Five FrightFest Facts From Stalker director Steve Johnson

The fantastic FrightFest returns to London for another year, bringing with it a gigantic horde of horror films playing across the August bank holiday weekend in Cineworld Leicester Square and the wonderful Prince Charles Cinema.

And if the brilliant blood filled horror festival is back so too are Love Horror’s Five FrightFest Facts, our exclusive series of interviews with the stars and creatives behin d the horror that has been running since 2016.

Below we speak to Steve Johnson the director of Stalker which receives its WORLD PREMIERE at FrightFest in 101 FILMS DISCOVERY SCREEN THREE on the 28th AUGUST at 9.05 PM

1. Tell us about your film?
‘Stalker’ is a tense, one-location, psychological horror that follows a young actress, Rose Hepburn (Sophie Skelton, Outlander) as she returns to her empty hotel. When she is forced to use the old freight elevator, it jolts to a halt on the twelfth floor, leaving her trapped with an unusual stranger. With no phone signal as a storm approaches and the threat of the elevator falling at any time, tensions escalate and suspicions rise when Rose discovers the identity of the mysterious man is Daniel Reed (Stuart Brennan, Risen), a camera operator who is seemingly obsessed with her.

2. How did you get into making movies?
Back in 1989, I was an exchange students in Michigan, USA and I visited a local TV station. Whilst walking round, I just felt the calling that I wanted to be in the tv and film business – but I didn’t know what. After I returned to the UK, I sourced what was available in terms of learning in and around Liverpool. But then life got in the way and that dread of getting a “real job” ensued. It wasn’t until 2013 that it took me to finally make my first feature film without doing any shorts – I love a challenge!!!

3. What film would you love to see screened at FrightFest and why?
I would love to see a film print version of the original ‘Alien’. I think this is because I love Sci-Fi horror films and ‘Alien’ is one of the best films that demonstrate expertly executed character development with the tension and dread of horror – plus it’s set in space and given everything we don’t know about the universe, this makes that even more terrifying.

4. If you could create your own award to give at FrightFest, what would it be and why?
I would have to say the award would be the “BLOOD Sweat and Tears Award” for those horror filmmakers who have slaved away against the odds at making the best horror film they can with the limited resources that are available.

5. If your life was made into a horror film, what would it be called and who would play the starring role?
I think it would be have to be called “The Traveller” with Jude Law, only because we share the exact same birthday (date and year)!!! Haha

Stalker has its World Premiere at FrightFest on 28th August 9.05pm at the Prince Charles Cinema, London. Tickets: https://www.frightfest.co.uk/2022Aug/stalker.html

Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment presents Stalker on DVD and Digital from 10th October
UK Trailer: