‘The Crossing Over Express’ Shows A Different Side of Grief

In their new short film The Crossing Over Express, writers and directors Luke Barnett and Tanner Thomason tackle a common topic in the horror genre: grief. But, they wanted to tackle it in a unique and deeply personal way, one inspired by Barnett’s own experience with grief. After a successful festival run, the film is now available on Short of the Week!

In the film, “A man is forever changed when a mysterious truck appears with a traveling ‘doctor’ who claims to raise the dead.“

Watch the trailer:

Barnett also stars in the short film opposite Emmy nominee Dot-Marie Jones (Glee) and Jury Duty’s Ron Song. The film was shot in just one day with a skeleton crew.

Before making his directorial debut with The Crossing Over Express, Barnett most recently produced the Angus Cloud thriller Your Lucky Day, which is out now on Netflix. As an actor he recurs on Apple’s critically acclaimed sci-fi drama For All Mankind and recently wrapped the lead in the thriller Teacher’s Pet opposite Barbara Crampton.

Barnett said of The Crossing Over Express:

My mom passed away when I was 17. I only have a handful of pictures and zero videos of her. A couple years ago, on my birthday, I got a text from a number I didn’t recognize. It simply said “happy birthday” and had a YouTube link. I clicked it and my heart stopped. It was my mom. I had to pull over immediately. She was telling me how proud she was of me and how she wondered what I’d become. Maybe a policeman, a preacher, or even a clown. I couldn’t believe it. Well, it turns out the random phone number was my friend Jon’s dad, who had found this video on an old VHS tape they made before a 1999 school event. I was 16.

This experience got me thinking…what if we could have one last conversation with someone we lost? I called my writing partner Tanner the next day. This short film, in a way, is that conversation. 

Thomason added,

There is a point in adulthood where you can not help but to become familiar with loss and the feeling of giving anything for one more phone call, or hug, or just to see the face of someone you loved so much. It’s universal and the idea of a character going through the rush of emotions such an experience would cause is extremely compelling; even more so when it’s inspired by a real moment experienced by one of your closest friends and creative partners.

To get to explore that feeling, delivered from a setting/ supporting character(s) that does not project trust or normalcy but instead presents a window into a kind of hidden truth is the sort of creative challenge that you usually just hear about, much less get to build. 

The Crossing Over Express was also produced by Courtney Petrakis and Natalie Masciale. Jason Bunn serves as executive producer. 

Now, check out the full film on Short of the Week:

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