CONVERGENCE — Interview with Director Drew Hall
I once had a graveyard shift job painting some rooms in an old hospital that was going through serious renovations. There’s always the supervisor or facility manager who just has to toss in that common story involving warnings like “don’t go in room (such and such)” or "if you hear any rattling down the hall, that’s just the janitor that died in there back in 1960-something." “Sure thing, boss!” was my usual response, as they never had to worry about me drawing any floor pentagrams or performing any seances when no one was looking. Really I just wanted to earn my paycheck and get the hell out of there and get home to play Oblivion and ponder how work sucks for a lot of people in their 20s. This life experience of working in an empty hospital came rushing back when I felt the paranormal unease that hangs over the majority of the atmosphere in Convergence by director Drew Hall.
The protagonist wakes up in an empty hospital after being attacked during a terrorist investigation. It’s immediately clear that he’s caught in the middle of something extremely sketchy with signs that the people running the joint have a fascination with the occult. Demonic apparitions begin making their presence known to him as many scenes play out in the corridors of an empty hospital, adding another element of dread to the situation.
It’s clear to see that Stanley Kubrick had a lot of influence in the use of visual flow of locations, as well as establishing the drama before introducing the horror. Old Hitchcock films and newer movies such as The Babadook also come to mind when it comes to this kind of pacing, which I highly appreciate. About an hour in, Convergence introduces a new layer into the story, kicking things into a brand new perspective on the situation. It was a huge payoff, and my enthusiasm was expressed to Hall via chat during that moment. As Hall’s first try as director and writer, this is a sign of amazing things to come for those who enjoy genre-bending films that reward your attention to detail.
In this interview, we talk about the making of the film as well as what films inspire him as a director. It's a definite must-listen for those who are fans of psychological thrillers, horror movies, and filmmaking in general!