Two women—one fleeing her past and the other racing towards her future—are ensnared by a fanatical and unhinged family. Will their love be their salvation, or will it lead to their demise?
Get ready to dive into a wild ride of love and horror with Craig Ouellette’s latest indie gem, “Straight On Till Morning.” This flick just lit up the Dances With Films Festival, and trust us, it’s the movie everyone’s talking about.
So, how did this epic movie come to be? It all started over fifteen years ago when Ouellette met Neal McLaughlin, the co-writer. “After our first meeting, Neal told me, ‘I have a script I think you’ll like.’ It was the first or second draft of ‘Straight On Till Morning,’” Ouellette says. The story has since morphed into a powerful narrative with LGBTQ+ themes. “Back in the early 2010s, people thought we were crazy for making it a queer horror story. I’m glad the world is shifting to be more open and accepting of stories like this.”
At its heart, “Straight On Till Morning” is all about love—beautiful, messy, and terrifying love. Ouellette hopes it hits home for everyone who watches. “Love is the most beautiful thing. And it’s also scary and complex. We can do the most amazing and terrible things in the name of love,” he says. “I want to touch people’s hearts, minds, and adrenal glands. Hopefully, they’ll go on the ride and talk about it afterward.”
Making an indie film is no walk in the park. “How much time do you have?” Ouellette jokes about the challenges. “The main issues were not having enough money or resources, so we had to get creative and scrappy with how we solved problems.”
Casting was a huge deal for this film. Maria Olsen, who plays Lilly, has been on board since 2010. “I was blown away by her audition. She was always ‘Lilly’ from that point on,” Ouellette says. For the leads Dani Dupree and Kaitlin Sanbourne, chemistry was everything. “This is a love story, after all! If there’s no chemistry, there’s no movie,” he emphasizes.
Visually, this movie is a stunner. Ouellette had some big questions: “How do you combine romance and horror visually? What defines ‘romance,’ what defines ‘horror’? Where do they merge, where do they conflict?” The answer was a mix of killer locations and vintage lenses. The main location, a house built in 1863 near St. Louis, MO, was perfect with its different textures and colors.
Music plays a massive role in setting the vibe. Kelsey Christian, who plays Dani Dupree, sings original songs in the movie. Ouellette, who’s also a DJ, knows how music can shift moods. “The idea was to make the first part of the movie feel like a ‘needle drop’ movie, with fantastic songs to complement different scenes.”
Blending romance and horror isn’t easy, but Ouellette nailed it. “Everyone in this film is motivated by love, even the villains. But what they do with that motivation might be a bit different than what you or I would do,” he says. Balancing these genres was a challenge, but the end result is a film that’s both romantic and terrifying.
Looking ahead, Ouellette is excited about what’s next. “I hope people love it! (or hate it!). Anything but being bored by it,” he says. He’s got two new scripts ready to go, both blending genres and tackling social issues, and he’s open to directing work written by others.
“Straight On Till Morning” isn’t just a movie; it’s a rollercoaster of emotions, a showcase of indie filmmaking at its best, and a fresh take on love and horror. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience. Craig Ouellette’s vision is sure to make waves and leave you wanting more.
