Positively Horror recently got the chance to put a few questions to Lee Ann Kurr, the brilliant director of the new film 'Student Body' which is making a big splash amongst genre fans right now! Please enjoy the full interview below:
Please tell us a bit about yourself and your relationship with the genre?
I come from a classical acting background, which moved towards more of a playwriting focus, and then towards screenwriting and directing. I grew up really in love with Hitchcock films, as well as coming-of-age teen movies like John Hughes’ films, so I wanted to make something that was influenced by both.
What was your introduction to horror, and at what age?
I have a very vivid memory of watching The Ring at a friend’s birthday sleepover when I was in middle school. I was absolutely petrified and didn’t sleep for a week. And it’s funny– my cinematographer Luka Bazeli, his father shot The Ring. So it all comes full circle!
You have a new film out 'Student Body', could you tell us a little bit about it?
Student Body is a coming-of-age story with a slasher/ genre twist, and deals with teenager Jane Shipley as she tries to navigate difficult friendships and the invasive mentor-like figure of her math teacher. When she and her rebellious peers break into school on a Friday night to horse around, it soon becomes apparent that someone is watching and following them– and they may not be able to escape.
Where did you draw your inspiration for the film?
Many places! Hitchcock, John Hughes, films like Alien and Psycho which have more of character-driven, slow-burn front half followed by a more genre-filled/ horror-driven second half, Lynne Ramsay’s film You Were Never Really Here which deals so wonderfully with the implication rather than explication of violence, and of course other teen greats like Heathers and Clueless.
You have a wonderful and diverse cast for 'Student Body', is it important to you to have diverse representation on screen?
Absolutely, I really wanted the five main teens to feel like a Breakfast Club for this generation, and that meant having actual representation onscreen. Hughes was a wonderful filmmaker, but he was limited in some ways and a product of his time, and I think YA/ teen content is right to move beyond his limitations.
What is your favourite horror trope?
Again, I really love horror movies like Alien and Psycho that take their time. I like that we spend the front half of Alien getting to know all the people on the Nostromo and all the weird politics within the ship, before things start to get really crazy with the xenomorph. With Psycho, the shower scene doesn’t occur until midway through the film. The entire front half is about Marian Crane, a fascinating and complex woman who’s making imperfect choices while trying to get out of a conundrum. Then she has an incredible sit-down scene with Norman Bates as we get to know him a little– all before the famous
shower scene. With Student Body I wanted to give the film time to let the circumstances and relationships marinate before the genre elements really kick in and act like the burner under the pot for things to boil over.
What is something you'd like to see more of in the future in the genre?
I think it’s abundantly clear that the horror genre is extremely male-dominated, still overwhelmingly coming from a white, straight, male, cis-gendered place, even more so than other genres. I’m looking forward to other voices coming to the forefront and expanding what the genre is able to express through different points of view and life experiences.
Who are some of your favourite people working in the genre at the moment?
Shoutout to Ana Lily Amirpour, Issa López, Rose Glass, Nia DaCosta, Anna Rose Holmer, Jennifer Kent, Julia Ducournau, Coralie Fargeat, Lynne Ramsay, and all the other amazing womxn making beautiful horror/ genre films right now.
And are there any other projects you're involved with that you'd like to talk about?
I’m aiming for my next film to be a ghost story about moving on from the trauma of the past, so hopefully that’ll become a reality soon!
