Movies
‘The Outwaters’ Q&A with Director Robbie Banfitch Reveals Answers to Unanswered Questions and Other Movie Trivia
Did you know it took twenty gallons of blood to make The Outwaters?
Horror Press found out many behind-the-scenes trivia about the film after Editor-in-Chief and curator of all things Horror Press James-Michael attended a special screening of the new cosmic horror film at the director’s childhood theater in Manville, NJ. This event concluded with a Q&A with director, creator, and star Robbie Banfitch. While much information was gleaned from this event, these are some of the moments that stood out.
Filming in the Desert
The Outwaters is about a group of friends who have a strange deadly encounter in the Mojave Desert. The film was shot on location, and the nights were pitch black.
Robbie Banfitch explained that he went to great lengths to perfect the sound. It took two years and thousands of sounds from the desert to create the noises we hear in the film. Speaking of years, The Outwaters director also explained that it took three years before they were able to capture footage of a rattlesnake. Though, another form of wildlife featured in the film came about entirely by chance.
As they were filming, a herd of donkeys happened upon them, creating an iconic shot for the movie. Later, Robbie Banfitch would share that it was his favorite shot.
A Mother’s Love
Anyone paying attention to The Outwaters on social media will undoubtedly occasionally see the name Leslie Banfitch come up. This is creator Robbie Banfitch’s mother, and we are happy to report that she was also a part of the Q&A event. Her undying support for her son’s creation is heart-touching and deserves an honorable mention.
The Cast of The Outwaters are Friends in Real Life
Speaking of Leslie Banfitch, she also played the role of herself, Robbie’s mother, in the movie. We found out that the look of surprise she had when her son showed up at the door was genuine. The cast consisted of a close-knit group of friends who improvised much of the dialogue. Not only was much of the film ad-libbed, but it was also shot with practically no crew. The cast being friends was essential to Robbie Banfitch, as he explained that he couldn’t stand when people in horror movies have bad chemistry. It was a great call, as the excellent chemistry was readily noticeable.
Will There Be a The Outwaters 2?
While no official plans for a sequel were discussed, Robbie Banfitch mentioned another horror film rapidly approaching. Tinsman Road, an unnerving mystery drama, premiering soon. Stay tuned to the Horror Press Podcast for updates and a possible future appearance from the man of the hour himself, Robbie Banfitch.
The Ending of ‘The Outwaters’ Explained
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
Someone had to ask it. “Why’d you chop your penis off?” Is the question Robbie Banfitch was poised. The answer makes much sense. He explains that it felt right and was the last act of “total self-annihilation.”
Given that he cuts off his means of reproduction, self-annihilation is an excellent way to put it. If you’re wondering, no penises were harmed in the making of this movie.
Playing with Light
The director explained that the film played with light quite a bit, as light tends to mean safety, but in this movie always meant the opposite and served as an omen of sorts.
What was Killing Them in The Outwaters?
Robbie Banfitch has explicitly stated that he will not let the cat out of the bag on that question, and as for where the characters ended up, the director says the answer is subjective. He will not weigh in on what exactly is to blame for the murderous phenomena.
After a lengthy discussion between James-Michael and myself, we are at odds with our answers. I believe aliens are to blame, especially given the moment we see him peeling a strange casing from around his toes. The sign we saw was warning them of an Area 51 sort of scenario, and the events we see unfold are essentially everything that we weren’t shown in Nope, or (as JM phrased it for me) Jean Jacket in the Mojave.
As for the self-mutilation at the end? Brought about by trauma-induced madness.
JM has a theory, and it admittedly may be better. He believes the earthquakes in the beginning perhaps let loose a poison gas, which our characters would have been aware of had they seen the sign and gas mask. The gas causes hallucinations, which cause the murder. He bought up the part where Robbie Banfitch watches himself holding an ax. He does have a point. But I’m still saying, with my Giorgio Tsoukalos hands up:
Please help us to settle this debate by reaching out to us on social media, and let us know what you think is behind the killing in The Outwaters!
