Even a Corpse has a Heart

By Nathan Williams

On a recent episode of Dead Talk Live, Viz talked with director Martin Owen and actors Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Max Harwood about their new black comedy, The Loneliest Boy in the World. (Some Spoilers in the following video)

Not Exactly a Hallmark Family Film

Macabre and veering into Tim Burton territory, the family-themed film is closer to The Addams Family than a traditional family film. With no family or true friend to call his own, young Oliver, played by Harwood, resorts to unconventional means to fill the emotional void. Fittingly, Harwood cites the goth performances of Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp for inspiration to convey the comical angst of Oliver. Afflicted by naivete, and yearning to be happy, he carries his plans out a bit too far.

Mitch, played by Tiffin, is far removed from Oliver, upbeat and eager to live life to its fullest. “He’s just happy to be back here on Earth, given a second chance,” Tiffin says, perhaps thankful to be discovered by the down-trodden misfit. Friend or not, Mitch inevitably faces his own awkward adjustment period.

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Building Frankenstein’s Monster

Martin Owen diverged from his usual directorial path to film the script, this time written by others than himself. “I loved that it had this authentic eighties feel,” Owen says. The impression was on the nose, the script originally written in the decade, but too dark or weird to bring to the screen considering the morbid subject matter.

The subtext of trauma and need for belonging required actors with a delicate touch to bring levity to very dark themes. Describing it a “horror fairy tale,” Owen sought out to explore the psyche of Oliver who is processing grief in his own, terrifyingly-unhealthy way. “I wanted to achieve and maintain this kind of heightened reality.”

You can see their new film, The Loneliest Boy in the World, right now for sale or rent digitally on Prime Video. Check out the whole interview down below.

Dead Talk Live hosts live interviews of the industry’s most thrilling artists, producers, writers, directors, and actors. Make sure to tune in for Dead Talk Live’s next exciting episode, and also join us daily to get your horror fix!

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