Demons.  We’ve all got them, in one way or another.  Maybe your demons have manifested from a regret or a lost loved one, a missed opportunity or a mistake.  Maybe you don’t even know that they’re there…until they rear their ugly heads.  For most of us, we learn to live with our demons, as they are often hard to conquer.  But in David Coupe‘s debut feature film “Demons,” it’s conquer or die, because these demons aren’t fucking around.  It’s a brand new vision of the demons we face in our daily lives, and just how powerful they can become…

“Demons” is a feature length film gearing up to be shot in Chicago this year.  It follows a young man who must face-off against the forces of darkness while mending broken friendships and getting over a painful break-up.  And while this is being billed as a horror-comedy, the drama, chaos and carnage in this film are going to be straight from the pits of hell.  I was fortunate enough to read the script and it’s got basically everything you could hope for in a horror flick.  I won’t spoil anything, but this is going to be a damn fun ride, a ride that you can help make happen.  But enough from me, hear it from the creator himself!  LAHorror.com got to chat with Coupe about his film, his plan and even some of his demons…enjoy horror lovers!

LAHorror:  Coupe, “Demons” the movie. In three sentences or less, what are audiences going to be in for?

David Coupe:  They are going to be in for an extremely relatable story about relationships that is paired with some of the most outrageous horror they’ve ever seen. I’m currently writing my ninth draft and there are moments that cause my heart to break for the characters as well as moments that make me run around my apartment in demented glee. There is one thing in particular I can’t imagine anyone who sees the movie not talking about non-stop after seeing it.

LAHorror:  So are you going for an “Evil Dead” type of outrageous? What are some of your inspirations with this script, specifically horror inspirations?

DC:  Someone, after one of the read-throughs, described it as “500 Days of Summer” meets “Evil Dead.” I think that’s not too far off. Specific influences while writing are definitely the “Evil Dead” movies, “The Exorcist,” “Shaun of the Dead,” and the recent crop of demon movies like “The Conjuring.” A lot of these movies I bow at the alter to and some of them, like “The Exorcist” and “The Conjuring,” I specifically study to play with the genre conventions.

LAHorror:  Haha awesome! “500 Days of Summer” meets “Evil Dead,” that’s great!  The tag line on your Kickstarter says: “An independent horror/comedy about cults, demons, and relationships. Each more horrifying than the last.”  What is so horrifying about this relationship? What’s going on with these characters?

DC:  I think that relationships are all about trust. The closer you get to someone the more of yourself you are putting in their hands. You don’t want to find out that your trust is misplaced. This movie sees the collapse of a romantic relationship in it’s first few scenes. The main character’s girlfriend breaks up with him and elects to become the host for a powerful and seductive demon. That gives the main character some serious trust issues that permeate the rest of the story. Friends whose integrity he never would’ve doubted are now under intense scrutiny. The whole movie is about this guy finding himself again in the wake of everything in his life changing.

LAHorror:  And while he’s finding himself, he’s battling a blood thirsty Demon? Is this a story about getting the girl back or killing the demonic bitch?  Exactly what kind of demon is he up against?

DC:  He doesn’t even know! He’s in straight up denial mode with the break-up. He still thinks he can salvage it! Unfortunately, the girl he knew is gone. In her place is the most powerful, vicious demon that you’ve ever seen on film. This demon has a plan to eradicate the planet of mankind so he and his kind can run free. He pretty much wants to turn Earth into a vacation spot for his kind. This demon is going to do things to the human anatomy that is going to make you either squirm or squeal depending on where your tastes lie!

LAHorror:  Excellent! So what’s the method to this demon’s madness? What kind of HORROR / GORE does it wreak?

DC:  She is going to rip a character’s dick off and then whisper a incantation on it. She turns it into a sword and cuts his head off with it.

LAHorror:  …that’s fucking brilliant.

DC:  I mean, I think I probably shouldn’t be holding anything back with my first movie.

LAHorror:  Speaking of which, how stoked are you to be directing your first feature film? Are you nervous about being the writer / actor / director, all in one?

DC:  I’m absolutely terrified. I’ve never done anything like this before in terms of wearing so many different hats all at once. Unfortunately, I’m way more excited than I am terrified. I’ve been working on this for over a year and I can watch the movie in my head. In it’s entirety. And in my brain I’ve got the part. Also, as a director, it’s nice to know my lead’s schedule so far in advance.

LAHorror:  And how about your cast & crew? What’s your team starting to look like?

DC:  It’s an embarrassment of riches. I had a pretty awesome run of working non-stop in Chicago theater from October 2012 to August 2014. I got to meet the best actors that Chicago (and probably the world) have to offer. So I cast the crap out of them. My crew are hard working and diligent. They are still coming together at the moment. This Kickstarter campaign will help us secure everyone we want to work with. The parties are interested, but we do need the cash to back up the vision.

LAHorror:  And on that note, why should people, HORROR fans in particular, take a look at your Kickstarter campaign?

DC:  We shot a proof-of-concept piece last year and it’s on the page. We didn’t make it with much money, but I think it shows that we’ve got our hearts in the right place. Check it out for the preview alone. If it’s something you enjoyed. I can tell you exactly how to get more:  You donate to the Kickstarter. I just want to make that clear!  It seems like a weird thing to leave ambiguous.

LAHorror:  Is there anything else you want to share about “Demons”?

DC:  I’m going to be making movies for the rest of my life. That is a 100% guarantee. It should start with this one. The script is great. The cast is better. We want to take the audience for this ride. I don’t want to just entertain people with this movie. I want to possess them.

Be sure to check out “Demons” on Kickstarter!  You can also learn more about the cast & production at the official “Demons” website.  Also, be sure to like “Demons” on Facebook and follow the film on Twitter!