Audrey really brought a vibrant energy to the role, both as Evelyn and the Ghost. Especially her performance as the Ghost. Her interpretation was very sinister and haunting.”

(Title Pending) Productions is an independent film studio with aspirations of their own. From humble beginnings of a cast and crew amounting to seven, the production company has since grown to 19 on this latest project.

“We all multitask,” McCullagh laughed. And it’s true. “Forevermore” boasts a cast of only two. One of those two is McCullagh himself, doubling as not only the film’s writer and director, but playing the role of Adam.

“(Title Pending) started about a year ago,” Stevens said. “I need to make films, it’s embedded in my soul.”

Stevens and McCullagh met in a creative writing class. From a shared interest in the macabre, and aspirations of being filmmakers, (Title Pending) Productions was born.

“We have the resources and the skill to do something great,” Stevens said. “This can be something more, and we are pushing toward that.”

The problem that McCullagh is addressing in “Forevermore” is the oppression of women. “Forevermore is set in the 1960’s, which historically was a hard, yet pivotal point in terms of women’s rights,” McCullagh said. “What I want to impart on my audience is simple. I want to raise awareness of abuse towards women. Not just in the past, but present day.”

The thematic elements are certainly clear. The cause is even clearer. “My goal is to inspire the audience to create their own change,” McCullagh said. “Even making this film has been a journey for myself.”

In the film, Evelyn reads from her prized story “Forevermore”. This is the same story which McCullagh so graciously read to me, “Yet forever is just an illusion, a faulty assumption based on our own mortality, or so she prayed. She prayed for the sun to break over the horizon, to break her tempered chains. Yet, in the dark, waiting, the question remains. Will this last forevermore?”

McCullagh paused before adding one last thought of his own. “This stuff happens every day. People ignore it. Why would you want to live a life as ignorance is bliss.”

In the words of Evelyn…

What right do you have to stand above me?
Why must I lie beneath you?
Will this last forevermore?

Forevermore is now available online here:

Be sure and follow (Title Pending) Productions on Twitter and Facebook to keep updated on festival screenings of “Forevermore”, and other upcoming films!

Twitter: @TpProd
YouTube: www.youtube.com/titlependingprod1
Facebook: facebook.com/titlependingproductions
www.TitlePendingProductions.com

poster

Mitchell Wells

Founder and Editor in Chief of Horror Society. Self proclaimed Horror Movie Freak, Tech Geek, love indie films and all around nice kinda guy!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.