If you haven’t yet, make sure you see The Outwaters for yourself in theaters, or when it begins streaming on Screambox, and be sure to read our review here.
We are finally in the midst of Shudder’s 61 days of Halloween! There are so many horror movies to consume and 31 days simply isn’t enough. Use the long Labor Day weekend to kick off your horror movie countdown and add these movies to your Shudder queue. Here is a list of what I would recommend checking out to ease into the Halloween spirit right before going into full blown premature trick-or-treating mode.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
The Yeti (2026)
A large creature has captured people in a remote Alaskan town in the 1940s. The sheriff has put together a search-and-rescue monster hunting party to bring back the captives. It sounds like the premise of a Cold Iron Studios co-op video game in the same vein as Aliens: Fireteam Elite. The stylization from co-directors Gene Gallerano & William Pisciotta in the trailer makes me think they have cooked up a story that blends action, horror, and wilderness survival. Sign me up, sheriff!
Leave (2022)
Hunter was found as a baby abandoned in a cemetery wrapped in a cloth covered with satanic symbols. She has been searching for answers her whole life about where she came from. Her journey to find her parents takes her down a mysterious path, and she is being warned by something from the beyond to leave this mystery alone. Can she trust who this investigation is leading her towards? It’s a mysterious, supernatural, culty film that will give you chills.
Penny Lane is Dead (2026)
One crazy night in Australia with perhaps a dash of revenge. Shudder’s latest original looks to be packed with blood and violence in this story of girls just trying to have fun until the crazy cousin drugs the party and invites dangerous people to play. The trailer promises lots of body horror (trigger warning, there may be SA or threat of it). I’m not saying it will be Evil Dead level, but there’s definitely something in the Aussie water with Lee Cronin pumping out his gory deadites and mummy films, and now Mia Kate Russel with this one.
The Others (2001)
This is a PSA to the younger readers of Horror Press; stop what you’re doing and watch Nicole Kidman go 100 miles per hour in this classic ghost story with a twist. Dreary weather, massive estate, confusing corridors, creepy house servants you don’t know if you can trust, and sad British kids. The ending is an all-timer and spoilers should be avoided at all costs. It has exactly what you need to get right into the cozy, spooky mood for 61-days of Halloween.
Dark Harvest (2023)
If The Hunger Games and The Purge had a baby and raised it during Oktoberfest. Teenage boys are tasked with hunting and killing the entity known as Sawtooth Jack on Halloween night, or it could mean certain peril for their town. Of the movies I have listed here that I have not seen, this is going to be at the top of my watchlist. Teens fighting for survival on Halloween night and the battle setting is in a cornfield?! Say less. I am there with my Sam Adams seasonal in hand. Another perfect movie to cannonball me right into the Halloween spirit.
This list has been carefully curated to watch in a specific order to gear up for a Halloween marathon. Start with the wintry monster movie, move on to a macabre supernatural thriller, followed by a ramp-up in blood and gore, to then be lulled into a spooky, bump-in-the-night classic, all to end on a ritualistic hunt taking place on Halloween night. This is just getting things started for the first 30-days. Looking forward to sharing the next list to get you through October.
Anyone who follows legendary horror author Stephen King on social media or reads the back of books knows one thing. It’s harder to find something that King hasn’t blurbed than something that he has. The dude is a voracious consumer of genre media, and he finds a lot to love. It’s an admirable quality. But, speaking as someone who saw American Ultra after he praised it, you can’t always trust his recommendations. Today, I’ll cut some of the wheat from the chaff and break down the best modern horror movies he’s recommended.
Three notes: First, I have decided to define “modern” as “2001 or later.” Second, King practices good social media hygiene and has deleted many of his old posts. A lot of them are archived elsewhere. However, it’s more or less impossible to make a truly comprehensive list of his recommendations. I’ve synthesized multiple different sources and done my best to truly encapsulate the breadth of his recommendations. Third, I have not included any adaptations of his own work. He may be outspoken about the ones he doesn’t like, but he’s still obviously biased in that department.
