*After watching Deadly Detour, what is there to say about Mike O’Mahony? He’s grotesque. He’s demented. He’s truly horrific. He’s also inventive, dedicated, and a cool addition to the horror genre. Mike will definitely appeal to indie horror fans who favor movies containing the sick and depraved things I’ve seen in Deadly Detour and in one of his future releases, Sloppy The Psychotic. A 28-year-old Pennsylvania native, Mr. O’Mahony has a slew of new projects on the horizon that you need to keep an eye out for. You can learn about them, Mike himself, and his production company Maniac Films’ debut horror film – Deadly Detour – in this interview. Read on, HorrorSociety readers! This is probably my favorite quote from the interview: “Really, what the film is about, though, is how gross and messy we can get our actors to be without them quitting.”
Q: To kick things off, tell readers a little about yourself:
M: Well, I’m a 28-year-old writer, director, camera guy, FX dude, art enthusiast, movie loving, somewhat weird filmmaker.
Q: What made you decide to work in the horror genre? When did you decide you wanted to work in guts and terror?
M: I love the horror genre and its many subgenres. I’ve been watching/collecting horror movies for as long as I can remember. It was natural to want to work in the genre. Plus, it’s the most fun. Where else can you get people naked, disembowel, decapitate, and do all sorts of messy, fun stuff to them.
Q: As of lately, New Jersey is emerging as an important hub for indie horror. Why do you think not many people are aware of just how scary NJ horror can be?
M: I agree that a lot of good films/filmmakers are coming out of New Jersey. I myself am from Philadelphia. I shot pieces of Deadly Detour and Sloppy the Psychotic in NJ and have worked on a few films for other people there too. I do think people are aware of how scary NJ horror can be, though. Hell, I think most people are aware of how scary New Jersey itself can be. NJ has some of the best urban legends and ghost stories. Its cities are consistently ranked most dangerous in the U.S. and they have the worst drivers. It’s so inspirational there.
Q: While Living Dead sounds like a short zombie film, it’s actually more of a drama…as far as I can tell. In this film, you are credited as director of photography. Tell us a little bit about your experience with this project.
M: The director Brad Case just emailed me one day and asked me to come to Ohio to shoot a film for him. I had just finished filming Deadly Detour and was talking to him a bit about it and about his previous film, Pipe Wrench, and he asked me to come out to shoot it. So I said “sure.” It’s funny. I had never met Brad (or any of his crew) or spoken to him on the phone before that, but I had never been to Ohio before either so I jumped at the opportunity.
The thing I remember most about that production is the actual shoot. I flew out there on a Friday night. They picked me up at the airport and took me to the hotel around midnight. The next morning Brad picked me up around 6AM and we got to set around 7AM. We started filming shortly after that and didn’t finish until 5AM the next day. Myself and the actress were only available that day so we had to get it done. It was tough, but it was a fun set and a good time. The crew and actors/actresses were all real easy to work with so it wasn’t too bad.
Q: You are pretty much the backbone behind Deadly Detour. You wrote, directed, and produced it. I’ve heard nice things about the film, but the plot has escaped my readings. Can you tell me what the film is about?
M: The film is about two carloads of friends on a road trip that get stranded in rural Maryland where they encounter ‘The Goatman’ who rips them apart one by one. It’s light on story. I knew that we weren’t working with much and it was our first time making a movie; so we kept it simple, but I think it turned out ok. Most people seem to be enjoying it for what it is. A lot of people are telling me it’s a ‘good pizza and beer movie,’ which I take as a compliment. Really, what the film is about, though, is how gross and messy we can get our actors to be without them quitting.
Q: Why do you go for all the sick and demented kills instead of the run of the mill hack and slash kills?
M: Hahaha. Because they’re more fun of course! I enjoy seeing someone stabbed or shot as much as the next guy, but if I had to pick between seeing that or seeing people ground up in car engines then I’m going with the latter. It’s just more fun…and funny.
Q: How do you come up with such crazy ideas, like the ending scene of Deadly Detour?
M: The school bus scene was actually an alternative ending. We shot the original and had most of the movie edited, but I thought the ending was boring. So one night while Rob and I were editing, I was telling him that I thought we needed a new ending. We brainstormed ideas over some beers and came up with that. I called Corinne Liz and made sure that she didn’t drastically change her appearance, and that she was up for it. Then we shot it. We filmed Deadly Detour in July, then shot the new ending in November. We didn’t cast for it or anything. We just put our friends and family members in the scene. They all enjoyed themselves.
Q: Deadly Detour is credited as Maniac Films’ feature debut. Is that your production company?
M: Maniac Films is my production company.
Q: Another Maniac film that you’re working on, Sloppy The Psychotic… Well… Um… I see a behind the scenes photo of a guy with his dick chopped off. I’ll just late you take it from here…
M: Hahaha, yes. Sloppy the Psychotic. And that actor with the severed penis is James Costa. He was one of our actors from Deadly Detour. Sloppy is the story of a clown whose only goal in life is to make people happy. After a little while he has a streak of bad luck – he loses his job, sinks into alcoholism, and has some other unfortunate run ins that eventually make him completely nuts. We tried to out do some of the things that we did in Deadly Detour so there is some pretty nasty stuff in it like the photo you mentioned and a few other that we posted. It has sex, violence, cannibalism, alcohol, murder, severed penises, and balloon animals. All of the fun things in life.
Q: I know you’re a busy guy and have a few more films in development. Here is your chance to let everyone reading this know what’s coming from you next.
M: Right now, Sloppy is my main focus. As of writing this we have two more days filming then it’s editing full time. I recently did a film with Condemned Productions called What They Don’t Know that I believe will be out any day now. Also, I have a couple films I’m supposed to do FX for as well as one that I’m writing now. Since none of them are actually in production yet I don’t want to jinx them by mentioning them.
Q: How can readers and film lovers follow you and your career? Any websites, social networking sites, etc?
M: We’re on Facebook – Maniac Films, Deadly Detour, and Sloppy the Psychotic all have Facebook pages where we post the latest news on everything.
Q: Favorite horror film:
M: That’s the hardest question. I have a new favorite every week. There are too many good movies coming out and my moods are changing too much to have a consistent one. But the ones that I’ve loved for a while are Dead Alive, The Exorcist, Cannibal Holocaust, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, etc. I can go on and on about movies that I like. Also, I love seeing all the independent ones at the film fests and grabbing the DVDs at conventions.
*There ya have it, folks! Hope you enjoyed this interview with one of horror’s most up and coming directors. I officially give him this made up award…because I can, but I think Mike O’Mahony is worthy of such a prestigious made up award.
From one Mike to another, thank you for your time Mr. O’Mahony.
