2023 / Q CUMBER FILMS & MISTY MOON
The concept of pareidolia, as presented in the narrative of “Pareidolia,” raises fascinating questions about perception and the human psyche. The story’s premise, featuring a woman named Sinead (Diane Franklin) who studies this phenomenon and subsequently experiences it firsthand, provides a unique exploration of the blurred lines between reality and imagination. The idea that a single individual can be tormented by their own mind, perceiving shapes and entities that may not actually exist, is a powerful commentary on the fragility of human perception. It serves as a reminder that our minds are susceptible to weaving intricate tales based on our deepest fears and anxieties, even in the safety of our own homes.
The parallel storyline involving Father Cavanagh adds depth to the narrative by introducing an element of mystery and personal reckoning. The priest’s realization that his past is catching up with him adds an intriguing layer to the story, as it suggests that our actions and decisions can have lasting consequences that may eventually manifest in unexpected ways. This duality of perspectives, with Sinead’s internal struggle and Father Cavanagh’s external challenges, further underscores the theme of uncertainty and the ambiguity of the human experience.
Overall, “Pareidolia” appears to be a thought-provoking exploration of the human mind’s capacity for both creativity and vulnerability. It highlights the idea that reality is not always what it seems and that our perceptions can play tricks on us, making us question the very nature of our existence. The merging of psychological thriller and mystery elements in the narrative promises an engaging and intellectually stimulating experience for viewers, as it delves into the intricacies of human consciousness and the mysteries of the mind.
A single woman alone in her house can’t be sure if the changing pictures and shapes around her are real, or whether something is watching her.
Pareidolia tells the story of Sinead (Diane Franklin), a university lecturer studying the subject of pareidolia, who becomes convinced she is being stalked by an entity hiding within her house. Meanwhile, a mysterious death is brought to the attention of a local priest, Father Cavanagh (Graham Cole), who realises that his past is beginning to catch up with him.
‘Look beyond the familiar faces in the cast, and there’s a solid story that genuinely gets under your skin. Not a bad achievement in only 13 minutes. Many horror shorts ultimately play heavily on humour or build to a twist ending; ‘Pareidolia’ doesn’t cop out and leaves you wanting more…’
–MARTIN UNSWORTH, STARBURST MAGAZINE
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT (Aaron Truss) –
‘The production of ‘Pareidolia’ has been the most thrilling experience of my career to date, following on from two feature documentaries – ‘(K)nox: The Rob Knox Story’ (ITVX) and ‘Cult of VHS’ (Frightfest). Working with my father (who raised me on a diet of classic horror films) and producer Stuart Morriss was incredible – the love, dedication and energy that was fired into this film is unlike anything I’ve seen before on a production. Our team behind the scenes worked day and night to create this nightmarish short – and it was worth every penny, drop of blood and sleepless night.
We couldn’t have asked for a better cast! I grew up with ‘Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure’, so to work with the amazing Diane Franklin was a dream come true. What makes the whole experience of Pareidolia even more chilling are the events that occurred off camera…lights turning on and off, experiences on location and shadows in the night. But we survived and I hope you enjoy this beautiful tribute to horror films of the past, created by a production team built for the future.’
WRITER’S STATEMENT (Aiden Truss) –
‘I grew up on horror. Uncle Terry, Uncle Alan, and Uncle Paul couldn’t hold a candle to Uncle Bela, Uncle
Boris, and Uncle Lon when it came to my love and attention. In the days before VHS, we relied on late-night TV for our fix of Universal and Hammer horror – that or visiting the local library to pick up the latest
novelisation of one of ‘The Omen’ or ‘Amityville’ movies. I’ve never lost my love and fascination for the genre and leapt at the chance to adapt one of my story ideas into a script – especially seeing the amazing cast that Stuart had managed to line up. It was also a great opportunity to work with my son Aaron, and to see up close how amazing he is as a director and editor. I know we’ve hit all the right chilling notes with ‘Pareidolia’. It stands on its own as a story and will be paying subtle tribute to some of our favourite horror movies, and I hope it gives you as much of a thrill to watch as it did to write it.’
PRODUCER’S STATEMENT (Stuart Morriss) –
‘I was the classic VHS slasher teenage fan in the mid-80s, ‘Friday the 13th’, ‘Halloween’, ‘Amityville’, ‘A
Nightmare on Elm Street’ – they were my must watch videos every week. So, when I approached our director Aaron Truss about making a short film with my friend and Horror Legend Diane Franklin, I couldn’t believe what he and his father (our writer) Aiden Truss came up with. With a stellar cast of American and British character actors, we have achieved a fantastic story that heralds back to the heyday of classic horror. I can see ‘Pareidolia’ becoming a feature film and possibly a franchise, with people talking about it in years to come. Every morning I pinch myself and still can’t believe that I am friends with and have made a film with some of my heroes from the height of 80’s horror.’
DIANE FRANKLIN STATEMENT –
‘Wow! I was nervous. I did not know what to expect. I know the work we did was intense and we are exploring new territory, but I had no idea the film would be this intricate and powerful! I mean the actors were so real, the story telling was fascinating and the editing – brilliant. It really is exceptional film making. Interesting, funny, scary, suspenseful, moving…I’m speechless. Like nothing I have ever seen before. Thank you to Aaron and Aiden Truss for their great work and thank you to Stuart Morriss for casting me and the other actors. It made it so much more interesting to see us all work together. Can’t wait to see this with a live audience!’
EDIT CONSULTANT STATEMENT (Jake West) –
‘It was a pleasure working with Aaron Truss on ‘Pareidolia’ and seeing him evolve as a filmmaker throughout the whole and very intensive creative process. He’s really pulled out all the stops and deftly handled the many challenges of post-production in all its disciplines from editing, VFX, sound design, mixing & grading with great care and attention to detail. He leads a great team from the front and he’s an emerging directorial talent worth keeping an eye on.’
