Movies With Butter

The Hive, the first feature film from Dave Yarovesky, premiered at Fantastic Fest. To help bring some attention to the film, Yarovesky’s filmmaker friend James Gunn attended the premiere and led a Q&A with Yarovesky after the film. “It’s a blast,” Gunn said of the film. “It’s an amazing looking film and it’s probably the most horrifying love story I’ve ever seen.”

The film tells the story of a camp counselor (Gabriel Basso) who wakes up with no memory, remembers his relationship with Katie (Kathryn Prescott) and pieces together a hive mind virus epidemic that occurred at their camp. “I sort of aimed to make a more emotional horror film, something that was really about the characters and about their love story,” Yarovesky said. “I just wanted you to feel what that was like, to create that sad story.”

As best friends, Gunn had advised Yarovesky along the way. He was happy to see one of his concerns turn out for the best in the finished film. “I read the script early on,” Gunn said. “One of the things I said was, ‘Really, you’re going to have him vomit? I’m all for having people vomiting tar into other people’s mouths but I think it’s gonna be too funny. ‘ But it wasn’t funny.”

Other advice paid off when Yarovesky faced self-doubt during his production. “Me and James often sit around either in his backyard or my backyard and all smoke my fake cigar and there’ll be cigars,” Yarovesky said. “We just sit around and chat and talk about movies. Sometimes he’ll say some advice. There was this one thing, I remember I was on set, and everything slowed down and I heard the voice of James. It was like, ‘You’re right. You’re right, they’re wrong. Just trust that. You’re right and they’re on.’ There was as situation on set, and the funny thing is I don’t even remember what the situation was on set, but I remember time slowing down and just hearing your voice going, ‘You have to believe that you’re right.’”

Gunn elaborated on his advice to any filmmaker. “Here’s the thing,” Gunn said. “When you’re making a movie, you just have to assume that you’re right all the time because if you really believe in your vision and you really trust it and you’re willing to fight that battle, there are going to be times when you’re going to be wrong but you have to have faith that you’re basically right when you’re choices.”

Look for more news on The Hive next year.

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