Five FrightFest Facts with Johnny Wickham and Mike Capes of ‘The Invisible Raptor’

As Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024 continues, horror fans are treated to a unique blend of humor and terror with The Invisible Raptor, a gory, adventure comedy about a dinosaur you can’t see. Written by Johnny Wickham and Mike Capes, with Mike also taking on the starring role, this film is a love letter to the creature features of the 80s and 90s, delivering laughs and thrills in equal measure.

Fresh off its successful screening at FrightFest Glasgow earlier this year, The Invisible Raptor returns for its English premiere, promising to be a highlight of the festival. In this exclusive interview, Wickham and Capes share their inspirations, their journey into filmmaking, and their thoughts on FrightFest.

Johnny Wickham, writer and Mike Capes, writer/star

1. Tell us about your film

Johnny Wickham: The Invisible Raptor is a gory, adventure comedy about a dinosaur you can’t see. It’s one part Invisible Man, one part Jurassic Park, and 100% comedy. We wanted to create our own take on the comedy creature feature, only without the creature. As huge fans of films from the 80s and 90s, we wrote this as an homage and love letter to our favorites from that era. The film is packed with the kind of over-the-top humor and nostalgic references that we grew up loving, but with a fresh twist that we hope modern audiences will enjoy.

2. How did you get into making movies?

Mike Capes: Johnny and I met in a sketch writing group at the office of Jerry Zucker, who’s another one of our comedy and film idols. Our journey into filmmaking really started with us making our own self-funded sketches. The only goal back then was to make our friends laugh. Now, it’s to make everyone laugh! It’s been a wild ride from those early days to creating something as ambitious as The Invisible Raptor, but it all started with a shared love of comedy and a desire to bring our ridiculous ideas to life.

3. What film would you love to see screened at FrightFest and why?

Johnny Wickham: We’d love to catch a screening of The Thing. That film is an absolute masterpiece. The practical FX are amazing, the story is amazing—it’s one of our all-time favorites. There’s something so visceral and timeless about it, and it continues to be a huge influence on filmmakers like us who are passionate about blending horror with other genres. Seeing it on the big screen with a FrightFest audience would be an unforgettable experience.

4. If you could create your own award to give at FrightFest, what would it be and why?

Mike Capes: We’d create the “Many Hats” award—a Russian nesting doll of hats in the form of a trophy, given to the filmmaker with the most key role credits acquired while making their indie film. Johnny and I wore dozens of hats while making The Invisible Raptor, and we know how hard you have to work to make an indie film and stretch your budget. This award would go to the person who wore the most hats during production. You’ve got to respect that level of dedication.

5. If your life was made into a horror film, what would it be called and who would play the starring role?

Johnny Wickham: Why Is My Bank Account Red—we would play ourselves. The title pretty much sums up the indie filmmaking experience!

The Invisible Raptor screened today on the opening day of FrightFest 2024, bringing its unique brand of horror-comedy to eager fans. After its successful showing at FrightFest Glasgow, this English premiere solidifies its status as a must-see for those who appreciate a good laugh with their scares.You can read our full review of the film here: lovehorror.co.uk/horror-reviews/84688/the-invisible-raptor-2023-review/

Don’t miss the next chance to catch this hilarious and thrilling ride!