Possessed by The Demon Disorder | FilmInk

What is the film about and where did the concept come from?

Steve Boyle: “The Demon Disorder tells the story of three estranged brothers, who reconnect when they believe one of them is possessed. Once unified, they are forced to confront a terrible family secret in an attempt save their brother. We have used possession as a metaphor for dementia in this film, which is something that has affected my family deeply. It’s based around a single idea: What would happen if the deceased dementia sufferer had no memory of dying?”

How did you get the film off the ground?

“After many attempts to get the film made, Producer Ally Muller and I decided to raise the funds ourselves and make the film independently. It certainly helped that Umbrella Entertainment were so interested in the project from early on. We sent them the script plus a concept book which they loved; they jumped on board to help us get the right international sales agent. Once we had those pieces in place, Screen Queensland came through and provided finance through their Production Grant. But it all started with, ‘let’s make a simpler version of the story that we can create for a minimum amount of money’. As it turned out, the simplified script was the best version of itself.”

How did John Noble [pictured main image] get involved?

“The first person I pitched the film to was an actor friend of mine, Dirk Hunter – we met 20 years ago when we worked on the feature film UNDEAD. He loved the script and wanted to be part of the project straight away. His first question was, ‘who is playing the father, George?’ At the time, I didn’t have an answer. Dirk said his agent Tracy LeMin also represented John Noble and we should try and get the script in front of him. I was beyond excited at the prospect, but didn’t think we had a chance! Tracy really worked her magic and John was excited by the story and script. He signed on for less than he would normally agree to, the rest is history! We were so fortunate, and it really goes to show the power of a strong script!!”

What was the highlight in making THE DEMON DISORDER?

“Definitely being able to combine our two companies, Formation Pictures and Formation Effects, in a way we haven’t had the opportunity to do so in the past. Formation Pictures raised the finance and produced the film from development to final delivery. The Formation Effects team was able to demonstrate what they are experts in – combining practical with digital effects and technologies for creating world-class Creature FX. We were not working in somebody else’s machine which allowed holistic decisions to be ours. We were able to take bigger financial and creative risks, allowing us to create way more value on screen. It also allowed our FX artists the opportunity to really flex all their creative muscles and be part of the creative process. It was awesome to see!”

What is unique about this film compared to other possession films?

“I love possession movies! But I also love trying new approaches to existing concepts. For THE DEMON DISORDER, we wanted to bring the possession genre into more body horror and creature-feature territory. Also, in the majority of possession movies, it’s always a young woman that is possessed. In our film, we put a spin on that – the youngest brother is possessed. But what if it wasn’t a random possession? Rather, something more purposeful and personal? And what if the people involved weren’t even religious? Those ideas really intrigued us, and we were able to capture this dysfunctional Australian family involved in something beyond their comprehension.”

What was the biggest challenge transitioning from making SFX to directing your own SFX film?

“This is more of a fear than a challenge! When you do special effects for other productions, the quality of the film is out of your hands. And in that sense, it’s a safe way to work, because you think, ‘all I have to worry about is the FX, the rest of the film has nothing to do with me’. In the case of writing, directing and producing plus providing the FX, there’s literally nowhere to hide. If the film doesn’t work, it’s totally my fault. But thankfully filming was so intense and so busy, I didn’t really dwell on that too much!”

What is your favourite scene in the movie?

“Without giving too much away… the film has a unique birth sequence in the last act which is extremely visceral and hideous. I’m very proud of it. It’s a combination of being an emotional part of the story plus disturbing visuals, and incredible sound by our sound designer Michael Thomas. It’s the perfect storm for a horror movie and I think horror movie fans are going to love it.”

Everything was done in Queensland, Australia. What were the perks of being able to do everything locally?

“Everything and everybody were in close proximity. I was able to collaborate with local artists and crew that I’ve worked with over the years who were excited to be involved with the film. Also, I’m really happy that Screen Queensland showed their support, even though it’s rare for them to do a horror movie! When doing something of this genre, there’s a thought that funding agencies won’t do low budget horror, but the team at Screen Queensland were thrilled to help. It’s been an ongoing relationship which wouldn’t have happened if we had shot anywhere else. I want to always make our films locally. Also, it means I get to go home at the end of the day!”

Where can you watch THE DEMON DISORDER? Is it going to cinemas?

“Umbrella Entertainment is looking after Australia and New Zealand distribution; they have been amazing to work with! The film is currently gearing up to have its world premiere at the Gold Coast Film Festival on the 22nd April which we are thrilled about. The film will be having its North American release later this year.”

What do you hope audiences take away after watching the film?

“I want audiences to be entertained, maybe a little disturbed and grossed out. But more than that, I want them to be thinking about it long after it finishes. THE DEMON DISORDER is an ‘80s style horror film with an onslaught of practical effects. I hope they walk away feeling like they’ve experienced a fresh perspective on a genre they have always loved.”

The Demon Disorder premieres at the Gold Coast Film Festival on 22 April 2024. More info by clicking here