By KEVIN HOOVER
The scariest monsters don’t live under the bed, and they aren’t skulking around in the closet. As Andrew Fitzgerald’s AN ANGRY BOY illustrates, oftentimes, the real monsters are hiding out in plain sight.
IRL horror is something Fitzgerald is all-too-comfortable exploring. His Scary Mysteries network of YouTube shows and podcasts brings tales of true crime and the unexplainable to a fanbase of over 800,000 subscribers; a repository the director leveraged to make AN ANGRY BOY feel as grounded and realistic as possible: “The film has some disturbing events,” says Fitzgerald. “It’s made for people who want to see something that’s not normally explored in film. True crime fans are tired of the same type of stories over and over. This challenges that, while still being an entertaining, engaging thriller. You want to find a balance of being provocative while still having fun at the movies.”
Producer and cinematographer Kevin Provost’s handling of the source material defied the film’s budget by encapsulating a 70s revenge thriller with the enormous production values of contemporary cinema: “I wanted to embrace the contradictions of the film. It’s inspired by true events, but our characters are completely fictional. Visually, I wanted to emphasize that. The camera work and lighting are simple and realistic, documentary-like. While the design of the film is very cinematic, locations, cars, costumes and props all echo revenge films of the late 70s, giving the aesthetic a sort of ‘out of time’ style. It’s truth and fiction mixed together.”
The film’s synopsis reads:
“AN ANGRY BOY tells the story of Owen, a young man who has rebuilt his life after escaping a sadistic cult as a child. However, the scars of the past run deep, and the nightmares he thought he had outrun catch up with him in the most violent of ways. As his former tormentors weave their way back into his new life, Owen is forced to confront the demons he thought he’d left behind. With the cult’s sinister intentions now targeting not only him but those closest to him, Owen is faced with a harrowing choice: to flee, as he once did, or to stand up once and for all. This time, there’s no escaping for anyone.”
The film stars Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight) and newcomer Scott Callenberger, who’s already receiving accolades for his performance including Best Actor at the New York City Horror Film Festival. The film has also amassed several awards, including Best Feature at Horrorigns, Best Director at the Atlanta Horror Film Festival and Best Screenplay at the NYC Horror Film Festival.
Enjoy this exclusive clip from AN ANGRY BOY, available now on all major digital platforms.
