Movies
[INTERVIEW] Celebrating ‘The Coffee Table’ on Father’s Day with Caye Casas
The Coffee Table hit the U.S. streets in 2024 and imprinted itself on the brains of Horror fans (I am Horror fans). If you have not seen it, I can guarantee it’s like nothing you’ve seen before. The film follows a couple, Jesus and Maria, who have just become parents, and decide to buy a new coffee table. This decision has unexpected consequences. I highly recommend checking out this movie; you will be changed. You can catch it streaming (at the time of this article) on Tubi, AMC+, Shudder, and VOD. When I watched it for the first time, I rented it, and it was worth every penny.
I contacted Casas’ team and sent over a few questions about his inspiration for The Coffee Table and a memory with his dad. Please note that the responses have been translated from Spanish to English.
An Interview with Director Caye Casas
Jazzmin Crawley: What was your inspiration for The Coffee Table?
Caye Casas: I hadn’t filmed anything in five years, and I hadn’t come up with any projects. I thought I’d never be able to make another film. But I wanted to try to make one last film, one that would be powerful and that anyone who saw it would never forget.
I had the script for The Coffee Table in a drawer, written years ago. I knew I could do it on a tight budget, and a friend let me use her apartment for free, so we dove in and shot it in only 10 days. I wanted to tell a great tragedy with touches of dark humor, and based on some real news stories about these types of accidents, so we wrote the film.
We wanted to make a terrifying film, but not a typical horror film. Here, there’s only a dining table and a cruel fate, and a tragedy that can happen to any of us.
What was your favorite part of making this film?
My favorite part was getting back to filming after so much time. It’s something I needed at the core. I always say that having a passion for filmmaking is a curse, since it’s so hard to get the money, and life goes by, and you shoot very little. And if you ask me specifically about this film, my favorite part was shooting the kitchen sequence with Maria’s (Estafanía de los Santos) laughter. It was very funny, and I think it’s a sequence of cruelty and dark humor.
The design of the coffee table is interesting! Was it created for the film, or was it something you found? Is there a story behind this design?
We didn’t have the money to create a table, but we knew we wanted it to be kitsch, ugly, and different. Luckily, an antique dealer friend had this table in his warehouse. We asked him if he’d sell it to us at a good price, and he gifted it to us! We painted it gold, added the “unbreakable” glass, and it became the star of the movie.
Now I have it in my house, but without the glass.
I’m writing this article for Father’s Day. Do you have a memory with your dad you’d like to share?
Honestly, my best memory of my dad is when he used to take me to Camp Nou to watch FC Barcelona play. I’m a huge Barça (short for FC Barcelona) fan, and that’s thanks to my dad. My greatest passions are Barça, movies, and retro toys…in that order!
You have a history of working in the comedy and horror genres. Why do you like this medium?
Dark humor is my brand; it’s what defines me. I like to mix genres and put dark humor into a great tragedy, like life itself. Life isn’t just one genre, it’s many. I always use the example that sometimes you’re at a funeral, and humor comes up. Life can be contradictory, and the same thing happens in my films.
That’s why I’m passionate about mixing those two genres; for me, it’s really fun.
What would be your dream project?
Shooting the next film! I have various scripts written, and I’m looking for financing. There are multiple projects. Aside from that, I’m developing a script for a U.S. film. I hope something comes out of all this! You never stop chipping away at the stone in this business, at least in my case. My dream project is to make films for a living.
If you can talk about this, what’s next for you?
As I’ve told you, I have my own projects, some commissions, but nothing’s confirmed. We’re working on it, looking for money, investors, you know, that tedious phase of looking for money under every rock. But I assure you, the films made will be as talked about, if not more so, than The Coffee Table.
End of Interview
It was great to get an opportunity to ask Casas questions and get insight on this darkly funny project. The Coffee Table will live rent-free in the minds of Horror fans everywhere. We must fund and support independent filmmakers. If Casas could make something like The Coffee Table on such a small budget, imagine what he could do given ample funding.
Independent filmmaking is where some of the most unique ideas live. I hope we are able to see what Casas has in store next. If we want to see new and refreshing films, we have to support the teams behind them.
December is a time for family problems, and that is why I am here with a streaming guide filled with ghoulies goodies that understands the assignment. One thing Netflix excels at is genre movies that put families front and center. Whether they are fighting ghosts, trying to survive hectic circumstances, or trying to kill each other, these movies will make you happy that you put a cap on family time this holiday season. So, grab some leftovers and get ready to hit play on some wild film suggestions. Let us end this year with a bang (or five)!
The Best Movies to Stream on Netflix This Month
Before I Wake (2016)
A couple adopts a child whose dreams and nightmares manifest in the real world. I was late to check out this Mike Flanagan film on Netflix. To be honest, I mostly hit play because of the cast. I needed to see what Kate Bosworth, Thomas Jane, and Jacob Tremblay were doing with my own eyes. While it’s not my favorite movie on the list, I love that it reminds us that even adopted parents can be the worst. This lady really almost put this kid at risk, and we don’t talk about that enough as a society. I’m putting her in bad mother (and guardian) jail immediately. Aside from that, the movie does have some sick imagery despite its meager budget.
Cobweb (2023)
A young boy investigates knocking sounds in the walls of his house and discovers a dark family secret. I ran at this movie because it was directed by Samuel Bodin (Marianne). Lizzy Caplan, Antony Starr, and Cleopatra Coleman being in the cast was the cherry on top of the eerie sundae. Cobweb is like a waking fairytale nightmare. It’s gorgeous, creepy, and unsettling in all the right ways. It also has one of Lizzy Caplan’s top-tier performances, and I live every time I rewatch it. If this wasn’t on your holiday watchlist, it should be. Ignore the autumn vibes and get into the sickening scenery. Make sure you watch it while it is on Netflix. You will thank me later.
