[Interview] Lee Roy Kunz and Cru Ennis for DELIVER US

In DELIVER US, a nun in a remote convent claims immaculate conception, prompting. the Vatican sends a team of priests to investigate, concerned about an ancient prophecy that a woman will give birth to twin boys: one the Messiah, the other the Anti-Christ.

For the release of DELIVER US, Nightmarish Conjurings’ Shannon McGrew interviewed filmmakers Lee Roy Kunz and Cru Ennis. During their e-chat, they discussed everything from that impactful opening scene to the visual palette of the film and wrapping up on how DELIVER US dives into religious mythology.

I love the opening scene. It really sets the tone for what’s to come in DELIVER US. Can you talk about the decision behind that?

Lee Roy Kunz and Cru Ennis: We wanted to open with something profoundly evil, to portray humanity at its lowest, how some use religion to justify evil acts (in direct contradiction to Christian and other religious teachings), setting the stage to end the film on a hopeful note. We knew the violence and brutality would linger with the audience and allow us a bit more time for a slower burn with the characters to set up our world and atmosphere.

This also allowed us to subtly hint at and set up the prophecy which is grounded in the Zoroastrian religion – a precursor to Christianity that was one of the first religions to talk about a single God. The opening shot, in particular, exemplifies our cinematic language, and how we tried to use deliberate choices in every scene.

One of the most notable things about DELIVER US is how visually striking it is. Where did you pull inspiration from in terms of the look and feel of the film?

Lee Roy Kunz and Cru Ennis: Our cinematographer, Isaac Baumann, drew inspiration from the Gothic grandeur of Catholicism and the austere ambiance of Eastern Europe. The cinematic world we created is intentionally subdued, employing shades of grey to symbolize moral decisions. Colors were used strategically to emphasize and augment the intended meaning within the narrative.

How was the casting process? Was it an open call or did you have specific people in mind?

Lee Roy Kunz and Cru Ennis: The casting process took place during the challenges of the pandemic, utilizing virtual platforms like Zoom for auditions—an unusual experience for us. Our casting director played a pivotal role in presenting various options. We aimed for an international cast to infuse authenticity into the story, contributing to a broader and more genuine representation of characters.

I think the set design says a lot, especially when we go to the pastor’s girlfriend’s house. Can you talk a bit about telling this story through the use of set design?

Lee Roy Kunz and Cru Ennis: We followed the same guidelines with set design as we did with cinematography but also tried to treat the set design as a character almost in itself or at least the expression of a theme. We were exploring how dark and evil the world can be, and how easy it can be to fall into a sort of bleak despair, so we tried to amplify that feeling by suffocating our characters. Laura’s grandfather’s cabin in the woods was also inspired by Estonia’s pagan heritage, adding another layer of depth to our world and trying to highlight the brutality of nature with the cabin, with all the animal heads and survival gear.

What, if anything, would you like for people to take away from DELIVER US outside of it being an entertaining horror film?

Lee Roy Kunz and Cru Ennis: We want audiences to be entertained but also to think seriously about the complexities of human nature, morality, and the nature of evil. The mythology of our film is that all of the world’s religions are connected and in direct communication with each other and with God. Lee Roy is Catholic, Cru is Christian, and Isaac is Jewish and together we wanted to tell a story that resonated as true for all three of us, as a way to explore the nature of God and the role he plays in all our lives. To think deeply about why there is evil in the world and what we can really do about it.

DELIVER US is now in theaters and available On Demand.

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Shannon McGrew

Founder/Co-Owner at Nightmarish Conjurings

Shannon is the Founder of Nightmarish Conjurings and a lover of all things horror and haunt related. When she's not obsessively collecting all things "Trick 'R Treat" related, or trying to convince everyone that "Hereditary" is one of the greatest horror films ever made, you can find her designing interiors for commercial restaurants. An avid haunt fan, Shannon spends the entire year visiting haunts and immersive experiences throughout the Southern California area and hopes to one day design her own haunted attraction.

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