Aussie underground filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay’s The Serpent’s Skin is a transgressive throwback to 90s horror.
Aspiring filmmakers should take notes on Alice Maio Mackay‘s work ethic. The Adelaide-born filmmaker has smashed out six feature films in the last five years, with a seventh on the way. All ultra-low-budget, crowdfunded horror flicks, dealing with the queer experience in general and the transgender experience in particular. She’s 21. Take a minute, then check out the trailer for her latest.
The Serpent’s Skin Trailer
What’s the plot?
Riffing on 90s horror fare like The Craft and, at a guess, Buffy The Vampire Slayer (the demon make up is very reminiscent of Buffy’s vampires), The Serpent’s Skin is a queer love story with a demonic twist.
Or, as the official synopsis tells us…
Twentysomething Anna (Alexandra McVicker) leaves her small, transphobic hometown to start a new life in the city with her sister when she quickly finds herself face-to-face with Gen (Avalon Fast), a confident young woman she’d first seen in visions. Gen, Anna learns, has supernatural powers—powers that the two of them share. Their bond of magic and romance is threatened when Gen inadvertently unleashes a demon in Danny (Jordan Dulieu), Anna’s one-time fling and neighbor, and the mysterious evil begins targeting—and feeding on—everyone close to them.
Who’s in it?
- Alexandra McVicker as Anna.
- Avalon Fast as Gen.
- Jordan Dulieu as Danny.
- Charlotte Chimes as Dakota.
- Scott Major as Buzz.
- Patty Glavieux as Switch.
- Jessica Burgess as Nell.
- Alyssa Peters as Jade.
- Lewi Dawson as Helly.
- Horror legend Joe Lynch as Anna’s stepdad.
- Betsey Brown as Anna’s mom.
When’s it out?
The Serpent’s Skin is getting a limited theatrical release in the US on March 27, and hitting On Demand on April 21. Mackay’s work doesn’t get much play in Australia, which is a sad indictment of affairs, so all I can say is keep your eyes on your local arthouse fleapits and festivals. There’s a decent chance it’ll wind up on Shudder at some point.
What’s the vibe?
I could go on the standard rant that horror, a genre by and for outsiders, has always had a strong queer component, but you’re smart enough to know that already. But what I will say is that if you’re after strong, singular, DIY horror filmmaking, this is it right here.
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