#10 Snakes on a Plane (2006)
To quote King himself (defending putting 2012 among his top 2009 movies), “no filmgoing diet is complete without some cheese.” Snakes on a Plane is a does-what-it-says-on-the-tin movie, delivering high-flying serpentine thrills. However, it’s also a remarkably faithful resurrection of the atmosphere of old 1970s airplane thrillers.
#9 Final Destination 5 (2011)
In his Best of 2011 entry on Final Destination 5, King called it “the best since the first,” and he’s absolutely right. While the sequels probably peaked with the highway prologue in Final Destination 2, the fifth installment is pound-for-pound the most thrilling entry. Between the bridge collapse, the laser eye surgery, and the nail-biting sequence where a screw falls pointy-side-up on a balance beam, there’s no denying there’s real power here. And that’s not even mentioning the fun final twist!
#8 A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
In a since-deleted Tweet, King called Day One “the rare ‘big Hollywood film’ that is both intimate and textured.” It’s true. A Quiet Place: Day One is a mini miracle of horror filmmaking. An IP-drenched prequel to a duology of good-not-great post-apocalyptic popcorn blockbusters shouldn’t be this genuinely stirring. Plus, relative newcomer Joseph Quinn holds his own against the awe-inspiring Lupita Nyong’o, resulting in an all-timer two-hander.
#7 The Strangers (2008)
After watching The Strangers, King took to Entertainment Weekly to pontificate about what makes good horror. If you inspire someone who literally wrote the book on horror to think about it more, you’ve done something right. Bryan Bertino’s home invasion movie is one of the grimmest movies of the 2000s, but its desperate existential dread is terrifying and perfectly in line with King’s best works.
#6 Splice (2009)
King included Splice on his Top 10 list for 2010, particularly praising the “talented actors… who take the material seriously.” How did this grotesque genetic-experimentation horror movie directed by the guy who made Cube land Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley? Who knows. But they breathe life into some already super solid material. What Brody in particular gets up to feels even more twisted because it’s the guy from The Pianist doing it.
#5 Smile (2022)
In a since-deleted Tweet, King called Smile a “good, scary horror film.” He added that “the real surprise is Sosie Bacon as Rose. What a hell of a performance.” Bacon really was a revelation, but so was debut director Parker Finn. His control over tone and pacing leads to some of the best scare sequences of the 2020s.
#4 The Rule of Jenny Pen (2024)
King’s not fucking around about the New Zealand horror film The Rule of Jenny Pen. It’s one of just two horror movies on his New York Times ballot for the best of the 21st century. The underseen movie is a real corker, too. It follows a judge (Geoffrey Rush) recovering in a care home after a stroke. However, his relaxation is ruined by a sadistic retiree (John Lithgow) who is obsessed with his baby doll puppet. Lithgow’s performance is stunning, and his thrillingly dark energy commands the screen every second he’s in front of the camera.
#3 Barbarian (2022)
In a since-deleted reply to a fan’s Tweet about Barbarian, King said “Yeah, that movie blew me away. It was crazy! Crazy GOOD!” This movie contributed what is perhaps the definitive scary basement in horror, which is no small feat. That’s all thanks to director Zach Cregger’s control over onscreen darkness (one of his many skills). The man must be a shadowmancer of some kind.
#2 Train to Busan (2016)
Train to Busan is the only other horror movie on King’s NYT ballot. It has received a lot of international recognition over the years. Perhaps more than any other non-Parasite movie from South Korea. That’s because it’s flipping amazing. Its crackling energy makes it one of the scariest fast-zombie movies in history. But it also marries that with a compelling father-daughter story. There’s really nothing Train to Busan can’t do.
#1 The Descent (2005)
King put The Descent on his 2006 best-of list, calling it “the best horror movie of the year.” Forget that. It’s one of the top horror movies of the century so far. It’s a bloody good monster movie nestled into a skin-crawlingly claustrophobic spelunking movie.
Honorable Mentions:
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) – I’ve never seen it, so I can’t in good faith recommend it
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) – A masterpiece, but it’s not really “horror”
Obsession (2026) – We gotta let this one sit, in order to avoid recency bias
