Being under 3 minute long, the mini horror shot by Amy Gwatkin in collaboration with fashion designer and embroiderer extraordinaire Scott Ramsay Kyle is probably the shortest film of its genre. Yet Twin Freaks is spooky enough to be on a par with Dario Argento’s films.
Half Suspiria, also thanks to Henry Law’s spellbinding soundtrack that evokes The Goblins, with enough Swarovski crystals to call to mind the title of another thriller directed by the Italian master of horror, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, and plenty of kaleidoscopic effects à la Mario Bava, Twin Freaks is a brief vision about an unsettling and disturbing apparition hiding in a cupboard and it’s Gwatkin and Kyle’s present to their fans for Halloween.
What prompted you to shoot a mini horror?
Amy Gwatkin: Any excuse to work with Scott! I love the fact that the nature of how Scott works means he’s not tied to seasons and fashion weeks.
Scott Ramsay Kyle: I was excited about Amy’s idea of using kaleidoscopes and layers and the mini horror came through as soon as she began to shoot.
Amy Gwatkin: Dario Argento, deffo! Annalisa Dunn from Cooperative Designs introduced me to his work and I’ve been obsessed with the coloured light and melodrama ever since. Also Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula, so not just horror, strictly speaking, but thoroughly over the top works, I just love it! Also Tales of the Unexpected - the TV show - and especially the dreamy, creepy fairground organ theme tune and credits...I think Henry unconsciously channelled it in his soundtrack!
Scott Ramsay Kyle: I love old vampire movies especially Hammer films with all their faux decadence and even Eerie, Indiana, I used to watch it after school as a kid. I’ve also watched Twilight something like 6 times, but no judgments thanks!
Where did you shoot it and what inspired the garments worn in the video?
Amy Gwatkin: We shot it in Scott’s cupboard under the stairs - I love the idea of the dark heart of suburbia, such a cliché, but with good reason.
Scott Ramsay Kyle: Yes, we shot it in my house in Bow – ‘the bowels of bow’ - and under our stairs which was fun. I like a lot the idea of documenting parts of your life through your practice. I recently worked with Hector Castro on a special project using a lot of Swarovski crystals and the leftover stones were used in the video.
You already collaborated together previously, do you think you may shoot a proper shortcut/film one of these days?Amy Gwatkin: Would love to! We definitely have other plans for collaboration, and no doubt that will involve film. I’d love to get Scott involved in other film projects.
Scott Ramsay Kyle: Like Amy said, we are planning more projects soon and I’m also working on menswear pieces. I like hanging out with Amy and we tweet each other lots.
Is there an actor/actress you would like to appear in one of your future videos?
Amy Gwatkin: Gary Oldman! I love him. Might take some persuading though...Scott Ramsay Kyle: Maybe Keanu Reeves? Just so versatile with his delivery…[Dude?] I loved him in Bram Stoker’s Dracula too!
After Halloween, can we hope in a Christmas short as well?
Amy Gwatkin: Yeah why not! I’m not a huge fan of Xmas, bit of an Ebeneezer Scrooge, so maybe “A Christmas Carol” is ripe for a fashion remake!
Scott Ramsay Kyle: We may work on a remake of Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’, I’ll get some highlights and we mince around in front of the camera...best not! Happy Hallowe’en!
Photograph from Twin Freaks taken from Amy Gwatkin's blog.
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