Although it has only just been released in the UK, The Coffee Table has already been causing waves. The film first caught attention on the festival circuit, shocking audiences with its dark subject matter and material. Then recently The Coffee Table arrived in America and traumatised none other than Stephen King. Today, The Coffee Table lands on Digital platforms via the fantastic Second Sight, but beware, you’ll need a strong psyche to last the distance.
Directed by Caye Casas, The Coffee Table is set around the aftermath of a traumatic event. To say anymore spoils the viewing experience, but those opting to settle in with the film should be warned that it ventures into some disturbing territory. Although the subject matter is bleak, Casas also manages to make The Coffee Table disturbingly amusing. The darker and more intense the story becomes, the further the film pushes into humour, placing the viewer in an uncomfortable quandary. Mastering this delicate balance between heartache, horror, and humour requires exceptional talent, and Casas clearly has it in spades. Ahead of the UK release, THN were able to converse with Caye Casas to find out more about this twisted film origins, production, and potential continuation…
How did you get the idea for The Coffee Table?
It was easy, I love genre films, but few films really scare me. So I asked myself, what scares me most in life? And the answer was not ghosts, monsters, or zombies; what scares me the most is real life, a cruel destiny, the bad luck that any of us can have and the terrible things that can happen to us in life. I believe that hell exists and it is not a place with fire and the devil, hell is what we can live if destiny is cruel.
When you were writing the script did you ever imagine the film would become as notorious as it has become?
We knew that we were writing a different, cruel film that would not leave anyone indifferent, but also that it was very risky. These types of films are not usually made and we did not know if we were going to have good reviews or not, but what we did expect was that if it turned out well, if it was liked, if we managed to make it an intense experience, people would not forget it and would talk about it.
Many people tell me that it is already a cult film, they tell me that it’s the film that they’ve had the most difficult time watching and that’s not easy to achieve. I think we’ve managed to ensure that the people who see the film live a unique experience, unforgettable, and that makes word of mouth work since those who hear about the film want to see it, they want to have “The Coffee Table experience”
Where did you find the table?
Cristina Borobia, apart from being the co-writer, is the art director. We wanted a special, ugly, kitsch table and it wasn’t easy to find it. We didn’t have money to make it, or buy an expensive table. In the end, after searching far and wide, a friend who works in antiques had it in his warehouse, we saw it, we asked him how much it was worth and he literally said, “Do you want this shit table?” In the end he just gave it to us, so it was free and we now have it in our house… but without the glass. hahahaha
Although featuring a devastating event, much of this film plays like a comedy of errors, why was it important to you to inject humour into this awful scenario?
Black humour is the trademark of the house, it is one of the characteristics of my cinema. But The Coffee Table is not a black comedy, it is a tragedy with touches of black humour. I think sometimes in real life, when a tragedy occurs, humour appears. Sometimes you go to a funeral of a person you loved and unintentionally black humour comes out. This mixture of genres, dark humour, and tragedy is risky… I think it leaves people feeling more disconcerted, they don’t know whether to laugh or cry, or if they laugh, they sometimes feel guilty. Those types of contradictory emotions are what I’m looking for.
Have you had a chance to view the film with an audience yet, if so, how did you find that experience?
I have been to many film festivals around the world and have been lucky enough to see the reaction of people from different countries, and it’s spectacular. It’s torture for the audience and although there is also laughter, they end up devastated, depressed, and in shock, and that’s okay. I want people to feel emotions when they watch my films. The curious thing is that, despite torturing the audience, they have given us several audience awards in Mexico, Argentina, the US, Spain and many more countries.
I wanted to surprise the audience even before they sat in their cinema seats. Already with the title of the film, it is a very harmless title, not terrifying at all. Then I wanted to start the story with black humour, comic characters like the salesman at the little table, the girl, make people laugh a little and then put them through hell… with 70 minutes of unbearable discomfort. I want people to feel strong emotions with my cinema, I want them not to forget my films and for that it is important to surprise, play with the audience, trick them, make them feel alive.
Have you considered doing a follow up film? Maybe a story following Ruth and how the trauma of the ordeal has affected her?
Part two… “The Coffee Table Returns” hahahahaha, it would be very good. Ruth is a character that I love, she is evil and twisted. It’s not a bad idea. I would also love to do a remake with more resources and money, an American remake, it would change things. For example, the ending. While I was filming I invented another ending, the most macabre ending in the history of cinema, seriously, but I couldn’t film it because I didn’t have any more money. If anyone wants to remake this film with that ending, I assure you that it will be the best-known horror and black comedy film in history.
Why should people brave The Coffee Table?
If you want to live a strong, unforgettable, uncomfortable experience. If you want to see a story where you are going to suffer for 90 minutes, watch The Coffee Table. If they just want to be just a little scared and that’s it, watch other movies. When you watch The Coffee Table you have to know that you are going to have a bad time, very bad… although you may also laugh, depending on how macabre your personality is.
What’s the plan for the next film
I’m trying to put together three or four new projects, but I need more money. The Coffee Table was shot in 10 days, at a friend’s house, and with almost no budget. I need to eat and get paid for my work, so I need to make a film with more resources. Just a week ago I finished the script for another horror movie and the few people who have read it say that it surpasses The Coffee Table in everything! Now I just hope that someone wants to invest money in my stories. I know that horror fans will suffer it with great pleasure.
The Coffee Table is on digital now from Second Sight Films.
