Having previously screened her documentary, Living with Chucky, at FrightFest, director Kyra Gardner is no stranger to the festival. This year she returned to the horror festival with her new film, Slay. For the film, Gardner turns her attention from documentary to fiction and has created a movie that will scratch the itch that fans of ‘90s teen movies – both horror and non-horror alike – have been suffering.
In Slay, seventeen-year-old Chloe Cruz (Zoey Luna) appears to have it all – social media fame, a devoted boyfriend, and a tightly curated circle of friends. But when one of them is murdered, her carefully constructed world begins to unravel. Hoping to escape the fallout, Chloe and her friends retreat to a secluded, disco-themed cabin in the mountains. As paranoia sets in and tensions rise, it becomes clear they are not alone – and that the killer may be closer than they think. To survive, Chloe must confront the shifting dynamics of her friendships and the fragile identity she’s built online before it’s too late.
THN were delighted to be able to host the FrightFest screening of Slay as it opened up the programme for Discovery Screen 2. The film played exceptionally well to the crowd, with many staying around afterwards to hear production stories during the post-movie Q&A. Before all of that though, Kyra Gardner and team Slay walked the FrightFest media line where THN were waiting to steal the chance for a few early questions with the minds behind the film. In addition to Kyra Gardner, we spoke with her father, Tony Gardner, who helped create the FX for Slay, actor Beck Nolan (of Widow’s Bay fame), lead and co-writer Zoey Luna, and acclaimed ‘that guy’, Jimmi Simpson, who helped bring Luna’s story to the screen.
Slay received its world premiere at Tubi FrightFest. The film’s release date is still to be confirmed.
