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What Is It?
The 2015 horror short film Gorgeous Vortex.
Exclusive Tease of Bonus ‘V/H/S: Viral’ Segment ‘Gorgeous Vortex’
This is how The IMDb describes this short film:
Follows a sinister, shadowy organization that is tracking a serial killer.
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What Is It?
The 2021 found footage horror anthology movie V/H/S/94.
This is how Rotten Tomatoes describes this movie:
A Shudder Original Film, V/H/S/94 is the fourth installment in the hit horror anthology franchise and marks the return of the infamous found footage anthology with segments from franchise alumni Simon Barrett (Séance) and Timo Tjahjanto (May the…
Writer-director Todd Lincoln tells us about “Gorgeous Vortex,” his secret segment from V/H/S: Viral, which is out now on Blu-ray and DVD. He also discusses his early work on The Apparition and From Dusk Till Dawn.
Your V/H/S: Viral segment, "Gorgeous Vortex," was cut from the film, but now it's available on the Blu-ray and DVD a "hidden track" after the credits. How did that happen?
“Gorgeous Vortex” was planned as the secret final V/H/Ssegment for the hardcore fans and true diggers. It hints at a larger mythology and points to a new direction for the V/H/S franchise. Its positioning on the Blu-ray and DVD is a throwback to the way that ‘90s CD’s for bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana and Ministry would have a hidden track after the end of the album. “Gorgeous Vortex” plays as an ominous transmission after the end credits of V/H/S: Viral. This release plan seems to have complimented and enhanced the mystery and power of the film.
Tell me a little bit about the inspiration behind Gorgeous Vortex. It's very surreal and stylish.
“Gorgeous Vortex” is a dialogue-free, experimental, high-fashion horror film. It was partly inspired by avant-garde video artists, fashion photography, old Italian horror movies, George Lucas’s early experimental films and the writings of J.G. Ballard and Jean Baudrillard. I wanted to create a visceral, visual onslaught served up in a post-human way. Something purposely disruptive and divisive. “Gorgeous Vortex” is not found footage. Perhaps it’s an assemblage of memories, dreams, simulations and surveillance. Or maybe it’s from another time or dimension. The film is like an evil puzzle, purposely coded and cursed.
What was the process like when you were approached for V/H/S: Viral? Were you given you any specific parameters?
The V/H/S producers didn’t give me any specific parameters other than maybe the aspect ratio and running time. I fleshed out three different concepts for them. They chose “Gorgeous Vortex,” and we immediately went into pre-production. The producers were supportive and gave me total creative freedom.
Did you immediately know you wanted to experiment with something different?
Yes. I wanted to take the V/H/S franchise in a different direction both tonally and stylistically. It felt like it was time to burn the forest for regrowth. My editor, Ed Cardenas, and I took a kind of Dadaist or Burroughs-esque cut-up approach to the narrative drive. The entire time I was putting together “Gorgeous Vortex” I kept thinking of Walter Murch’s quote about working with George Lucas on THX 1138. Murch said, “What we were interested in doing was making a film from the future rather than about the future.”
Victoria’s Secret model Jayden Robison stars in the film. How did she get involved, and what was it like to work with her?
My casting director, Matthew Lessall, and I looked through all the actress submissions and dug deep at the talent agencies. Jayden Robison had a really striking look. Once I spoke with her, I discovered that she really understood and connected with the role. She was ready to give it everything she had. She possessed a beautiful combination of strength, fierceness and vulnerability that added unexpected layers. There is a great sadness and darkness to this film, and she was willing to dive into the abyss.
I love Joseph Bishara's score, which almost makes you forget the movie has no dialogue. Did you give him any particular direction about the music?
Joseph’s score for “Gorgeous Vortex” is excellent. I still find myself listening to it and studying it. I think it’s some of his best work. He and I had long conversations about the mood and tone of the film. My editor and I loaded him up with temp music from various soundtracks and bands that we had used for the rough cut. But Joseph’s original, haunting score blew away the temp tracks and brought the film to a whole new level. I’m also excited about his recent release of the “Gorgeous Vortex” soundtrack album on vinyl and digital download.
Have you considered turning "Gorgeous Vortex" into a feature? The ending certainly lends itself to a continuation.
I have a lot of ideas on what the feature film version would look like. But there’s something cooler about having “Gorgeous Vortex” continue to stand alone as a short film. I’m definitely a fan of shorts that have been turned into features such as THX 1138, La Jetee, District 9, Boogie Nights and The Evil Dead. Most of those shorts are ones that people would never have imagined could become features. But I don’t think a film has to be feature-length to be official. It’s better to leave people wanting more.
You previously directed The Apparition, which came out in 2012. How do you feel about the film looking back on it?
The Apparition has its moments, but the circumstances on that film were not favorable, to say the least. My hands were tied in ways that people wouldn’t believe. The cast and crew and I were all on the same page and they did excellent work. The execs at Warner Bros. were awesome. I loved working on the Warner’s lot and shooting at Studio Babelsberg just outside Berlin. But unfortunately the film was compromised and watered down every step of the way by a few fearful nano-managers. These specific powers that be lost sight of what they liked about the original concept, and it destroyed the film. They even cut the apparition out of The Apparition. It’s a damn shame, because Spectral Motion created a terrifying, inhuman, full-body apparition - using completely practical effects. I wish audiences could have seen my version of the film.
Your first credit was as a visual effects production assistant on From Dusk Till Dawn. What was that experience like?
The morning after high school graduation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I packed up my car and drove twenty-two hours straight to LA to work as a production assistant on From Dusk Till Dawn. I had secured the job in advance, because I read an early mention in Fangoria magazine that Rodriguez and Tarantino were going to be making this new vampire movie. I tracked down the phone number to their production office in a trade magazine and called them. I sent in my resume and kept bugging them until they said to come on out.
Everyone wore many hats on From Dusk Till Dawn, so I got a chance to work in every department - from the production office, to the costume department, to craft service, to art department, to visual fx, to creature fx, to set work. Sometimes I’d stir vampire blood for the KNB guys and then get a couple of hours sleep on a stunt pad in my blood-soaked clothes. I also remember when we were on location in Barstow shooting the exterior shots of the Titty Twister. It was 135 degrees and my Vans shoes were melting and bubbling up from walking on the hot desert floor.
I continued to work on the film in post-production and got to sit and watch Rodriguez edit. It was a magical summer and a huge learning experience. Inspiring and empowering. Plus, standing inside the Titty Twister surrounded by all that amazing talent and watching a scantily-clad young Salma Hayek seductively dance with a snake around her… completely blew my mind. Becoming a director was now the only option.
Do you have anything else in works we should be on the look out for?
I’m currently writing a new feature. It’s a psychosexual sci-fi thriller. In the meantime, everyone should keep checking up on gorgeousvortex.com for new side story micro-films that tie in with “Gorgeous Vortex.” You can keep up with my latest projects by following me on Instagram and Twitter.
Vance Kelly designed this stylish poster for "Gorgeous Vortex," a bonus segment from V/H/S: Viral directed by Todd Lincoln (The Apparition). The hidden short can be found by watching after the credits on the Blu-ray and DVD, which came out this week.
