Filmmaker Andy Edwards, celebrated for works spanning zombie-comedies to thrillers, now ventures into the slasher genre with “Punch.” Described by GBV Reviews as one of the best since Terrifier, the seaside horror featuring the malevolent puppet Mr. Punch is set for a digital release on January 22 via Miracle Media. In this interview, Edwards unveils the inspirations and challenges behind this end-of-the-pier slasher, offering a glimpse into the mind that brought forth the chilling narrative. Brace for a journey into the twisted world of “Punch” as we explore the nuances of horror and dark humor in Edwards’ latest cinematic creation.
Congratulations on the success of “Punch”! Can you share the inspiration behind the wickedly wacky seaside slasher, and what motivated you to bring Mr. Punch to life to terrorize the tourists and locals of Hastings?
Mr Punch came from the desire to create a new, home-grown slasher killer. Here in the UK we don’t really have an equivalent to Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers et al (Despite being the home of Jack the Ripper, the OG Slasher). I’ve also always been fascinated by the melancholy side of seaside towns in Winter, and when I put the two together, Mr Punch was born.
As you mention, we shot a lot of the film in Hastings, but we also did a few days in Clacton-on-Sea, so the imaginary seaside town the film is set, is a kind of hybrid of the two places. And whilst we terrorised them in the film, in real life, we had a lovely time besides the sea, and found both places very welcoming.
“Punch” seems to blend horror with a unique sense of humour, evident in the description of Mr. Punch merrily stalking the seaside town. How did you approach balancing the horror elements with this dark and twisted sense of humour, and what challenges did you face in maintaining that delicate balance?
You’re right that it’s a balancing act – you want the film to be both funny AND scary. Mr Punch himself is quite an unpleasant character, but you don’t want it to be an unpleasant film to watch so you need to have some lighter moments in there amongst the killings.
The seaside setting itself provided an inspiration for some of the humour, with Mr Punch regurgitating gags you might hear at an end-of-the-pier show or find on an ice-lolly stick.
The film features an ambitious student, Frankie, who returns to her hometown only to encounter the creepy new man, Elton, in her mother’s life. How did you work with the cast, especially Alina Allison and Jamie Lomas, to bring these characters to life and create a tension-filled atmosphere in the film?
We had a great cast on Punch, and for our three young leads – Alina Allison (who plays Frankie), Faye Campbell and Macaulay Cooper – it was their first feature film. So I knew I wanted some more experienced actors in there alongside them.
So Jamie Lomas came on board ,who viewers will recognise from Hollyoaks, and Kierston Wareing, who as well as doing the soaps (Eastenders, Hollyoaks) has also worked in features and dramas, co-starring with actors such as Michael Fassbender and Idris Elba.
Kierston plays Frankie’s mother, and Jamie plays Elton, her new boyfriend, and there’s obvious tension and drama between these characters, even before Mr Punch shows up.
It was important for me to make the characters and the world feel grounded, and real, and then introduce the horror element into it.
The brutal violence and gore in “Punch” have been highlighted, with the movie described as not pulling any punches in its gruesomely graphic violence. How did you approach creating these intense and visceral scenes, and what do you think sets the film apart in the slasher genre?
Well, being as it’s Mr Punch, and he uses a bat to batter people with, it technically isn’t a “slasher”, as he doesn’t ever slash anyone with a knife. Maybe “batter movie” might be a better name for where it fits into the sub-genre!
Violence is obviously a part of the film, as it’s in the character of Mr Punch from the very start. Everyone who’s seen a Punch & Judy show knows he’s not a pacifist. In fact, he’s a real nasty piece of work.
As a filmmaker with a diverse portfolio, from the zombie-comedy “Ibiza Undead” to the thriller “Graphic Desires,” how do you navigate the challenges of transitioning between different genres, and what drew you to explore the slasher genre with “Punch”?
I’ve always loved horrors and thrillers of all kinds, so I guess I’m working my way through all the sub-genres that I like. I try and make the kind of films that I’d want to see, and hopefully others will enjoy them too.
With slashers in particular, I love Halloween, Nightmare on Elm St, Scream – the classics. But I wanted to hold off doing one until I came up with a great character – and fingers crossed Mr Punch is the one.
They’re also always popular with audiences. Every time some critic declares them dead, they make a come-back – as all good slasher killers do. Just recently we’ve had Art the Clown from the Terrifier series become a new slasher icon, and hopefully Mr Punch can one day join that pantheon. Especially as we have a whole bunch of sequel ideas I can’t wait to unleash!
Your career includes not only writing and directing but also editing and contributing to horror anthologies. How do these various roles inform and complement each other in your creative process, and how has your experience on films like “Cinderella’s Revenge” and “Graphic Desires” influenced your approach to storytelling in “Punch”?
Well every film set is like a whole new film school, and you’re always learning. For example on the horror anthologies, such as Midnight Peepshow (which is also out quite soon), I got to see my fellow directors in action, and learn from them, which is something I wouldn’t have chance to do where I’m sole director.
And I have a new film coming to the festival circuit soon called “Custom” – written and directed by Tiago Teixeira. Now that’s the first film where I’ve produced that I haven’t also written and directed, so that was a whole new experience.
I’m just very glad to be in the position where I’m making stuff regularly in whatever capacity, because this is a crazy, mixed-up, unpredictable industry!
