Co-directors Alex Henes and Matthew Merenda have chained the influencer horror game with their new found footage film Mind Body Spirit. Here, they’re not only tackling digital horrors, but the horror of trying to find your place in the world and the extremes that come with that journey. Their film debuted at the 2023 Chattanooga Film Festival, with Dread Central’s Mary Beth McAndrews calling it “an effective contemporary piece of found footage that subtly captures the horrors of being a millennial.”
Read the full synopsis:
Anya, an aspiring yoga influencer, embarks on a ritual practice left behind by her estranged grandmother. She documents the practice on her YouTube channel for the world to watch, allowing her audience intimate access to her journey. But what starts as a spiritual self-help guide quickly evolves into something much more sinister. As Anya becomes obsessed with the mysterious power of the practice, she unwittingly unleashes an otherworldly entity that begins to take control of her life – and her videos.
Now Anya must race to unlock the truth before her descent into madness threatens to consume her mind, body, and spirit. By the time she reveals the true nature of the ritual, will it be too late?
Dread Central spoke with Henes and Merenda out of Chattanooga about how they crafted the world of Mind Body Spirit, algorithmic horror, and how they made the ads featured throughout. We also discuss the weirdest YouTube videos we’ve ever seen and how they’ve shaped us as adults.
Watch the full interview:
Mind Body Spirit had its world premiere at Chattanooga Film Festival 2023.
Categorized: Dread Talks Interviews
