The horror of it all

An insomniac celebrity, a sink full of dishes, and lots of notes helped film professor Matthew Lawrence ’05 land his first scary movie deal.

Words by Kara Pothier

Matt Lawrence '05, professor and filmmaker

The New York Times calls your film Bloody Axe Wound a “gross-out yet tender slasher film.” We need to know more.

It’s a coming-of-age story about a teen girl whose dad just happens to be a legendary slasher villain. Think Lady Bird meets Friday the 13th, with a dash of punk rock and buckets of blood.

What drew you to writing horror?

I grew up during the VHS boom, and the horror section at the local video store had the most grabbing cover images. I love scary, unnerving films, but that’s not the genre that I like to write. I actually started out writing comedy. My horror films are more in the pocket of comedic than scary. 

There’s star power in Bloody Axe Wound. How did you get connected? 

Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead) was instrumental in getting the movie made. He rented my self-funded feature, Uncle Peckerhead, on a night he couldn’t sleep, and he loved it. He messaged me on Twitter to ask what other scripts I had. He shopped Bloody Axe Wound around and agreed to do an extended cameo.

What’s your writing process like?

I keep a notebook for each idea that I think has legs. It’s just the writings of a madman — anything from a line of dialogue to an extensive character breakdown. Once I fill the notebook, I know I have something.

How did you prepare to direct Bloody Axe Wound?

I met with all the department heads: production design, cinematography, makeup and effects, and wardrobe. We mapped out the look and feel of the world and its characters. I built reference folders for each character and pulled images, textures, and colors that would help to define personalities. I created a full shot list of how each scene would play out visually. And casting was key — I needed actors who could ground the more absurd or heightened moments in something real.

Filmmaking is known to be a tough business. Any tips for others looking for their first break?

It is endless rejection. I’ve only had this one movie greenlit, and I’ve pitched dozens of times. You have to learn that failure is just feedback.