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.
Looks like another July will be spent getting cozy with Shudder in this house. Between all the new (to me) international titles and the conclusion of Hell Motel on July 29th, the app has filled my calendar for the month. Hold my texts, keep your emails in the draft folder, and don’t look for me outside. My TV and I are on a mission, and we’re prioritizing the five titles below. I hope they grab your attention and make it into your Shudder viewings this summer as well. However, I’ll be too busy watching them to know what anyone else is doing, so happy streaming whatever you decide to get into.
While we have you here, you should consider joining us for Bloody Brunches! Every Sunday at 11 AM CST / 12 PM EST, we’ll be livestreaming a new episode of Hell Motel. Who know’s who you’ll see, sometimes Ian Carpenter and crew stop by!
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
Lake Placid (1999)
A small group of people try to capture a gigantic crocodile terrorizing the people of Black Lake, Maine. I am not an aquatic horror girl, and I am usually unimpressed with 90s action horror titles. I make a special exception for Lake Placid though. Sure, it stars Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman, and Oliver Platt. However, real film buffs know that it’s really the late Betty White who carries this movie. Her foul-mouthed character stood on business and is the reason most of us revisit this title during the summer.
You can watch Lake Placid on July 1st.
Nyi Blorong (1982)
The South Sea Queen’s daughter rises to take a human lover. I have a long history of disliking snakes and movies about snakes. However, I’m leaning into this 1982 film because I deserve a retro Indonesian horror fantasy moment. I am also excited because it stars the late Suzzanna, the queen of Indonesian horror. I only learned about her a few years ago and wanted to spend some time with her work. As usual, Shudder is making it too easy to become a better cinephile.
You can watch Nyi Blorong on July 7th.
The Housemaid (2018)
An orphaned girl is hired as a housemaid at a haunted rubber plantation in 1953 French Indochina. Once there, she falls in love with the landowner, which sends the ghost of his dead wife into a jealous rage. I was excited to watch this just because it sounds chaotic, and I do not see enough Vietnamese horror for my liking. However, I recently discovered it is also an IFC Midnight title, so now my expectations are through the roof. IFC has been the home of upsetting, weird, and unique horror since 2010. I have a date with Shudder on July 14th, because I want this movie in my eyeballs the second it becomes available.
You can watch The Housemaid on July 14th.
Swallow (2020)
A pregnant housewife is compelled to eat dangerous objects, leading her husband and in-laws to become more controlling. Swallow had the misfortune of debuting during the top of the pandemic, so many people missed it. I found it on accident during Thanksgiving back when Showtime still had its own app. It’s quiet chaos that surprised me in a good way. I have been trying to make everyone I know watch it, and Shudder is making that so much easier this month. I am overdue for a rewatch myself, so I will also be hitting play while it’s available this July.
You can watch Swallow on July 21st.
Monster Island (2024)
A Japanese ship transporting prisoners of war and a British POW are stranded on an island where a mythical creator hunts them. Can they work together now that their very survival depends on it? I was bummed I missed this movie at Overlook Film Fest this year because all my friends loved it. So, obviously, I am thrilled Monster Island (also known as Orang Ikan) is hitting the Shudders streets so soon. I do not know what the other monster movies are doing this July because my heart belongs to this baby.
You can watch Monster Island on July 25th.
So, as usual, I will be hiding in my apartment and trying to make Shudder Saturdays my personality. I’m running at their international titles like it’s my job and revisiting a few movies I never spend enough time with. I hope your Shudder watches spark as much joy for you as I expect mine will this July.
In the 90 years since its release, The Bride of Frankenstein is still the Universal Monsters franchise’s strongest film.
I first watched The Bride of Frankenstein on cable around 15 years ago. Director James Whale’s fable of a misunderstood creature’s quest for a bride really stayed with me after subsequent viewings. Speaking of The Bride, she’s the Universal Monster with the most potential for a gripping and modern reimagining that hasn’t been fully tapped into yet. Universal’s newest theme park Epic Universe, opening back in May, inspired a deeper dive into The Bride of Frankenstein, the titular role and its legacy.
Unveiling The Bride: The Plot and Power of the 1935 Classic
Immediately following 1931’s Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein centers on Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) as the sinister Dr. Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger) urges him to collaborate on creating a mate for The Monster (Boris Karloff). In the meantime, The Monster travels across the countryside, learns to speak, and meets Pretorius. When both scientists complete and unveil The Bride (Elsa Lanchester), she rejects The Monster, motivating him to pull a lever and famously say, “We belong dead.” Pulling the lever ignites an explosion, killing The Monster, The Bride, and Pretorius.
