Jeff Wadlowthe writer and director of Blumhouse’s next disturbing horror film Fictionalrecently offered some insights into the fantasy influences behind the film’s story and the creation of the Never-Ever, an otherworldly universe and realm of imagination in which the characters ultimately find themselves.
During a recent interview with GamesRadar, Wadlow was asked about the fantasy elements of the film and the Never-Ever, and he shared that one of the big influences behind it that he mentions was Guillermo del Torothe classic film, Pan’s labyrinth:
“I’m a big fan of the fantasy genre, and Labyrinth was an important point of reference for us. As well as Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, all the works of Lewis Carroll. And also children’s book authors like Maurice Sendak [who created ‘Where the Wild Things Are’] it really influenced the look and feel of the film. But one of our biggest touchstones was Pan’s Labyrinth, which I think is the best fantasy horror film made in a long time.”
The director went on to talk about some of the creatures in the film and said that they asked the same animatronics and practical effects company that works on Del Toro’s films to work on this film. That company is Spectral Motion. Wadlow said:
“We have this spider monster in our movie […] he’s a contortionist who can move his body in amazing ways in a real spider suit designed by Spectral Motion, who made all the monsters for most of Guillermo Del Toro’s films.”
As for Alice in Wonderland’s influence, Wadlow said, with a smile, “It’s no coincidence that our little girl’s name is Alice.”
It explains that the film “taps into the innocence of imaginary friends – and raises the question: are they really a figment of childhood imagination or is there something more terrifying hiding right underneath?”
In the film “When Jessica (DeWanda wise) returns to her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter Alice (Pyper Braun) develops a disturbing attachment to a stuffed bear named Chauncey that he finds in the basement. Alice begins playing games with Chauncey which start out playful and become increasingly sinister. As Alice’s behavior becomes increasingly troubling, Jessica intervenes only to realize that Chauncey is much more than the teddy bear she thought he was.
Fictional will be released in theaters on March 8, 2024 from Blumhouse and Lionsgate.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
