Ep 464: Aharon Keshales

PUBLIC VERSION. Acclaimed filmmaker Aharon Keshales (RABIES, BIG BAD WOLVES) began his career as a teacher and critic of film before paring up with his former co-directing partner Navot Papushado (GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE) to create some of the most provocative cinema in the last few years, including the first horror film out of Israel! Aharon discusses what it was like directing solo for the first time with his new film SOUTH OF HEAVEN (starring Jason Sudekis, Evangeline Lily & Shea Whigham and currently available on VOD) and reveals what it was like working as the main director for his first english language feature, which also happened to finish shooting right before the pandemic and edited during it.  Aharon and the boys also discuss how they first met in FrightFest while he was premiering RABIES, how Aharon pivoted from hardcore horror to more dark comedy in BIG BAD WOLVES (which was Quentin Tarantino's favorite film of 2013) and how he strove not to be boxed into any particular genre. Keshales also discusses how SOUTH OF HEAVEN was written as a love letter to his wife, the art of the dynamic one-take shot, how he presents violence in his films, a fantastic alt-take on DIE HARD, and how filmmakers can present villains with sensitive sides and heroes with darker shades of grey.