THE BELL KEEPER: Director Colton Tran Talks His New Horror Film!

Glen Dower: 

It’s really nice to meet you. We’re here to talk about your new film, the Bell Keeper. How did you get involved with the project?

Colton Tran:

First of all, I was actually brought on. So one of the actors in it, Mike Manning, and I have a history. We were in a Disney movie together like ten years ago. So we worked together that way and then we just stayed close friends and also had a working relationship. So this film came to him and they were looking for a director and he was like, ‘I feel like Colton would be perfect for this.’ And he sent me the script. I read it, loved it, and had one of my friends, Luke Jensen come on and do a revision, and two months later we were in production.

Glen Dower:

That’s awesome. I just watched the movie last night as a re-watch and obviously, there are some very well-crafted nods to other slasher, horror films, with several references to a certain franchise in particular…

Colton Tran:

Yes. One of the biggest ones, especially just visually, was Evil Dead and more so even the remake too, because the 2013 one I feel like was so cool, but I definitely feel like it had, when I first read the script, it had that tone. But there was this really camp energy to the script before I came onto this. So that’s when doing the revisions, I was like, I definitely want to lean into some of the campiness of the original Evil Dead.

But I feel like the 2013 film did not go in that direction. So I wanted to find a good balance between giving a nod to and being inspired by the Evil Dead franchise. But not leaning into too much of the camp. But yeah, that was probably the biggest. And then also the gas station scene. There’s some Cabin in the Woods vibes, but also Texas Chainsaw Massacre, that whole gas station scene. I wanted it to feel like the tone of Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Glen Dower:

Some really nice flavors in there and nice homages of course. Why do you think a camp is such fertile ground for the setting of a horror movie? Because we know throughout this story we learn hundreds of people have disappeared at this camp. After say ten, wouldn’t you get the gist that maybe ‘don’t go here’?

Colton Tran:

That’s the thing. I feel like in every horror film, people just love to watch stupid people get hurt! They know that they’re just going to go. People are so entertained by that, and again, the fact that they are going on a filmmaking journey to debunk numerous different urban legends, and we only focus on one. I think it’s fun. It’s just a fun ride of something that you get your information from and you’re not supposed to go because supposedly people are dying there. But it’s like, well, let’s go find out for ourselves. Let’s see if it’s true, and then it unfolds. So I think it’s just one of those films that I want people to have a really good time watching. It’s not supposed to be crazy. It’s just supposed to be a good fun ride.

Glen Dower:

It’s a fun ride for sure. I just want to ask you as a horror director yourself, obviously the characters are self-aware and that comes from the script. They know that ‘if we do this if we were in a horror movie, we would die. We smoke drugs, we have sex, that means we’re dead.’ How much fun is it playing with those rules, realizing you have to abide by horror movie rules if you’re making a horror movie, where virginity seems to be the ultimate weapon against evil?

Colton Tran:

It was really fun because, during the casting process, the script did have very specific characters. You have your stoner, you have the girl who’s more of the influencer, the slut, whatever, and your jock and the nerd. And so it was almost too on the nose. But it was fun. It’s fun to bring those characters to life. But during the casting process, we made sure that it was going to be a cast who could ground it in a way where it didn’t feel too in your face. And I feel like that was a really fun part too.

I went through that casting process because they – Reid and Kathleen especially – led this after they had such great chemistry and great dynamic that felt grounded to me. I feel like they brought a lot of heart to it, which I feel like in horror films (and especially Slashers or stuff like that), you don’t feel heart often because people just, again, they’re here to see people back basically. So I feel like they really did that. I feel like all the cast did a good job at playing their parts. But I mean some of them were definitely leaned into a little more of the camp. But yeah, that was fun. I think the fun part about bringing them to life was finding the right cast for it. It was fun.

Glen Dower:

Let’s talk about the cast. Kathleen Kenny as Brittany, I think you’re right. She brings so much heart to it. She is obviously separate from the group. She’s come in looking for her brother who we meet in the opening scene. So how did you know she was the one to play Brittany? Because she is so honest in the movie, she’s like in another movie if you like, and she has her own journey throughout the movie.

Colton Tran:

She does. And so the thing is when we were casting, we had certain people that were already attached and then we did an open cast. Well, I had a casting director and we did that to find four of the roles including Reed’s role and Brittany’s role, and she had sent in an audition. I had gotten probably dozens for her, but then when hers came in I was like, she’s so natural. Her acting is just so natural and genuine. And so she sent three different scenes in and I told the producers. I was like, she has to be the one. I met with her, we talked and we brought her on and she’s just such a hard worker. She was so amazing! And again, just so naturally talented. She just jumped straight in.

