The opening film at Frightfest is always the pacesetter for the rest of the festival, which in 2019 will be celebrating its 20th anniversary as it becomes ever more popular amongst both old and new fans. The Ranger, directed by Jenn Wexler, tells of a group of punks wanted for the shooting of a police officer during a drug bust, who retreat to a cabin only to find themselves the target of a resentful park ranger.
STARBURST had the pleasure of talking to director Wexler, co-producer Heather Buckley and cast members Chloe Levine and Granit Lahu during the festival.
STARBURST: How many drafts of the script were there? And given the film’s surprisingly short (77 minute) running time, is there a “Director’s Cut” of the film?
JENN WEXLER: There were about two drafts written, and by March 2016 the final draft felt right and is similar in content to the version you saw. We did have a cut that came in at around 85 minutes, but my co-editor (Abbey Killheffer) felt some of it was indulgent. We then cut it down to the running time as we wanted it to be more like a roller-coaster ride for the audience.
The longer version fleshes out the relationships. There is an alternate scene in the Ranger’s basement which is in the “X” version, but the version we have released is the R-rated version. My producer Heather felt that this should have more of the feel of a punk song, three chords.
You used natural locations. How did you come to select them and did you construct any sets?
JW: We built one set so we could get the tax credit from the New York Film Office. The club sequence was shot at the Don Pedro Club, which closed shortly after we finished filming there. Heather and I went location scouting in up-state New York and found my dream cabins around Woodstock.
The make-up and gore effects are as effective as anything we have seen in other horror films. Tell us about your team and their background.
JW: We had a great team, led by Brian Spears.
GRANIT LAHU: I was in prosthetics for around 12 hours during one scene in particular. It’s rather uncomfortable and I was half-naked during that.
What were your filmic influences on The Ranger?
JW: I wanted to mash up 1980s punk films like Class Of 1984 and Return Of The Living Dead with other classics from the time like The Evil Dead and A Nightmare On Elm Street.
As actors, did you have much time to rehearse and did you improvise at all?
CHLOE LEVINE: We didn’t have a lot of rehearsal time whilst on location.
GL: There was one scene we did improvise, when I was chasing Amber (Amanda Grace Benitez) in the woods and I stood on this stone formation made by the ranger. We also added some New York-influence to the dialogue.
In terms of finance, how long did it take to put the package together?
JW: Well, it began with Larry Fessenden, another of our co-producers. Heather was my second.
HEATHER BUCKLEY: Another of our key players was Andrew Van Den Houten, who is a good friend of mine and had produced previously The Woman and Jack Ketchum’s The Girl Next Door. We then put together a teaser, and Andrew called me. Then Glass Eyed Pix and Hood River Entertainment came on board. Jenn is somebody who knows how to make a film of this type of budget.
As you reflect on your first visit to FrightFest, what key things will you take away from the experience?
GL: The community of it.
CL: It’s my first time in London as well, so it’s been so awesome to absorb both London and the festival itself.
HB: It’s been great to hang out with some great punk-rock people who love the horror genre.
JW: I would say the Frightfest community is incredibly loving, open and passionate about horror, and I do gravitate towards people like that.
How has digital film-making enhanced production on a film like The Ranger?
JW: We shot on the Alexa Mini, which gives a great cinematic quality to the images, but it is also lightweight enough so we can do great shots. I have shot on Super-16 which I did for The Most Beautiful Island, but for The Ranger, one thing I didn’t want was the 1970s look.
Finally, is there a particular genre you would like to tackle, or is horror the thing for you now?
JW: Horror is my thing.
HB: I like noir…
CL: I love horror!
GL: Similar with me, and I also like layered characterisation.
See www.theranger-movie.com for screening information.
