Women In Horror Month: Mama’s Boy
Sam Kolesnik and Vanessa Wright are a dynamic duo of women filmmakers. You’ll recognize their names immediately as the organizers of the Women in Horror Film Festival as well as the accomplished creators of such films as I Baked Him a Cake and Rainy Season. Their latest work, however, is a true collaboration between the two and tells a story as heartbreaking tragic as it is horrifying. Mama’s Boy is about a male prostitute who has been sexually and physically abused while pushing himself further into a world of sado-masochism and bondage. It’s only as he reaches the pinnacle of this ongoing cycle of torture and degradation that he finally snaps and the horrors of a man made monster come to life.
“Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.” -Albert Camus.
This quote begins the brief crowdfunding video on Seed & Spark that explains the premise behind Mama’s Boy. A unique tale of abuse and interpersonal struggle that Kolesnik and Wright have paired up to tell.
Written and directed by Kolesnik with Wright producing, the film explores taboos that even in the horror community often end up overlooked. Mama’s Boy is the story of an abused male prostitute in the BDSM lifestyle who continues to endure cruelty and humiliation in a desperate attempt to cling to the only family he knows. When his world comes crashing down around him, his masochistic, victimized traits are transformed into sadism and a more malevolent persona. The story promises to explore topics about sex, abuse, and elements of the LGBT lifestyle and community that are usually passed over in horror films and storytelling.
Shot in mid-January 2018, this will mark the directorial debut of Samantha Kolesnik who has written and produced on short films such as I Baked Him a Cake, The Price of Bones, and Rainy Season. A talented screenwriter with a unique vision, I’m looking forward to seeing her take control from the director’s chair. But the film still has a way to go before it hits the festival circuit.
In less than a week of crowdfunding Mama’s Boy had raised over forty percent of the funding it needed and with a list of incentives from shoutouts on social media to a walk on role and even an executive producer credit, there was plenty of reason to consider making a donation to the campaign. But the best reason of all might just be the satisfaction of becoming a patron of the arts and supporter of a unique film that promises to bring audiences a story like nothing they’ve ever seen before.
Horror is no stranger to crowdfunding campaigns. Many filmmakers and small production companies have been turning to audiences and fans for years now to find new investors in their projects. Offering everything from autographed posters and props to producer credits on the film itself, they’re looking to get the community involved in creating their unique visions. After all, if it weren’t for the fans, what would be the point in telling these stories. Crowdfunding gives people, creative or otherwise, a chance to be a part of the process of making art and creating something remarkable.
And be sure to check back here for updates on Mama’s Boy as well as the Women in Horror Film Festival returning to Peachtree City this October.
Dan Lee is a horror fiend and freelance writer with a special place in his heart for monster movies and demonic possession stories.