And the cool part is after working with her on this project, my other feature that I did in July called, Sorry Charlie, I cast her as a lead and it was a one-woman show. Basically, she leads the whole film. The amount of dialogue and stuff she has just knocks me out. I’m like, this girl is like a powerhouse. I’m glad that you see that. It does feel like she’s in a different film. These people are going in and being idiots and trying to debunk this thing, and they’re like, you’re going to die. And then she’s just, ‘I’m just trying to save my brother’ and gets thrown into the mix. So yeah, I love her.

Glen Dower:

Reid Miller of course as Liam, who is the younger brother and he gets thrown into the mix as well. He’s not quite comic relief, but you do feel for him. And of course, he is the virgin, and the dialogue he had with Hank, ‘I’ve got a list!’, really made me laugh.

Colton Tran:

I’ve got a list. He’s like, I don’t have it with me, but I rattle it off and Hank’s like, no, please just don’t. I thought that he was so good with his comedy too. But it’s not campy comedic relief. He’s just naturally so funny and witty. And so that was fun that he brought that to that character.

Glen Dower:

For sure. And they’re a great double act. Of course, the Bell Keeper himself, Randy Couture. What was it like working with him? I’m a big Sly Guy, so I love The Expendables movies, so he has a big part in those. So what was it like having him on set?

Colton Tran:

It was so great working with Randy because he’s this big intimidating-looking guy. He’s such a little teddy bear and it was fun. This is my first feature, I think, doing this much action as we did. And so working with our stunt coordinators and fight choreographers and Randy, and just seeing his strengths and stuff. It was really cool seeing that world and working with him that way. But also it was funny, especially how the story takes place, seeing his transition into this horrible villain into what really does happen. And so directing that and getting him into that world.

And one of the cool things about him was because of his character in The Expendables and that in the scene with his daughter, he got emotional. He actually got teary-eyed and after that was like, oh my gosh, I’ve never gotten emotional during a scene before. He’s like, ‘The place I got to in my head was different for me. I’ve never gotten there.’ So it’s very cool for him to have experienced that because a lot of the other projects he doesn’t lend to a lot of emotion and he was telling me about his kids and stuff. I definitely tapped into a different place and he brought that up a couple of times. He was like, I’ve definitely tapped into something I hadn’t before in that. So that was very cool. He was just amazing to work with. Such a sweet guy.

Glen Dower:

And we have Chaz Bono as the sheriff, so we think he’s just going to be the first scene like you say, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre scene where you get a warning, kids have gone up here, they disappear, whatever. But then he comes back in the final scene and gets some redemption. But also there’s another big laugh where he turns out to be a virgin also!

Colton Tran:

Oh my god! And then at the end too. He’s like, that was actually the first time I’ve ever even shot a gun. Ha!

Glen Dower:

Yeah, that’s a great moment.

Colton Tran:

Yeah, so it was so fun. Again, going into this project, Randy was already cast, so I was really looking forward to working with him, and especially once I spoke to him, he was super excited, and seeing his previous stuff at American Horror Story, I was like, it’s really good. So it’s going to be fun to work with him and play with him, especially because that character is fun and campy and is supposed to have a good time. I feel like he really is finding good characters for himself that he is really great at playing. So that was really fun to work with him and I’m excited for them to all see it. I don’t think they’ve even seen the film yet.

Glen Dower:

And the way the film ends as well, I think they’d have their own franchise going forward as right off into the sunset together, so to speak. Who knows there might be ghost-busting very soon.

Colton Tran:

Ha! Yeah, exactly!

Glen Dower:

And then the one last cast member I want to talk about…The Nun herself! Bonnie Aarons. When she came onscreen I couldn’t believe it. She is so distinct, she is already a horror icon. What was it like having her on set?

Colton Tran:

I was so excited to work with her because again, in The Nun franchise, she just has this looming presence and her visuals and she’s just a strong character, but she doesn’t speak. So I was like, this is going to be cool to work with her in a way where she does have a good amount of dialogue and to just work, develop this character with her. And so when we had our first introduction to Zoom, she was so sweet, so passionate, so fun. We went over all the lines. She asked questions about the character of where we wanted to go with this, blah blah, blah. Yeah, we had a great time and on set, she was having so much fun and very, she just put a lot of her energy into it.

She is very, very professional, very real. But then we did become close after she actually invited me. She’s like, Colton, we’re going to go see the Nun come with us. And so went and saw that and she just is one of my number one fans. She literally, anyone we see I saw at the strike too, she’s like, you want to see this Colton? He directed to the Keeper. I love his work. She’s so passionate and she can’t wait to, she couldn’t wait to see this film and be a part of it. And so it was just cool to have people like that, that I love from these horror franchises involved in the project.

