The Hidebehind, Short Film, Review And Interview

The folklore of early loggers includes the tales of the Hidebehind, a creature that would take men when they weren't being careful in the woods. Parker Finn uses some great cut scenes to give his telling a sharp image of the creature that can disappear behind the trees.

I saw The Hidebehind at the 2019 FilmQuest film festival (website).The film was nominated for Best Makeup.

Here is a short horror about being lost in the woods. If you have never heard of the creature, The Hidebehind is a film you should watch to get the story for your next camping adventure for tales around the campfire.

Synopsis: Lost deep in the forest, a lone backpacker encounters a peculiar stranger.

Parker Finn gives a little more about the folklore that inspired his film. He also talks about what he is working on and what inspired him to become a filmmaker. Even after making this film he claims he still likes to be outdoors when possible.

What was the inspiration for The Hidebehind?

The film was inspired by a peculiar, little-known piece of North American superstition. Lumberjacks would occasionally get drunk and go missing in the forest, and their disappearances were blamed on something called a "Hidebehind," a sort of bogeyman that would stalk anyone unlucky enough to get lost in its neck of the woods. Supposedly a Hidebehind can hide itself behind any tree in the forest, no matter the shape or size. The story is that many people have heard a Hidebehind sneaking up on them, but no one has ever seen one—at least no one who's ever lived to tell the tale.

What project(s) do you have coming up you're excited about?

I'm currently in post-production on a new short horror film that is going to give people an absolute panic attack when they see it! Keep an eye out for it!

What was your early inspiration for pursuing a career in film?

I grew up obsessed with cinema. Movies were a big thing in my household growing up—we would rent movies every weekend. As a kid, I didn't fully grasp the idea that there was actually a person called a director who was making all the decisions we see on screen. The day I discovered what a director was, I knew right then and there: that's what I want to do.

What would be your dream project?

More than anything, I want to make a horror film that touches the zeitgeist—something that scares and sticks with audiences the way the original Nightmare on Elm Street, or The Ring did, that people will revisit again and again over the years.

What are some of your favorite pastimes when not working on a movie?

Getting outdoors! I love anything that comes with a rush of adrenaline: hiking, skiing, cliff jumping, bungee jumping.

What is one of your favorite movies and why?

Oh man, favorite movie? What day of the week is it? I suppose one film that always circulates around the top of my list is Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Kubrick is one of my favorite filmmakers, and The Shining is damn near perfect, from the performances, to the cinematography, and especially the set design. I dream about getting to build sets like the interior of the Overlook Hotel.

You can find out more about The Hidebehind on IMDb (link).

You can also watch the trailer on Vimeo (link).

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