Five FrightFest Facts with Parker Brennon of ‘Hauntology’

As Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024 unfolds, audiences are in for a treat with the International Premiere of Hauntology, a queer horror anthology that blends ghostly tales with deeply personal narratives.

Written and directed by Parker Brennon, Hauntology takes viewers on a journey with two siblings who embark on a road trip through Ohio, uncovering interconnected ghost stories that span the seasons. With a cast featuring the legendary Nancy Loomis and rising stars like Samantha Robinson and Zoey Luna, Hauntology is set to be one of the festival’s standout films. In this exclusive interview, Parker Brennon shares the inspiration behind the film, their path into filmmaking, and what excites them most about FrightFest.

Parker Brennon, writer/director

1. Tell us about your film

Parker Brennon: Hauntology is a queer horror anthology where two siblings go on a road trip. Each place they visit has a different ghost story, and the stories are more connected than they first appear. One thing I love about the movie is that each of the anthology’s segments features a different season. They’re not quite in order though, as we get autumn, summer, winter, and spring. This structure allows the film to explore various tones and atmospheres, keeping the audience engaged while weaving together a larger narrative. The film is deeply personal to me, as it reflects on the concept of haunting not just as a supernatural occurrence, but as an emotional and psychological experience as well.

2. How did you get into making movies?

Parker Brennon: I started back when I was a teenager. My siblings and friends would perform in bizarre murder mysteries that we came up with on the fly. I was always in charge of the camera and editing, so even though the stories were quite bad, I was learning. After I took Classic Film Studies in high school, I became more serious about being a filmmaker. I eventually went to Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where I studied writing, directing, and producing. It was there that I honed my craft, focusing on horror and horror-adjacent stories that often explore queer themes. My journey has been about evolving those early experiments into more polished and meaningful works.

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

Parker Brennon: Oh! Like one of their retrospective screenings? I would probably choose John Carpenter’s The Fog. I know it’s Nancy Loomis’ favorite film that she made with John, and now that I’ve worked with Nancy, I love The Fog even more. It’s so beautifully filmed, has great tension, and the cast is incredible. There’s a timeless quality to it that resonates with me, and I think it would be amazing to experience it with a FrightFest audience. As far as screenings that are on the slate for this year, I have so many I’m looking forward to. I’m especially excited for Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance. I think her film Revenge is fantastic.

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

Parker Brennon: Maybe an award for the film that does the most with its tiny budget. I’m sure many other filmmakers, like myself, did a lot of challenging, unpaid work to help their dream come to life. I’ve met some filmmakers who tell me their feature was made for a very small amount, but they still manage to provide so much polish and production value. It’s really impressive. This award would recognize the creativity and resourcefulness of indie filmmakers who achieve incredible results despite financial constraints.

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

Parker Brennon: Whoever wrote this question, I’m one of your new fans. If my life were made into a horror film, it would be VERY loosely connected to reality. It stars Cate Blanchett (as me, of course), and all she wants is to be left alone in her beautiful cottage. The problem is sinister men keep showing up and turning her life upside down. I’d call it To Be Left Alone, referring to the famous Greta Garbo quote. Come to think of it, that story sounds a lot like the first segment in Hauntology.

Hauntology will make its International Premiere at FrightFest on Friday, 23 August, at 11:00 PM. With its unique blend of queer perspectives, seasonal ghost stories, and a stellar cast, it’s a must-see for fans of innovative horror. Don’t miss the chance to experience this haunting anthology on the big screen!