Exclusive: Todd Lincoln Talks V/H/S Viral’s Gorgeous Vortex

default-featured-image

Sometimes, incorporating high-concept ideas into the short film format can make the world building displayed seem even bigger than big budget, epic movie making ever could. Sometimes, it’s better to keep viewers in the dark and let them do the searching instead of spelling everything out for them.

Todd Lincoln’s surprise addition to V/H/S Viral, the secret short “Gorgeous Vortex” (impressions) relishes in the abstract future it’s documenting rather than presenting. Lincoln spoke out about his film and the ideas, filmmakers, and philosophies that inspired him to create the trippy whirlpool world of “Gorgeous Vortex.”

DC: How much do you want to leave ambiguous?

TL: A lot.

DC: When did you know you were going to be a part of the V/H/S series and that this was going to be a “hidden track?”

TL: I ran into one of the V/H/S producers a while back at a shopping mall in L.A. and he asked me if I had any ideas for the third entry in the series. I’m a big fan of all the V/H/S films for different reasons and I thought it was time to change things up both tonally and stylistically. Right from the beginning I pitched my segment as a ‘Non-Narrative, No-Dialogue, Experimental, High Fashion Horror Film.’ The producers were excited and gave me total creative freedom to go off and shoot it. I finished “Gorgeous Vortex” on time, on budget and delivered it at the same time as the other V/H/S Viral filmmakers. It was decided to make my film the secret surprise final segment to expand the mythology and point to a new direction for the franchise.

Gorgeous Vortex

DC: What would you reveal about the idea? Are the models being sacrificed? Studied? Both? Are the faceless men servants of the creature?

TL: I’m sorry, but I can’t reveal anything at this time. It’s best to leave “Gorgeous Vortex” up to individual interpretation. But your questions are very cool, and they warm my black heart.

DC: What images were you most looking forward to putting down on film? My favorite is the high-heeled leg dangling from the highway barrel. Great image.

TL: Thank you. I’m happy to hear you appreciated that. The high-heeled leg hanging out of the yellow barrel is definitely one of my favorite visuals too. Perhaps you sensed that while watching the film. Another one of my favorite locations/micro-moments is the ominous boarded-up building with the dead girl in a black dress in front of it.

Gorgeous Vortex

DC: What is the Gorgeous Vortex? Do you have any desire to pull a feature out of the mythology?

TL: It’s a fitting title for this film. It’s anything you want it to be. In some ways the approach to “Gorgeous Vortex” was inspired by avant-garde video artists, fashion photography, old Italian horror movies, George Lucas’ early experimental films, and the writings of J.G. Ballard and Jean Baudrillard. We set out to make an evil film … a cursed film … a coded film.

Joseph Bishara (The Conjuring, Insidious 1 & 2), my composer, elevated and enhanced “Gorgeous Vortex” with his haunting original score. He recently released the soundtrack album on vinyl and digital download. (Bishara’s score can be found here.)  While planning the film I was reminded of Walter Murch’s quote about working with George Lucas on THX-1138. Murch said, “What we were interested in doing was making a film from the future rather than about the future.”

There has been some early interest in turning “Gorgeous Vortex” into a feature, but I kind of prefer it just remain a short film. There’s something cooler about that. I don’t think a film has to be feature-length to be official. It’s better to leave people wanting more.

“Gorgeous Vortex” is available on both the Blu-ray and DVD. And then for the digital release on iTunes… you can watch “Gorgeous Vortex” if you buy the film off iTunes. You will see on the V/H/S Viral iTunes page that there is a box that says “iTunes Extras” and next to the image of the skull-faced figure (see below), it says “A newly discovered mysterious VHS recording.” This means that when you buy the film from iTunes, you get “Gorgeous Vortex” as its own film as part of your download. “Gorgeous Vortex” is not on the iTunes rental version from what I’ve been told.

Gorgeous Vortex

V/H/S Viral is available now on iTunes and to own on Blu-ray. Also, be sure to keep checking the “Gorgeous Vortex” website for new side-story micro-films that tie in with “Gorgeous Vortex.”

V/H/S Viral features segments from directors Nacho Vigalondo (Timecrimes, Extraterrestrial), Marcel Sarmiento (ABCs of Death segment “D is for Dogfight”), Gregg Bishop (The Other Side, Dance of the Dead, The Birds of Anger), Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Resolution, Spring, Wrecked), along with Todd Lincoln (The Apparition).

Gary Binkow and Brad Miska produced for Collective Digital Studio and Bloody Disgusting, marking their third collaboration with Magnet on the V/H/S films.

Synopsis:
A police chase after a deranged ice cream truck has captivated the attention of the greater Los Angeles area. Dozens of fame—obsessed teens flock to the streets with their video cameras and camera phones, hell—bent on capturing the next viral video. But there is something far more sinister occurring in the streets of L.A. than a simple police chase. A resounding effect is created onto all those obsessed with capturing salacious footage for no other purpose than to amuse or titillate. Soon the discovery becomes that they themselves are the stars of the next video, one where they face their own death.

VHS Viral

Share: 
Tags:

Categorized:

Sign up for The Harbinger a Dread Central Newsletter