7 Quick Questions with Director Steve Rudzinski about CarousHELL

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2020

Images from the Internet

In 2016, professional cosplay actor and genre film director Steve Rudzinski released a film titled CarousHELL, which has received quite a few positive notices by critics and fans alike. It’s a wild tale of a carousel unicorn named Duke, who becomes murderously and profanely sentient. It’s a wild and bloody comedy (reviewed HERE). 

I did an extensive interview with Steve back in 2014 (HERE), and I wanted to do a quick update on what was going on in the wild world of Pittsburgh cinema, so here is a few short questions to follow-up. 

Indie Horror Films: Hey Steve, it’s been a while since you’ve made a feature. Your last few were the “Meowy” series of shorts based on your cat. But honestly, I’d like to talk to you about a particular film of yours which seems to be getting some real traction: CarousHELL. It’s on a whole bunch of different platforms (congrats on that). Why do you think it’s so popular?

Steve Rudzinski: I just think there is still absolutely a market for silly, non-serious horror that delivers on laughs while not skipping the blood. CarousHELL hasn't spread as far as I think it still can, but of those people finding it after years of first release I think it's thanks to just having such an over the top premise that catches people's eyes. And then the film not taking itself seriously with such a premise certainly helps.

Duke

IHF: Do you think the popularity is due to Duke’s comments, or the nasty gore effects that run throughout? Or both?

Steve: It's no question that people sign up for CarousHELL first because of Duke, the idea of a non-animated sentient unicorn with a bunch of quips is what gets people to toss the movie on. But similarly, what makes so many people take the film seriously AS a film is thanks to all of the amazing effects created by Cody Ruch. I love comedy and definitely was making a funny movie, but it's still a slasher film so good-looking gore was absolutely just as important to me.

IHF: What was the inspiration for the snarky tone of the lead character carousel horse-gone-wild, Duke? One might think of Freddy Kruger by the puns.

Steve: I've always been a fan of charismatic killers in horror but hadn't had a chance to do my own yet. When CarousHELL was first born I knew that since the entire point of the joke was Duke not moving/being made of rubber, we needed the huge personality to bring life to the unicorn. And yeah, I like Freddy a lot in particular.

IHF: Do you know if the film is popular among the Brony subculture?  Seems to be right up their alley. I’m almost expecting someone to dress up in a Duke outfit a plushie hook-up.

Steve: I honestly have no idea. I've never heard of it making the rounds in that subculture, it's possible that only a few or less have so happened to find the movie. Maybe being on Tubi will make it more likely for it to be posted to Brony message boards.

IHF: I know there is a sequel now in the works. Will it be a continuation of where it left off, a back story for Duke?

Steve: Let me be very clear that this is a continuation of the story. The story of the sequel 100% takes place several years after the events of the first film. But the sequel will absolutely answer a few questions about Duke's history and past.

IHF: Will there be any of the same cast, such as a certain pizza delivery man?

Steve: Judy, who played Laurie's Mom in the first film, is the only returning cast member aside from Duke. She survived and caught that baby unicorn in her arms. Everyone else was pretty definitively wiped out. Joe in particular has his face carved pretty extremely with a pizza cutter so I don't think we'll be seeing him again.

IHF: I know there’s a Kickstarter campaign going on for the sequel, What can people to do help out?
Steve: The biggest hurdle the sequel has is getting the money together to even make it. It's that simple. We have a winning team, we have fans that support the film existing, we know what do to. But we can't do it if we don't get the money. If you can't preorder the film yourself, please share and spread the kickstarter as much as you can to anyone you think may be interested. And if they haven't seen the first film yet, well hey it's free on Tubi. Watch it there then help the sequel come to life.

The link to the Kickstarter page is HERE.