at the Disco, Cee Lo Green.

ButEmeliemarks his first feature effort with its plunge into darkness and genre subversion.

We were able to discuss that and more with Thelin during our interview.

So whats it like the day after your first features premiere?

Its like giving birth.

Take a look guys.

And now its out there, and people can do what they want with it.

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This movie is somewhat of a horror film and somewhat not.

Thats a good question.

I did not know my first film would be.

I just knew it needed to be done right.

And Ive been doing this for 10 years actually; Id just do a lot more commercial brand stuff.

But when I found this story, I couldnt let go of it.

We wanted to have a little fun with it.

A little poke atGooniesand stuff like that, but overall I just felt there was nothing else like it.

Was it intentionally invoking 1980s horror movies or something earlier?

Yeah, thats a great question.

I think inherently, I watched a lot.

And I just loved the simplicity of the shots.

Theres style to it, but its kind of underhanded.

We didnt want to do anything overtly look at this, its in your face!

Like genre films, they take risks on their filmmaking.

But again, I wasnt like, Oh it should be this, it should be that.

I would definitely say the 80s style inspired us.

What surprised you the most about making your first feature?

I know youve worked on documentaries before, and youve worked on shorts.

But did anything surprise you or was unexpected about the making of this film?

And you just fall in, and you just sink or swim.

Because theres a lot of stuff that I probably could have nitpicked.

But I was just like, Stay the course.

Stay the course, understand your tone, and just keep at it.

We need it, but its not like its going to play a main role.

It was something that was a little more impactful.

These are not excuses; its just that it was go, go, go.

And I am very proud of that film.

But honestly, I kind of blacked out a lot of the production.

I know that sounds weird, but its because it was very stressful the whole time.

So, I cant be like, Oh, remember when we did this?

Its like yeah, kind of.

But I just had to be so focused on that day that thats all I could think about.

So now, if theres stuff we didnt shoot, nothing comes to mind.

It turned out to be great.

I loved being in the car when [one character runs over another].

The good thing about that is that it limited the pool massively.

Anyone that I met with already knew it, so there wasnt like a give-and-take.

Like, If we do this, then we have to change this in the script.

So it was all or nothing.

We even lost two of the actors 72 hours before [production started].

So again, we went with more instinct.

But Im good with kids.

Ive directed them before, so with me, its just like, Lets hang out, man.

And thats whats up on the screen.

We just do what we want.

Obviously, Im guiding them, but they dont know it.

I was surprised when any noise was made, because Ive seen it over a hundred times.

So, I dont have that same exact visceral response.

All that stuff I still smile at.

But to hear other people doing it?

Yeah, it was pretty amazing.

[Laughs] It definitely did.

Do you know what youre going to do for your second feature?

Theres three different options, theres a dark sci-fi noir, and then maybe even a musical.

Its all over the place.