Horror Favourites – D.M. Cunningham

D.M Cunningham’s 3 Demons, a supernatural horror film headlined by Peter Tell, released last summer from Uncork’d Entertainment. Haley Heslip, Laura Golinski, Jovonnah Nicholson, Zoë Cunningham, and Sherryl Despres also star and we grabbed the director for a chat about the horror film he loves the most.

The film, hitting available now on digital and physical platforms, fixes on a Deputy that is tasked with watching over the body of a recently deceased woman until her family can arrive & claim her. As his curiosity gets the better of him, he inadvertently concludes an unfinished ritual. The conjuring now complete, strange & sinister forces begin to target him. As his past is unearthed, he’s forced to face his own demons with terrifying consequences.

Below D.M Cunningham tells you all about his favorite horror film:

“My favorite horror film is Halloween. There. Done. Who wants sandwiches? Pete?

Okay okay, I know that’s probably a popular answer. So, I want to talk about a movie that I watch over and over and over and love every minute of. A movie that is so near and dear to my heart that I may just go watch it again after I finish writing this. This gold medal of dreamy celluloid is Halloween III: Season of the Witch. Written and Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace. Expertly thesp’d by Tom Atkins. Produced by the great Debra Hill and John Carpenter. And scored by John Carpenter and Alan Howarth.

Let’s talk about the score for a moment. I mean, it drips with atmosphere. It’s got more atmo than the silk lining of Christopher Lee’s Dracula cape in the middle of a fog bank in a Hammer film. From frame one we get that delicious synth commanding our attention and pulling us into its nightmarish dreamscape that Carpenter always provides so well. The score alone is a masterwork of simplicity and craftmanship. I listen to that vinyl any chance I get. Hold on, let me cue that up while I write.

Yep, there it is.

Let’s continue to gush over this movie and talk about Dan O’Herlihy for a moment. That guy delivers the ultra creeps as Conal Cochran, owner of Silver Shamrock Novelties. And his voice. It must have been tuned to pitch perfect villain at the Ferrari factory or something. Because it is everything. He’s a nasty bugger in this movie and I love every moment of it.

Tom Atkins. Tom F**king Atkins. Do I really even need to explain that to you dear reader? I don’t have enough words for that guy. Legendary.

And those MASKS. Oh my aching banana. Those masks. Don Post. To this day, any time I see those masks I get the goosies and get all giddy. Sure, they are mean spirited devil spawned latex with horrible intentions, but the imagery alone from those are so… hold on, slight tear in my eye. It’s almost time. The clock is ticking!

From the sounds of it, this may be my favorite movie. Top 5 at least! I guess I could go on about all the technical stuff in this movie I love but I really want to just bask in its glory. It was hated for so long by Halloween fans. And that’s a real shame because this movie holds its own. I would have love to have seen more movies like this in the Halloween franchise. I thought the idea of different Halloween stories was brilliant. But what I really want, more Tom Atkins. So please excuse me, I’ve got to go watch Halloween III again.”

3 Demons is out now