Fantasia 2021 Interview: In Conversation with Director Mark O’Brien About his Occult Thriller ‘The Righteous’

*This interview has been edited for clarity. 

Genre festivals are a great place for independent films to get their start, and it’s no secret that we loved Director/Actor Mark O’Brien’s occult thriller “The Righteous” on both fronts. 

The film, which starred “Ready or Not” actor O’Brien alongside that film’s co-star Henry Czerny world premiered at Fantasia and is already getting positive buzz with a number of reviews and interviews.

“The Righteous,” which O’Brien described during our interview as ‘arthouse’ is, in fact, an approachable love-letter to the genre which does what the best films do—it makes you think when the credits roll and begs a second (or third) viewing to appreciate all its nuances. The film is a slow-burn, in which Frederic (the aforementioned Czerny), a defected priest, experiences the pain of the death of he and his wife’s adoptive daughter. In the aftermath, they are visited by an odd stranger (Director O’Brien in the role of ‘Aaron’). The entirety of the film is shot in black and white, which O’Brien states was always his intent. 

“I pictured it in black and white,” O’Brien stated. “When I was writing it and when I conceived it, the images in my head were black and white. And there are two kind of reasons outside of that. One is an aesthetic thing; it’s hard to know what’s around the corner when it’s in black and white as opposed to color. And I also think that the subconscious is murky waters. It’s confusing down there…we don’t really know what it is. When you wake up from a dream you can’t remember if it was in color or black and white…you remember the content…the emotion. You remember the feeling of the dream. And to me, this movie’s always been a nightmare.”

It’s not hard to see that murkiness while watching “The Righteous.” O’Brien adds horror and nuance to a film that relies on atmosphere, the subconscious, and sharp imagery. 

But O’Brien, who is thrilled to finally have the chance to make his own movie (which, as he reports in The Hollywood Reporter, he has been wanting to do since he was 18), is remarkably humble. 

“It’s a little surreal,” he stated. “I just hope that its release at Fantasia gets it to the widest possible audience.” He also stated that, whether audiences like his film or have criticisms about it, the best possible result for the filmmaker (and indie cinema) is just to get out and see the film. “The enjoyment of making the movie is just as important as the end result” he said.

This enjoyment is evident in “The Righteous;” the filmmaker clearly devotes to telling a story that is enjoyable as an occult thriller or an arthouse film, which O’Brien states was his intention when making such an open-ended picture. 

Given these aims, the film’s world premiere was ever more of a blessing that it actually took off. O’Brien shared some of his thoughts on not only making it to Fantasia, but also having it take place during a live theater audience.

ALSO READ: Fantasia 2021 Review: ‘The Righteous’ is a Harrowing and Spellbinding Portrait of Loss and Guilt, and a Warning of the Dangers of Repression

“It’s kind of overwhelming” O’Brien stated. “We didn’t shoot during the pandemic but our post was during the pandemic…so everything was delayed, and festivals were mitigated. I always wanted to be at Fantasia. I know they were virtual the year before, and is it even going to happen…? There’s so many questions.

“It was kind of frightening. And then seeing it in the theatre was a thrill, and you kind of forget about how people are going to take it. I’ve read some reviews, and some have been really, really complimentary and some people didn’t like it too. And here’s the thing I get from that: I would rather it mean a lot to a small amount of people than mean a little to a lot of people.” 

I watch every movie that comes out, and I rewatch films a lot. And the ones that stick with me are the ones that keep giving you more…even if it’s not a great film…I think it should be an evolving process of the film with the viewer.”director/writer mark o’brien

It seems O’Brien’s film did indeed mean a lot to a subset of people, and he elaborated that what thrilled him reading reviews of the people who did in fact like the film is that they “just get it.” He also added that these same people get the film in many different ways, which is what he was going for with the “The Righteous’” production.

O’Brien discussed some of his inspirations for creating the movie, most notably films like Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” and the works of Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke, along with his desire to make a film that lasts. 

“For me, my favorite films are those…you’re left with more after the film ended,” stated O’Brien. “And I kind of liken it to looking at a piece of artwork. A piece of artwork does’t exist just in the first time that you look at it and then it’s over. It continues, and you look at it every day, and that’s why you hang it on your wall and that’s why you listen to music you like over and over. I watch every movie that comes out, and I rewatch films a lot. And the ones that stick with me are the ones that keep giving you more…even if it’s not a great film…I think it should be an evolving process of the film with the viewer.”

This evolving process is clear when watching “The Righteous;’ and though his film deals with religion, to this writer repressed grief and avoiding one’s problems was really its chief tenet, which O’Brien elaborated on. 

“I’ve noticed that with things in my life, or close friends, is that most of your problems are things you haven’t confronted,” said O’Brien. “I just thought that this was something that was…quite universal and I think grief—personal grief or personal burden—can breed narcissism. Because then you’re wrapped up in this thing and you don’t even know how to get out of it.” 

On a more personal level, O’Brien also talked about the filmmaking process, especially connecting with his co-star Henry Czerny. “We all have families that we’re not with, and we’re shooting crazy hours,” O’Brien said. “It’s got to be worth it, and Henry exemplifies all of that.” O’Brien elaborated that when the process is worth it, and something the filmmaker enjoys, the product is better too. 

“Henry and I worked together on “Ready or Not,” and he’s just the most wonderful person. He’s very funny, very affable…but then he takes the work really seriously. He’s able to break himself down [for the role]. I thought for the film I needed someone who is not just able to do it, but also willing to do it.” 

There’s much that can be said about “The Righteous,” and The Movie Buff is grateful to O’Brien for sharing the thoughts on his process with us. At the end of the day, horror and genre is what Fantasia all about, and the greatest thing about “The Righteous” and O’Brien’s fervor towards it is his unbridled humility. He relegates his film as “one tiny piece” of what drives indie cinema, and his hopes to have the film screened in front of live audience have now come true. Now that positive reviews are rolling in, we can only hope that his film will continue to move forward. 

“For any first filmmaker, you never know the life of your film,” O’Brien concluded. “I’m just enjoying it being seen and that people are taking the time to watch it. And honestly, that’s awesome.”

Mark O’Brien is active on Twitter at @MarkOBrienNL and on Instagram at @markobrienforreal. We thank Mark for his time, and do check out “The Righteous” should you get the chance.