Stalked in Your Sleep: The Claustrophic Torment of ‘Hypnagogia’ by Arvid Cristina
The cliché is that some of the best opportunities in life come along when you least expect them. Fresh career path, new love, octopus-tentacled dream demon that hunts you in your sleep. Hopefully, only one of these “opportunities” ends with writhing in pain in a hospital bed in an undulating tidal wave of anguish.
This is Hypnagogia, the new short horror film by Louisiana filmmaker Arvid Cristina. Since he was old enough to turn on a camcorder, Arvid Cristina has aspired to make movies, and Hypnagogia is Arvid’s fifth directorial short film. He is a writer, director, editor, colorist, and producer, and founded Psychoscope Studios in 2021. He has worked on an eclectic array of movies in the Louisiana film scene including 2021’s A House on the Bayou and National Champions starring J.K. Simmons.
Genre: Short, Horror
Director: Arvid Cristina
Writer: Arvid Cristina
Starring: Tevin Marbeth, Sylvia Grace Crim, Pedro Lucero
Producers: Nancy Cristina, Freddy Mangia, Alexander A. Garcia, Pedro Lucero
Hypnagogia embarked on a festival run and was an official selection at the 2021 Screamfest in New Orleans. The film emanates a callback vibe of classic night terror stories like Nightmare on Elm Street and reminds the audience that climbing into a cozy warm bed is sometimes the best way to get murdered in your sleep.
We spoke with Arvid Cristina about the production of Hypnagogia and what he’s excited for next.
Where did you guys shoot and when?
“New Orleans and Harahan, Louisiana.”
How long was production?
“Two days with a week of prep and a day of reshoots about a month later.”
Any stories you’d like to share from production?
“Toward the end of shooting, we started hearing a lot of heavy bass and the sound of drunk women screaming loudly from the shop next door. Turns out there was a bachelorette party going on next door (keep in mind this was a Sunday night in Harahan). They were all very friendly but it made for some interesting shooting delays.”
What was your post-production process like?
“Since I am an editor by trade, I edited the film.
VFX were done by Tim McLain of Cajun Pepper Studios in Ponchatoula. Sound editing was done by Evan Sox, final color was done by Bradley Greer of Kyotocolor.
The soundtrack was done my friends, Kym Trailz and the TONCwave (a side project of New Orleans based Horror Punk band Tomb of Nick Cage and was mixed and recorded by Lewis D’aubin at COG Secret Lab Studios in River Ridge, Louisiana.”
What’s your favorite shot in the video?
“I would have to say the shot of the dream demon with the octopus tentacles. Which I initially thought would be silly and didn’t want it in the movie. To my DP, Nathan Tape’s credit, he insisted we keep use it.”
Is the film available for viewers to watch now? If so, where?
“Not yet. Once it has finished its festival run I will explore options to release it. It screened at Screamfest NOLA on October 23rd. I have submitted to several other Genre festivals and eagerly waiting to hear back.”
What are you looking to direct next? What are you excited about now?
“I would really like to tackle a feature, and I have some horror scripts I’m shopping around. I am also working on an HP Lovecraft themed comic book. But the thing I’m most excited about is the upcoming birth of my son.”
Fable House is a video production company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that specializes in production for film, video, commercials, and TV. Our team are experts in physical production, post-production, and VFX. We produce content for major brands, TV networks like Syfy and Lifetime, and provide production services to Louisiana’s never-say-die indie filmmakers.