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
A fractured family must face their chilling past in a haunted home they fled from. They soon discover they are still in danger from the things they have avoided dealing with all of these years later. Overall, this was a great show, even if the ending pissed me off. It proved that Mike Flanagan understands family drama and that his audience craves it. The series gave us ghosts, twists and turns, and a lot to talk about. So, if you are looking for a binge this December, it is one of the best ones on Netflix. Between the family drama and The Bent-Neck Lady reveal, this is a pretty awesome way to spend a holiday. Come for the stellar cast and stay for all the ghosts hiding in the background of scenes.
Nowhere (2023)
A pregnant woman escapes from a country at war and hides in a container aboard a cargo ship. When she gives birth after a dangerous storm, she must fight the harrowing conditions for the survival of her and her newborn. I’m not one for pregnancy horror, but I could not resist hitting play on this because I do like a survival horror/thriller. This was a weirdly fun Netflix find, and I suggest it if you want a little adrenaline this holiday season. It also features an outstanding performance from Anna Castillo as Mia. She deserved awards and more attention for her work. So, if you are looking for something popular but very different than the other recs on this list, this might be your girl.
Under the Shadow (2016)
A mother and daughter trying to survive war-torn Tehran of the 1980s discover an evil entity is haunting their home. Under the Shadow is creepy, educational, and severely underappreciated. It has amazing performances, gorgeous cinematography, and immaculately disturbing vibes. If you liked The Others (2001), then think of this as its very distant and cool cousin. I would even recommend doing them as a double feature because I am a professional couch potato with a vision. If you have not watched this Netflix gem yet, the holidays are a good time to fix that. If you have, then maybe revisit and make a friend watch along with you. After all, unsettling movies are the gift that keeps on giving.
So, these Netflix movies are how I plan to spend this December. Let me know if any of these also make it onto your holiday watch list. Or if you have a completely different list of family forward genre movies awaiting you this month. I am so serious because I am really nosy. Happy Holidays to you, your TV, and your favorite snacks. I am proud of you for making time for Netflix this holiday season, friends.
Halloween season is over, and many streamers have forgotten about us horror kids. While they take their 11-month hiatus from the genre, we can be grateful that we still have an app that cares. We are so lucky that Shudder remains that girl year-round. Whether you’re finishing their new original show Guts & Glory, catching up on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans, or running at some of their deep cuts like I am, Shudder has your best interests at heart. As usual, she has quite a few titles fighting for our attention. Which is why I am here with five titles I think should be at the top of all of our watch lists this November. So, cancel your holiday plans and pick up your remote because we have got horrifying things to watch.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
Habit (1995)
An alcoholic unwittingly enters into a relationship with a succubus in New York City. If you ever wondered what Larry Fessenden was getting up to in his youth, you need to see this ’90s gem. I lucked out and caught it at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival last year, and I lived my best life. While watching it on the small screen will not be the same, I plan to hit play anyway. Mostly because I love to see 1990s succubi leaving their mark on men…and also the horror genre. Shudder is also adding The Last Winter and Depraved, so we can spend a whole day with Uncle Larry’s work.
Sew Torn (2024)
A seamstress happens upon a failed drug deal and steals a briefcase. She soon finds herself caught in a deadly situation where all roads lead to death. I caught Sew Torn at SXSW last year and have been wondering what happened to it. So, I am very happy this odd little bird has found her way to Shudder. I cannot wait to make my friends who are looking for something cute and deadly watch. I knew nothing when I hit play on this, and I encourage you to know as little as possible, too. I fear I have already written too much in this blurb to be completely honest.
You can watch Sew Torn on November 1st.
The Retreat (2021)
A couple goes on a pre-wedding retreat and unwittingly becomes targets of a group of serial killers. We have seen too many movies about retreats, and I thought this one would be more of the same. This title does not completely reinvent the wheel, but it does set itself apart within this oversaturated subgenre. The Retreat is a surprisingly fun and tense little thriller that feels made for the winter watches. Come for the lesbian characters leading the film, and stay for the violence. I also encourage you to check it out while it is on Shudder, because it is usually on apps with ads.
You can watch The Retreat on November 1st.
The Creep Tapes (Season 2)
Peachfuzz returns with more tapes, chaos, kills, and WTF moments. Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice have reentered the TV arena and are making things weird again. If award shows were real, this duo would be leading the Emmys charge. I saw the first three episodes, and Josef/Peachfuzz is still the serial killer after our own hearts. Our Wolfie is still cutting up (literally and figuratively) in the most amazing ways. Guest stars in danger this season include David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil), Katie Aselton (The League), and Robert Longstreet (The Haunting of Hill House).
You can watch The Creep Tapes (Season 2) on November 14th.
Krampus (2015)
A kid accidentally summons demons during the holidays in this horror comedy. Krampus remains one of the top-tier Christmas horror titles for me. It is also my favorite Michael Dougherty film. Not only because it has the star power of Adam Scott and Toni Collette, either. This movie is wicked, and even the kids are in danger. I do not have many holiday horror movies I revisit every year, but Krampus is one of the very few. It still holds up, and I cannot wait to rewatch it with a festively boozy beverage.
You can watch Krampus on November 15th.
Those are a few reasons I am grateful for Shudder this holiday season. While the rest of you are fighting with your family and friends, I will be parked in front of my TV. You can have your turkey because I would rather gorge myself on episodes of The Creep Tapes anyway.
Let me know what Shudder shenanigans you have got your little eye on. I am nosy and want to make sure I am not missing anything on my favorite streamer.
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