Just as it took two scientists’ minds to create her onscreen, two individuals gave life to The Bride’s characterization and look: Lanchester and makeup master Jack Pierce, who designed nearly all the original Universal Monsters.
The Bride’s Hiss: How Lanchester Stole the Show with Limited Screentime
The Bride not being the film’s main protagonist is ironic since she’s the title character. Making the most of her brief performance, Lanchester’s swan-like mannerisms as The Bride sharply contrast with the humanity Karloff brings out of The Monster. After her dual role as The Bride and author Mary Shelley herself in the film, Lanchester took on more horror film roles like Henrietta Stiles in Willard (1971). It’s not hard to imagine what could’ve been for her career if she reprised her role in The Bride of Frankenstein’s sequels Son of Frankenstein and Ghost of Frankenstein. If a lab explosion couldn’t kill The Monster, wouldn’t it be the same for The Bride?
Besides the white streaks, Lanchester surprisingly didn’t wear a wig to portray The Bride since Pierce shaped her red hair to look the way it does. Pierce’s work on The Bride is just as iconic if not more so than Lanchester’s performance, ensuring the character became inseparable from her intended suitor in pop culture’s eyes. Case in point: There’s so much officially licensed merchandise playing up a romance between the two characters, even though The Bride can’t stand her intended mate. Beyond Lanchester and Pierce, there is one man responsible for how the film itself would come out.
James Whale’s Masterpiece: Directing The Bride of Frankenstein
Whale stitched great set designs, fantastic performances and composer Franz Waxman’s eerie score together to create a masterpiece.
Having Frankenstein, The Old Dark House and The Invisible Man under his belt by the mid-‘30s, it’s clear Whale creatively peaked while working on The Bride of Frankenstein. Although so much about Whale’s talents has been said, there’s a reason why his work on the film stands out across his filmography: He really went wild when directing it. Every character is practically cartoony, the sets are more elaborate and the plot is thematically richer than the original’s. Being an openly gay filmmaker, he cranked up The Bride of Frankenstein’s camp to legendary heights.
The Bride of Frankenstein is the final horror movie Whale directed. The novel Father of Frankenstein and its film adaptation Gods and Monsters, starring actor Ian McKellen as Whale, dramatize his life after directing the film. According to the reference book Universal Horrors by Tom Weaver, Michael Brunas and John Brunas, he initially didn’t want to direct his horror work’s apex. Just like Henry Frankenstein’s relationship with the monster he created, The Bride of Frankenstein’s production is a case of life imitating art. The Monster’s in-universe infamy further parallels Whale’s Frankenstein duology’s lasting popularity.
How The Bride of Frankenstein Shaped Horror Sequels and Adaptations
The Bride of Frankenstein’s influence can be seen across other horror films and Frankenstein adaptations.
Having “Bride of” in a horror sequel’s title is synonymous with including the main character’s female counterpart, leading to Bride of Re-Animator, Bride of Chucky, etc. The similarities go further than the titles, with The Bride of Frankenstein inspiring the former’s plot and furthering Tiffany’s arc in the latter. The Bride of Frankenstein inevitably shaped Frankenstein’s future adaptations as well.
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein from 1994 closely follows the original novel. Breaking away from the novel’s narrative, its third act pays homage to The Bride of Frankenstein when Victor brings Elizabeth back to life with similarly brief screentime. Mia Goth’s seemingly red hair on the set of Guillermo Del Toro’s upcoming Frankenstein may hint at her character similarly becoming The Bride.
The Bride’s Untapped Potential for a Modern Horror Remake
With Warner Bros. releasing its own take on the character with The Bride! in 2026, it makes Universal’s reluctance to make a new remake downright egregious.
The Bride is still the literally redheaded stepchild among the Universal Monsters. When it comes to being neglected by Universal, The Creature From the Black Lagoon is the only character who rivals The Bride, but that’s another story. Universal did plan a remake directed by Bill Condon, who helmed Gods and Monsters, for its aborted Dark Universe film franchise.
The Bride’s Absence in Epic Universe’s Monsters Unchained Ride
Looking at Epic Universe, the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment ride apparently leaves The Bride out, even though she makes more sense to be in it than The Phantom of the Opera. However, The Bride does make meet-and-greet appearances across Dark Universe’s grounds.
Several ideas can be incredible for when Universal finally releases a remake of The Bride of Frankenstein someday. Based on what I’ve heard about 2023’s Poor Things, it’s exploration of a mad scientist’s creation’s experiences in a restrictive society is closer to what a modern reimagining should be. Having a woman behind the camera can lead to a feminist vision, delving into The Bride questioning her life’s purpose.
Until the day a proper remake debuts, the original 1935 film remains The Bride of Frankenstein’s definitive incarnation.
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