Glen Dower:

It’s really cool, bringing a horror icon into it. So the audience gets the credibility factor, don’t they? And you have the various stereotypes being fulfilled, like you said. So if people are still unsure about the movie, what would you say to them if they enjoyed ‘this’, they will enjoy The Bell Keeper. What do you think? What would you class it alongside it? Maybe a double bill or a triple bill alongside?

Colton Tran:
 
Well I mean I was saying if people love any of the Evil Dead franchise, I think they will like this because again, it’s a fun blend of, the Friday, the 13th movies, but also Cabin in the Woods, that sort of humor that is sprinkled within it. It’s that fun world of you just want to see these people make a wrong decision and get slaughtered by Jason. People love that franchise. So you’re thinking you’re going into something like that which turns into something more supernatural like The Evil Dead.

And then again, sprinkled throughout is a Cabin in the Woods vibe where we are the tropes of these horror movies, and the characters we’re just like, we’re touching on all those things. And so I feel like it’s a good balance of those three movies So if you enjoyed those, I feel like there are different areas of horror too. So if you do one of them out of the three, you’ll enjoy this film.

Glen Dower:

That’s a great call! Of course, you had your own story to tell but were there any scenes you had to cut that you think you would have loved to keep in, but just for timing, just for pace, they had to go?

Colton Tran:

There wasn’t anything, I edited the film as well. There’s nothing I had to cut. But we did shoot this I think in 13 days, and I do remember one of the days, the only thing that I really wished could have been extended and had more footage was just the ending standoff with Randy and Jackson the villain because that was supposed to be lengthier and more intricate. But that was one of the only days that we ran into because there was so much stunt coordinating and stuff like that that just sucks up so much time. So yeah, if anything I would’ve owned to extend it at the end, but other than that, there was nothing that had to be actually cut out from the film.

Glen Dower:

That’s good to know, you have to keep it as your vision. I wanted to ask about the night shoots on this project, which I am guessing were many. How do you, as a director, keep that energy and keep your cast and crew powering through those times?

Colton Tran:

Yes, there were a lot of night shoots and it was freezing cold. So for me as a director, I’m very, very hands-on with my DP and just the cast and everyone. And I want people to feel, that I pride myself on the balance of making sure I get my work done and I’m there to make a movie, but also people there because they love this, they love what they do and I want people to be there loving it and I don’t want them. I’ve been on sets for some directors, they definitely, and they start when something’s not going right, they snap or they yell and they talk.

Whenever I have issues of we have to solve something, I’ll be like, get my producer. It’ll be very private. It’s like, we need to figure this out right now. Alright. And then a picture of my cast is because as soon as the cast or anyone feels something is going wrong, then it is just like a slow domino spiral effect where everyone’s like, oh, what’s going on? And then they’re not performing the way they want to nervous, so he going to, they just don’t know. So that stuff to me, how these night shoots and everything just kept going strong is that got on set, greeted everyone, made sure that everyone was good.

Then I got with my DP over my shot list and made sure he knew the exact vision of what was happening. So he gets his world going. I’m checking on the special effects, what’s going on with wardrobe, everything, and just making sure that everyone’s on the same page and is having a good time and wants to be there because again, these night shoots can be grueling and if you aren’t having a good time, you’re like, get me out of here right now. So I just made sure that people were enjoying themselves so that I didn’t feel like we were pushing people’s
boundaries.

Glen Dower:

Great. Maybe one aspect of your crew’s enjoyment was the actual use of real stunt work and practical effects.

Colton Tran:

I think so. The stunts were really fun for the actors because they were like, we can work with Randy Couture and get a fight with him! So they were like, and Randy, it was funny, we had a stunt double for Randy, but he was like, I’m just going to do my own stuff. He was like, ‘Lemme just do it!’ So it was fun to see him do that and just want to throw with a throw and everyone all over the place. So that was fun. Also, I do love working with Practical Effects.

The 2013 Evil Dead was very practical, and special effects driven, which is so fun. But there were some moments that I actually chose to do V effects because I was like, I just don’t know. You don’t know how it’s always going to turn out and if it doesn’t practically on set then you’re kind of screwed. So the opening scene where he gets his head cut off, was supposed to be a practical effect. I was like, this is either going to look really great or look really, really, really bad. You know what I’m saying? Because cutting someone’s head off could look really, really bad. So I kind of took from the House of Wax, the scene where he cuts that guy’s head off and it’s definitely the effects. It’s not practical.

So that was something I was effective and so we went in that direction with it. But obviously, then you do take a lot of time making sure everything is lined up and appropriate for when you do send it into a post for V F X so that it does work. But yeah, people did love seeing stuff like that. Even though we didn’t use it decapitated head, we’d had it on set. He was like, oh cool. So it was fun. People liked all the blood and the gore, and the opening scene too with the blood splatter in the window, we had this whole blood cannon. So that was fun to witness anyway, to see all that takes place. Yeah.