HNIFF 2023
SLASHR
Directed by Amir Moini · United States · 13 min · short · narrative
In a remote mountain cabin, a young man escapes the city after an unexpected break up, only to be stalked by a ruthless killer he meets on a dating app.
This film's screening window has ended.
From the director
The making of SLASHR comes with the goal of paying tribute to classic slasher films such as When a Stranger Calls, Scream and Halloween, while incorporating contemporary themes like dating apps, isolation, technology, and the current attack on the LGBTQ community in the United States.
Although the main character, Ashkan, is physically alone, he’s constantly inundated with messages, texts, voice notes, and calls. This tension shows the modern contradiction of technology being incredibly isolating and connecting simultaneously - and how a part of you can die or rewire (metaphorically or in this case, literally) when you commodify human needs and emotions like desire, loneliness, and companionship.
It’s a film that provides the viewer an experience that ranges from fun to jump scares, while reflecting on relevant and timely fears of worst-case scenarios.
SLASHR aims to expand queer narratives into the horror/thriller space, as LGBTQ+ films are often seen in the comedic and/or dramatic genres. Further, the movie organically showcases an Iranian character without making his identity the focal point of the plot; rather it is one part of who he is as a multi-layered and complex human being.
