A First Chance to See... Soul Slasher
A New Nightmare comes to Independent Horror.
In October, I Bet You Didn’t See was contacted by Curtis W. Harrison, an award-winning filmmaker from Queens, NY, USA, who is working on a psychological slasher film project called Soul Slasher. Curtis reached out to us to talk about Soul Slasher, and how anyone interested can help him and his team get this film through the last stages and out onto the big screens.
Soul Slasher has already completed three very busy days of filming, and Curtis and the team are hoping to raise $50,000 to continue into the next phase, finish the principal filming and get the final pieces of their cinematic jigsaw in place.
When Curtis first reached out to me, I was fascinated by how well the film has done already, with six awards. It’s an intriguing idea, with a very interesting and thought-provoking story and I found the intended experience Curtis wants the viewer to go through really appealing, particularly for this kind of story.
As you all know, I Bet You Didn’t See is not just about the films, but about film history, film production and the people that bring it to us. So, firstly, I took the chance to get to know Curtis W. Harrison just a bit.
Curtis, how did you get into films? Who influenced you?
I got into directing while managing a music artist. We didn’t have the budget for a full music video production, so I hired a cameraman and directed the video myself. After that, I directed another one and won awards for my music video directing as a first-time director. That recognition encouraged me to keep going. I was already an actor, and directing gave me another way to tell stories. That’s when I decided to start making my own films.
Some of my biggest influences are John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) and Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and Scream (1996). What draws me to them is the originality of their concepts. Each has its own identity, and that inspires me to create something of my own with Soul Slasher.
Can we know what the oldest film you enjoy is? And the oldest horror?
The oldest movie I enjoy is March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934), and the oldest horror movie I enjoy is An American Werewolf in London (1981). Those are two classics I still enjoy watching.
So, what is it about the horror genre that appeals to you?
What draws me to horror is the special effects, the storytelling, and that fear that makes your heart jump. I love how those elements come together to make you feel what’s happening on screen. That’s the kind of experience I want to create for an audience.
Whether people admit it or not, I think we all secretly love a bit of a jump scare! Now let’s focus on Soul Slasher. Please could you give us a summary of the film and explain why you wanted to tell this particular story.
Soul Slasher follows Darius Whitaker, a man haunted by the abuse he witnessed as a child. When his mother is murdered and the man responsible escapes justice, Darius breaks out of prison and goes after those connected to her death. Behind that terrifying clown face is a son carrying years of pain, but his search for justice becomes a dangerous path of revenge.
I want to tell this story because it gives the audience something difficult to wrestle with. You can understand Darius’s pain while still being horrified by his actions. The story looks at abuse, the people who look away, and what happens when those who need protection are repeatedly failed. I want audiences to feel the suspense and fear but also leave asking themselves where justice ends and revenge begins.
Can you tell us about the cast and crew and their response to the story?
The cast and crew had just three days to shoot, and the film is still unfinished. That’s why I’m working to raise $50,000 to complete Soul Slasher. Everyone involved has been enthusiastic about the story. They love what we’re creating and want to see it come to life as a finished film.
Clowns, and clown make up, have become a big focus in horror over the last few decades. Could you explain why you’ve chosen the clown look for Darius?
As a child, Darius loved watching clowns juggle and perform on television. Seeing his stepfather hurt his mother filled him with anger, and those clowns gave him a little escape from what was happening at home. He would paint his face because he wanted to become a clown himself.
That’s what makes the look meaningful to his story. Something that once brought him comfort becomes connected to his rage. There’s a disturbing story behind how he creates his mask, but I want audiences to discover that for themselves.
What have been the biggest challenges, and how are you overcoming them?
One of the biggest challenges has been finding locations we can afford. There’s been a lot of enthusiasm—people love horror and want to be involved—but Soul Slasher calls for many different locations and securing them in New York on a small budget has been difficult.
I’m considering shooting in California and exploring whether I can find suitable locations there at a lower cost. Nothing is finalized yet. The goal is to bring the story to life while making the most of our budget.
Soul Slasher has already brought you recognition with a number of awards in the last year, so many congratulations on those. They are obviously a huge buzz, but aside from them, what excites you the most about this project?
What excites me most is taking an idea I created and bringing it to life for people around the world to see. Watching something that started in my imagination become a film is a big moment for me.
My hope is that Soul Slasher can grow into a franchise, like Scream or Halloween. I’d love to see Soul Slasher 1, 2, 3, and 4 someday. Right now, my focus is on finishing this film and giving audiences a story and a character they’ll want to return to.
Is there anything about Soul Slasher you can hint at for the horror fans reading, without giving anything major away?
One thing I want horror fans wondering is whether Darius will live or die. I’m keeping his fate a surprise—you’ll have to watch Soul Slasher to find out.
Finally, how can our readers help bring Soul Slasher to life?
Readers can help by donating, sharing our trailer, and spreading the word Soul Slasher. We’re working to raise $50,000 to finish the film, and every contribution helps us move closer to that goal.
If you can’t donate, sharing the project with friends and fellow horror fans is another valuable way to support us. We’ve already started bringing this story to life, and your support can help us finish it.
Soul Slasher is Curtis’ passion. Starting up is hard, but we know projects like Soul Slasher can make it. There is a fascination to the story that draws fans in, gets people talking and brings people back. His work on the project has already been noticed, earning him four awards for the screenplay - Best Unproduced Screenplay at the New York Independent Cinema Awards (30th edition), Best Horror Screenplay at the Hollywood Day Short Film Festival, Best Feature Entry at Best Script Award London, and Best Original Screenplay at the Hollywood Blood Horror Festival. Their poster has also been recognised by winning "Best Poster" at the New York International Film Awards, and the trailer won “Best Trailer” at the Magic of Horror Awards.
We at I Bet You Didn’t See love low-budget work, but Curtis has the drive and passion to grow the Soul Slasher project beyond that level. You can see it in the stills, teasers and the trailer.
The project site and donation page are linked below and can be found on the “Picture House Club” page on our website. As Curtis said, if you can’t give anything, please spread the word – that can be just as valuable.
I Bet You Didn’t See send Curtis and his team our very best wishes for the film and hope to bring many positive updates over the coming months.
“My goal is to create a memorable independent horror film with strong atmosphere, emotional stakes, and a villain audiences will not easily forget.” - Curtis W. Harrison
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