South by Southwest is again, child! Nowadays, the acclaimed annual pageant extends far past the hit music scene, which has welcomed numerous award-winning performers. Among the many extremely anticipated movies on the SXSW pageant in 2024, for instance, is Useless Mail. Sure, the eerie title is supposed as a humorous and spooky double entendre. The brand new psychological thriller gives a gloriously retro take a look at a sure iconic decade often known as the Eighties, with a twisty little storyline a few heroic postal service employee making an attempt to trace down the place a mysterious handwritten letter originated. On this digital age, it is refreshing to see a film centered round good ol’ snail mail.

The “lifeless mail” within the movie is sort of actually a blood-stained cry for assist, one made by a synthesizer technician named Josh (Sterling Macon Jr.). Josh is being held captive by a mysterious man named Trent (John Fleck), who was previously a good friend of his. We lately caught up with actors Macon and Fleck, together with the movie’s co-writers and administrators Joe DeBoer and Kyle McConaghy, in a gaggle interview to study extra about this ’80s horror homage that may absolutely be abuzz upon its SXSW launch this week.

Associated: Linda Blair Says Working With Exorcist Director William Friedkin Was an “Intense” Expertise

Cruising and Cronenberg

With out giving an excessive amount of away, this gripping new thriller begins off with a foreshadowed chase sequence that will make auteur Quentin Tarantino proud, not less than on a storytelling stage. To that finish, it is plain to see another filmmaking influences throughout Useless Mail, particularly given the Eighties time interval as a setting. Even right down to the purposefully grainy look of the top outcome, you’ll be able to’t assist however really feel remodeled to the previous — even when you’re too younger to have truly skilled it.

“I am an enormous fan of the late-’70s,” stated DeBoer, who additionally struggled to call a single favourite movie of his from this iconic interval of cinematic historical past. “Friedkin was definitely an enormous affect of ours. I do not know if that is particular, however I really feel I could not title a single film perhaps within the ’80s that I’d say is a favourite.”

The late, nice William Friedkin handed away not too way back, and it is clear his legacy lives on. He was making movies proper up till his demise (with The Caine Mutiny Courtroom Martial), however of us maybe know him greatest from his initiatives which are many years outdated, akin to The Exorcist.

“Issues that come to thoughts are perhaps Cruising, I feel was Eighties,” McConaghy instructed MovieWeb in excited about different Friedkin that maybe influenced how Useless Mail turned out; it is a stunning alternative, however we are able to see the aesthetic affect. “After which The Broodby [David] Cronenberg, early ’80s. I feel these two are coming to thoughts as perhaps issues that in all probability performed some sort of affect on this movie.”

It is going to be attention-grabbing to listen to what the SXSW pageant attendees must say about Useless Mail, and which basic horror influences they’ll spot. Verify again right here for updates relating to the movie’s official U.S. launch. Within the meantime, Useless Mail can have its world premiere on Saturday, March 9 at 3pm at Violet Crown 2. You could find its different showtimes at SXSW right here.