An interview with Duncan SKILES. Director of The Clovehitch Killer, a movie about a prolific serial killer. Find out about the filming process for this great thriller movie, the process, and more. DUNCAN SKILES, the Director of The Clovehitch Killer, a story based on real events in a film centered around a notorious serial killer, shares insights on the intriguing behind-the-scenes details, filming techniques, and more in this exclusive interview. Discover the captivating journey of creating this outstanding thriller.
An Interview with Duncan Skiles
I enjoyed your film The Clovehitch Killer, Duncan Skiles. Instead of being overly concerned with the violence and killing, it concentrates its narrative through the eyes of the son. Was this something that motivated you to want to make the film?
For sure. I was interested in doing a serial killer story that was relatable. The compelling part for me is the question, “What would I do in this situation?”
You and Christopher Ford worked previously together on a comedy television series. How did the two of you come together for a project like this?
Chris Ford and I met in film school and have been collaborating since. I came up with a rough outline for Clovehitch and pitched it to him; he was intrigued and signed on to write it. His success with “Cop Car” helped get the momentum going.
How long was the filming process and do you have any interesting stories about shooting in Kentucky?
We shot for 25 days.
During pre-production, we spent a long time looking for a house for our hero family. Our location scouts blanketed neighborhoods with flyers, and a week after shooting, we finally got a response from a house that worked. Big relief. Then it turned out that the homeowners were friends with Charlie Plummer’s family. Crazy coincidence.
Our shoot also spanned the 2016 election. On election day we shot Tyler crawling underneath the house–the part where he discovers a hidden chamber containing unwelcome truths about someone he thought he knew and loved. Take from that what you will.
Serial Killer Stories Based on Real Events – The Clovehitch Killer
Was casting a difficult process knowing that the details are in the relationships between characters. The dynamic is captured beautifully, were there any problems you had to iron out to achieve this?
We spent a long time casting. Charlie was the first to come on board, Madisen the last. The hardest role to fill was Don.
I got lucky. They’re all super talented and naturally vibed together well. I passed along materials from my research that would help them build the characters and met with them as much as possible before the shoot. But they did a lot of the work on their own. It was fortunate we shot the Burnside house at the tail end of the schedule, as by that time they had gotten more comfortable with each other.
I loved the emergence of Don in the film where you almost believe what Tyler wants to believe. Was it hard to bring Tyler to the forefront and push the killer to the shadows?
I’m glad you picked up on that. There’s supposed to be tension between what you know to be true and what you want to be true.
I’m less interested in serial killers than I am in regular people dealing with moral dilemmas, so Tyler was always the anchor for the story. There’s a part of the movie where the perspective shifts, which we did to build tension and create uncertainty, but eventually, it circles back to Tyler’s POV.
How has the film been received since its premiere at LA Film Festival? Has the feedback been good?
The audience at LAFF seemed to be into it, and the reviews are mostly positive, which is great. The movie takes some risks so I don’t expect universal acclaim; however during editing, we screened it several times and I got the sense that it was working, so I would be surprised if the reviews were mostly negative.
Tell me the release details for The Clovehitch Killer. As the story is based loosely on the BTK Killer, will there be any special features if there is to be a Blu-Ray edition?
On November 16th, we’ll be in theaters in New York, LA, Washington D.C, Iowa City, and Orlando… the list is growing. That same day it’ll be available on Amazon, Google, cable VOD, etc. Blu-ray in 2019, I think.
I don’t know about special features but I kept a Snapchat diary during production that might be cool to include. And my friend Jeff shot a funny EPK.
Do you, yourself watch films, and if so, what sort of films inspires you?
Yeah, I love movies. My favorite is probably Groundhog Day.
Of recent movies, Free Solo was the most amazing film I’ve seen in a long time. Blew me away.
What do you like to do on set when there is a break during filming?
Eat snacks from the craft service table and chat with the crew.
An Interview with Duncan Skiles
I love that you have tried on many professional hats within filmmaking. Which role is the most comfortable for you? (Editor, director, actor, etc.)
Directing. My favorite part of filmmaking is being on location, managing the chaos, collaborating with a team, and figuring out problems at the moment.
I wish you all the best in your future films. I can’t wait to see what you have in the pipeline. Is there anything you want to tell me about some upcoming projects?
I’m working on another thriller. I also have a Youtube channel, “So You’re Dating a Vegan,” that you should check out if you like cooking, travel, and compromise.
Thanks again for answering these questions. I can’t wait for more people to see the film.
Thank you, Vanessa, for your interest in the movie and for helping to spread the word. Much appreciated!
Quote from an interview with Duncan Skiles, director of The Clovehitch Killer
For another great Interview, check out the “Mother of Movies” Interview with Clayton Jacobson.
- Clayton Jacobson director of Brothers’ Nest Interview: Interview with Clayton Jacobson.
- Vayu O’Donnel directed Survival Skills, read the interview with Mother of Movies.
Official Trailer for The Clovehitch Killer
Read the film review for The Clovehitch Killer here.
