1.30.26 WES

HAPPY FRIDAY

I’m back in freezing cold New York. I love a sunny, sweaty vacation as much as anyone, but I’m excited to get back to work on all things ALL THE DEAD BOYS.

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I’ve been working on a new script with Johnny Berchtold (from THE PASSENGER) that’s as lean and mean as it gets.

I won’t share too much about the project - I don’t want to jinx anything - but something about sharing things here (with you) helps keep me accountable (to myself).

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This is what I can tell you...

It’s a true ALL THE DEAD BOYS style microbudget feature film that mixes elements of the BACKWOODS BOYS (rural Maine rednecks) with one of my favorite visual tropes - BRUISERS.

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It’s full-on horror, and it’s barreling forward at a pace that’s both terrifying and exhilarating.

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It’s called HEADLOCK.

But more on that soon…

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I haven’t been watching much, but I’m eager to lose hours and hours in a dark theater now that I’m back in the city.

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Sometimes, while I’m editing shoots (which I will be spending a loooooot of time doing now that I’m back) I like to “watch” films on my second monitor.

I guess this is technically ‘second screen’ viewing (which I don’t love and hope nobody ever watches my films that way but…)

When I’m in second-screen mode, I don’t spend a whole lot of time deciding what to watch. I usually just let the Tubi algorithm do its thing and see how well it actually knows me.

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Yesterday I watched THE DARK from 2018.

(it’s free on Amazon Prime in the US)

I had zero expectations, but I got sooo sucked in that I had to stop working and give it 100% of my attention.

It starts quiet and slow, but when it kicks in, it shifts gears in a way that’s like a punch in the gut.

Then it shifts again and pulls off that twist just as well.

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I’m not sure how I’d never heard of this film. It played at Sitges, Fantasia, Frightfest, and Tribeca.

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I won’t say more because it’s probably best to go in blind (maybe even avoid the trailer if you love being surprised), but I kinduv loved it and will be watching the two other films this director (Justin P. Lange) has made since.

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MORE WES

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QUESTION…

Do any of you have any “verticals“ you recommend?

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If you don’t know what a vertical is, no worries - they’re pretty new. They’re basically short, super soapy, dramatic serialized stories told over 70ish 1-2 minute episodes meant to be watched on your phone in apps like ReelShort and CandyJar.

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For the most part, they are glaringly cheap and trashy and mostly live squarely in the world of melodramatic romance.

But some skue more thriller and even genre (there seems to be lots of Alpha werewolf smut).

Nothing I’ve seen has been particularly good.

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But I’m intrigued and curious to know if anyone has seen one they liked.

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Hit reply and let me know.

(and if you include a 🍌 I’ll send you some more Wes:)

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As usual, thanks for being here. I really do appreciate it.

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Carter

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P.S.

If you want to check out YELLOW HAZE, the serialized collage-style project I did with John Rechy for OUT magazine, you can find the entire story here.

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P.S.S.

COMING SOON … more kodiak

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P.S.S.

Here’s a shot of Johnny from our ALL THE DEAD BOY shoot, which feels like it could be a still from HEADLOCK.

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GET DIRTY LITTLE FRIDAYS