Horror Favourites – Ryan Hendrick

Ryan Hendrick, is a prominent Scottish filmmaker, director, and actor, that has made a significant mark in the film industry with his compelling works such as Perfect Strangers, Sundown, and Choices, for which he received a BAFTA nomination.

Hendrick’s journey into the world of film began in Glasgow, where he pursued an Acting and Performance course at Stow College. His passion for storytelling led him to an Acting for Camera course taught by industry professionals like Robert Carlyle and casting director Kahleen Crawford.

In 2010, Hendrick wrote and directed his first short film, Choices, which garnered a BAFTA nomination. This early success set the stage for his diverse career. He expanded his repertoire by acting as The Doctor in the Doctor Who fan film Besieged in 2013 and later creating another acclaimed short film, Perfect Strangers, screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015 and earning a BAFTA nomination in 2016.

Hendrick has since collaborated with cinematographer John Rhodes to produce the drama Sundown in 2017, starring Frazer Hines and Caitlin Blackwood. The film received accolades for Direction, Drama, Music Score, and Best of the Fest at various film festivals. This was followed by a festive film that he directed, Lost at Christmas in 2020.

Returning to a more sinister setting Ryan has now directed and co-written a horror thriller called Mercy Falls. In the film, a group of friends set off into the Scottish Highlands in search of a long lost cabin. Once far from civilization, an unforeseen tragedy befalls the group and one bad decision leads to suspicion, betrayal and murder.

We caught up with Ryan to talk to him about this latest release and in the process, found out about his the horror influences that have had an impact on his career thus far.

Horror Favourites – Ryan Hendrick

I’ve always been drawn to films about survival in the wilderness, these more often than not tend to blend thriller with horror such as with Neil Marshall’s The Descent, Lee Tamahori’s The Edge and Joe Carnahan’s The Grey. These films and many others like them explore more cerebral themes of survival mixed with intense action, terror and suspense.

Another that is up there as a stone cold classic is Ridley Scott’s Alien, set in the wilderness of space this 44 year old film still punches high above any horror film that has been made since. The cerebral element of what you can’t see is all the more terrifying as characters give in to their darkest fears.

All of these films use their environments to create a sense of isolation and hopelessness that adds to the sheer terror of their characters’ circumstances.

Yet along with the terror, suspense and jump scares of these films they are deeply grounded by their powerful emotive tones. You connect and feel for the characters in these films on a very deep level that just adds to the all round tone of horror and suspense. These characters tackle their circumstances and mortality head on in varied and fascinating ways. If a character’s response is grounded and believable, then you can pretty much throw the most absurd situations and narratives at them as the audience is invested in their behavior.

Ryan’s latest film Mercy Falls is out on digital platforms now.