From Ghost Machine Pictures comes Himalaya, a high-altitude cryptid thriller. Written and directed by Brandon Walker, Himalaya is an icy ride down the supernatural slopes of Mt. Everest. Starring Akihiro Kitamura (The Human Centipede), Jesse LeNoir (Wild West Chronicles), Robert Palmer Watkins (The Walking Dead: World Beyond), Ashley Park (Los Angeles Overnight) and Shoko Rice (Call Me Emanuelle).
We spoke recently to project creator Brandon Walker about making a winterized horror movie in downtown LA.
HF: A film about a yeti seems challenging in terms of environment. Why not make a Bigfoot movie instead?
BW: As a kid, there were certain myths and monsters that fascinated me. I grew up in Southern California and still remember my first ride on Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds. I was thrilled, I was terrified… I was hooked! Not only did I love the Abominable Snowman, but the idea of swooping down a snow-capped mountain in the middle of summer was the icing on the cake. Perhaps all these years later, I wanted to revisit that sensation.
HF: How did you approach making an icy Himalayan adventure on a budget?
BW: It starts with a script that is mindful of money yet challenging creatively. The premise of a pseudo-live broadcast allowed me to toggle between dialogue scenes played in a cabin and action scenes played in a perilous ice cave. This storytelling device opened up a world of possibilities for a small production.
HF: Is it true that the cave scenes were shot in a downtown LA warehouse?
BW: Yes, the cave set was made of carved polystyrene foam. These large but lightweight blocks were moved constantly to make a mere 5 feet of scenery look endless. We poured several hundred pounds of faux snow to complete the illusion of a frozen subterranean cave system. The final effect is the result of four people making a huge mess and then regretting it when it came time to clean up.
HF: Ancient myths figure prominently in Himalaya. Is this a recurring theme in your films?
BW: I enjoy horror with an anthropological twist. Because our budget didn’t allow us to fly off to Nepal, I worked to recreate the flavor of a faraway land in both the writing and production.
HF: What can you tell us about the cast of Himalaya?
BW: We have a small but dynamic group of actors on this project. Himalaya stars Jesse LeNoir as a charismatic but self-involved internet host named Chase Daly. Akihiro Kitamura stars as Dr. Yuma Sato, a famed anthropologist who has spent the better part of his life in pursuit of a mythical creature called the “Snow Ghost.” Robert Palmer Watkins (JP Carter), Ashley Park (Dr. Abigail Frost) and Shoko Rice (Taka Sato) round out the supporting cast.
HF: You can’t make a creature feature without a beast. How did you bring the “Snow Ghost” to life in Himalaya?
BW: It was important to establish a beastly entity that could be cryptozoological, paranormal, or even a psychological delusion. To bring physicality to the creature, producer Nathan Church donned a hand sculpted silicone mask and full body suit. Nate’s background as a martial artist helped him not only with movement, but with the mental challenge of being inside an uncomfortable costume. The “Snow Ghost” is just one of the abominations lurking in the cave… so keep your eyes peeled.
HF: The first person POV aspects of the film are convincing. How many cameras were used in the movie?
BW: We used just one camera to imply multiple cameras in the film. Then our talented co-editor Thomas Burke treated each shot with unique color, texture and screen data. His attention to detail gave each POV its own distinct personality.
HF: When and where can audiences see Himalaya?
BW: The film will premiere in Los Angeles before arriving on multiple streaming platforms in April. A physical media release by Not Quite Reality will follow this summer.
