Interview: József Gallai and Gergő Elekes – Directors of Moth
David Gelmini
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The Mothman is one of the creepiest cryptozoological legends out there. So naturally, it’s perfect material for a horror film. Moth is currently raising funds on Indiegogo, and directors József Gallai and Gergő Elekes tell us what to expect.
Dread Central: So firstly, what are your thoughts on the legend of the Mothman from Point Pleasant, Virginia? Do you think it’s really out there somewhere?
Gergő Elekes: It is a tough question, which is really similar to the “Do you believe in faith?” issue. Since the beginning of our lives we have all been taught that supernatural creatures exist only in our imagination. Then one day we’re faced with, for example, religion and completely re-think this idea. Are there any angels? Are there any God or Devil? We do not know for sure, but thousands of people believe in them all over the world. The legend of the Mothman is kind of similar to us. We do not know whether it exists or not, but what if the answer is yes? What if this creature is behind every disaster in the world?
DC: And what attracted you to make a film about the legend?
József Gallai: I love mysteries, mysterious stories, legends since my childhood. It gives me a kind of false hope to be able to escape from this world we live in. Disturbing, chilly, frightening but awe-inspiring at the same time – that’s how I could describe the legend of Mothman. As if you were in an abandoned house full of old things waiting to be discovered.
DC: And why do you think there haven’t been any good films about the Mothman?
J.G.: I wouldn’t say there have not been any. One can mention The Mothman Prophecies starring Richard Gere and Laura Linney, and I definitely liked that film. I watched it at least fifteen times and I was amazed every time by the pictures and storytelling. I think [director] Mark Pellington definitely did it in 2002, although that was one and – for me – the only good interpretation of the legend. I saw almost all “Mothman” productions, but the first thing these films killed was the deepest core of the legend. They didn’t respect it unfortunately, just did their job.
DC: And how are you interpreting the legend in your film?
J.G.: I can tell you that the legend and the characters will be equally important. I want the audience to see what it takes to understand, chase or even find the meaning of a legend. I will want them to think, be excited, be scared and be left speechless after the end.
DC: Would you describe your film as a monster movie or more of a supernatural mystery?
G.E.: To tell you the truth, both József and I are more interested in the psychological effects of the darkness and the horror so we try to create an eerie atmosphere rather than sprinkling gallons of fake blood on the screen. This means that Moth will operate as a supernatural mystery and show how people behave in some extreme situations that are highly affected by a mystical creature. On the other hand, as the title of our feature is ’Moth’, we obviously need to show the audience the monster itself, but whether we will do it a lot, or just hint some of it here and there, will turn out in the final product.
DC: Can you describe the plot?
J.G.: I could, but I don’t want to. According to the synopsis, an enthusiastic lecturer and her student travel to Europe to go after the mythology of the Mothman, but they soon have to fight for survival. The less you know, the more you’ll be surprised.
DC: When are you filming?
G.E.: We intend to shoot the whole film in September and October.
DC: You’ve made several films already, but would you say that this is your most ambitious project yet?
G.E.: There is only one right answer for this question, and that is ‘Yes!’ Moth is our very first international project, and we are more than happy to work with our executive producers, producers, actors and supporters from all over the world. This means a lot to us because we started our filmmaking journey as two guys who have never done any film-related studies; we were (and are) just fans of motion pictures and storytelling, and after five years of the foundation of our film group ’Elekes Pictures’, we are here with the chance of making the No #1 Mothman-related film. It proves that you really have to chase your dreams because one day they will definitely come true.
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