Filmmakers David Charbonier and Justin Powell have been friends since kindergarten. The pair have grown up together with the shared dream to make films. This ambition spurred them on to create the film The Boy Behind the Door, which arrives on Shudder on Thursday 29th July 2021. Given their obvious connection it makes sense that the film explores the powerful bond of friendship. Being lifelong horror fans this relationship is tested within the world of genre cinema and offers up the worst nightmare of children and parents alike.
Bobby (Lonnie Chavis) and Kevin (Ezra Dewey) are two best friends who find themselves kidnapped. Upon waking up Bobby is able to free himself from his ties and is about to escape when he realises that Kevin is still captive. Realising that he cannot leave his friend behind to endure who knows what, Bobby makes the brave decision to return to find his pal. He quickly locates Kevin, but is horrified to find that he is locked behind a door and Bobby doesn’t have the key. If he wants to save his BFF, Bobby must take on their captors, and a deadly game of cat and mouse begins.
The Boy Behind the Door makes for a very intense watch. Kids in peril is never a comfortable thing to watch and this film is no exception. Charbonier and Powell display some excellent skills at drawing out the tension and the opening third will keep you on the edge of your seat. With such an intriguing subject matter and angle we were thrilled to sit down and speak with the pair to get some more context about the project. We discussed the logistics of working with children, their choice of captor, and which of them would be Bobby and Kevin in a similar scenario.
The Boy Behind the Door arrives on Shudder from Thursday 29th July 2021.
