Rage – Midsummer's Eve is an homage  to horror films which is set in the Finnish Arctic Circle, during a time of year when the sun never sets.

We caught up with director, Tii Ricks, to talk about the upcoming movie.

Horror News Network: How did you come up with the concept for this film?

Tii Ricks: I wanted to create a film honoring those old horror classics I had seen in my childhood; Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Etc. Those who have visited the abandoned country side - anywhere in the the world - know how frightening the feeling in the countryside can sometimes be. Old barns, abandoned cottages, silent forests, creepy tales, old superstitions and spells combined together with Midsummer's Eve - to me - make a perfect setting for a horror film.


Horror News Network: Can you tell us a bit about the main characters in this film?

Tii Ricks: The film actually starts with a very traditional setting for a horror film – this is part of the tribute. It's a story about five people originally from the USA, UK and Finland who are now living and studying in Helsinki, Finland. They decide to go enjoy a traditional Finnish summer holiday in the countryside and soon find out that the abandoned countryside has some surprises in store for them. I did not want to create a traditional group of teenagers running for their lives but have a group of young adults trying to overcome the horror they face.


Horror News Network: When we think of horror, we usually think of monsters in the dark. Can you talk a bit about the challenges of making a horror movie where the sun never sets?

Tii Ricks: This was exactly the challenge I wanted to face. The trouble with having “monsters” in the dark is that the dark has become a very obvious element and people watching horror films know exactly what to expect when dark falls and when people encounter dark corners, closets. Etc. So setting the film in the dark, for me as a film maker, feels a bit boring and sets no real challenge anymore. In my opinion there is something very mystical in those White Nights when the sun never sets: It is a very odd and frightening feeling to see the night mist hovering over a field when it is 3 am in the morning and the sun hasn´t set. To me it's creepy as hell.

Horror News Network: Since this is a tribute to horror flicks, can you tell us a bit about the monster(s)/killer(s) in the film?

Tii Ricks: That is something you will have to wait to see. Together with the Director of Photography, Lawrence Dolkart, we will bring you a visually entertaining film: I will do my best to create a horror film that will leave you looking over your shoulders constantly and making your trips to a familiar or peaceful place questionable. I will also try and make one of the scariest films I have ever seen and I have seen a lot of them.   


Horror News Network: What can we expect to see in terms of blood and guts?

Tii Ricks: Every good horror film has to have some blood and guts, but this film is also more than just that. I don't personally see blood and guts that scary: Of course we will use them as effects, but it's not about ripping body parts off or breaking bones.   


Horror News Network: How long do you think this movie will take to complete if principal photography begins in July?

Tii Ricks: The shooting in Finland will last until August. The editing of the material begins already in Finland and the final post production will be done in the UK and in Los Angeles during the Fall except for the sound design which will be made in Helsinki, London and Vienna by Ms. Katja Kostiainen. I worked with Ms. Kostiainen in my last feature film 'Better than Andy'. Coming from Finland and living many years in the countryside in Finland she is the perfect choice for this film. She knows exactly all the scary noises you can hear in the forrest and the atmospheres which can make your mind start to play tricks on you. She was the apprentice for Finnish sound guru the late Mr. Paul Jyrala, who worked in such Hollywood blockbusters as 'Proof of Life', 'The Patriot' and 'Hannibal' so she also understands the meaning of powerful sound designing. The film will be ready for release in the first quarter of 2012 but let´s see what the distributors have to say about that one. We should be able to show some material in the American Film Markets in November.


Horror News Network: Can you give a rough estimate on when we may see the initial trailer?

Tii Ricks: I believe we will have a first teaser trailer to show you in the end of August. I will make sure that you guys are one of the first ones to get a hold of it.


Horror News Network: Where can we find out more information about Rage - Midsummers’ Eve?

Tii Ricks: The official website will open in June 2011 at the same time when we announce the cast and some partners for the film. I promise that the Horror News Network will be the first one to receive the information about the site. 


Horror News Network: In closing, what would you like to say about Rage - Midsummers’ Eve?

Tii Ricks: Ever since I was a little girl I used to watch all the horror films that I was not supposed to watch – from Bad Taste to Friday the 13th  and from The Nightmare on Elm Street to the Evil Dead. I always thought that these are the kind of films I would love to make. Later on when I studied to become a film maker and I had seen almost all the horror films out there, I began to wonder what there was left to see and do. Rage – Midsummer's Eve is a tribute to all of those films from my childhood starting with a traditional setting of a typical Hollywood horror film but soon turning into a true roller coaster with one surprise after another. I believe that after all the films I have seen and after all the things I have studied about horror films I can easily say that I cannot be easily frightened. For Rage, I will try to do my best to make a film which will honor all those past great films and - dare I say - maybe even top them by inventing something new and finding new ways to scare all kinds of viewers - just like all we horror fans want to scare and be scared.  


Horror News Network: Thank you for your time, Tii! Please keep us updated on this film, we would like to follow it closely!

Tii Ricks: Thank you. It was a pleasure: Horror News Network is one of my favorite sites to read about new films and stuff. Glad to join you like this. Keep up the good work!

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