Synopsis:
A mother descends into madness after finding her son hanged. With her family convinced he committed suicide, she alone unravels the blood-soaked mystery. Is her daughter's high school a recruiting ground for occult rituals and grisly murders? Torn apart by denial and paranoia threatening her own sanity and her daughter's life, the mothers only escape is the very route attempted by her dead son - to confront the demon lurking in mirrors.
Inspired by actual events from the directors life, FINALE is reminiscent of Suspiria, Hellraiser and Rosemary's Baby, shot in super 16mm to capture an authentic 1970's feel, with all practical in-camera effects, borrowed from the lost arts of early film magicians.
Director's Statement
My oldest brother hanged himself when I was 12, and my mother retreated into grief-stricken denial and paranoia, blaming his death on the planned sacrifice of a demonic cult. I wrote FINALE to face my demons, telling the story from her perspective.
My team landed grants from Kodak and Panavision, then set out for the post-industrial wasteland on the outskirts of my hometown, shooting in backwoods, abandoned houses, down dirt roads, crypt-like passages and cemeteries - desolate, haunting, forgotten places.
We ran through flames, blasted a prosthetic head with shotguns, got held up at gunpoint by police who mistook us for burglars, the FBI found our prop pipe-bombs and shut down the highway to blow them up.
We lived on location and worked without heat or running water in the dead of winter. I stunt-doubled for actors, even dressed in drag with my legs shaved.
I gave up all stability, even lived out of my car to see FINALE to completion. I took a leap of faith to chase my dreams - a trial by fire - and we passed.
