Fears about parenthood inspired horror movie The Devil’s Candy

Director Sean Byrne says the real inspiration behind the film’s terror originates on a much more Earthly plane. “It’s an allegory for those ­parental fears, and my worst-case scenario for what could happen.”

The Devil’s Candy actor Ethan Embry, left, and director Sean Byrne. Photo by Dominik Magdziak Photography /WireImage / Getty Images

Taken at face value, The ­Devil's Candy looks like yet another ­horror movie packed with ­demonic possession, nightmarish visions, and iconoclastic ­religious symbolism, in the finest traditions of the genre.

But director Sean Byrne says the real inspiration behind the film’s terror originates on a much more Earthly plane.

“My primary influence when I made the film was my fear of parenthood,” the Australian director reveals. “My wife was pregnant with twins at the time and I was petrified of bringing kids into the world. The world just seemed like a much more dangerous place all of a sudden.

“It’s an allegory for those ­parental fears, and my worst-case scenario for what could happen.”

That said, he also drew inspiration from some of the masters of big-screen horror.

"I was influenced by classics of 1970s and 1980s horror, films that concerned themselves with the idea of hell on Earth, rather than vampires and zombies," he says. "Films such as Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, The Shining. I think there are definitely parallels with The Shining – the idea of an artist going to a remote house, and that idea of what a location can do to a mind."

The artist in question is ­Jessie (played by Ethan Embry), a heavy-metal fan, who finds his children in peril when he moves them into a house with a deadly secret.

Byrne’s film has attracted ­critical acclaim, and his craftsmanship suggests a yearning for an era of thoughtful, “serious” horror films, rather than hack-and-slash schlock.

"I love that early era of horror," the director says. "The genre didn't used to have the stigma attached to it [that it] does now – you'd have The Exorcist nominated for seven Academy Awards.

“And I want to do something with dramatic integrity, because the stakes should be higher in horror than in any other genre – you’re literally dealing with that moment between life and death. In modern horror, there’s not enough focus on characterisation to actually care about the people in peril.”

A big part of the film's success on this score can be attributed to a standout performance by Embry, the star of Empire Records and Vegas ­Vacation. The director admits that he was surprised by its sheer power.

“His intensity ran deeper than even I was expecting,” says Byrne. “He took the role very seriously, worked out a lot, wasn’t really sleeping, conjured as much of his own personal hell as ­possible.

“I looked at his back catalogue and he had a great intensity and aggression mixed with a kind of cuddly side. He struck me as someone that could be that ­ferocious metal warrior that loves his daughter above all else, but could also defend her.

“He really went there – you can see it in his face every time you watch the film.”

The film’s soundtrack is another key part of the experience, featuring songs from metal giants including Metallica, Slayer and Machinehead, as well as incidental music from drone-metal experimentalists Sun O)))).

Byrne gives much of the credit for assembling such an impressive collection of tunes to ­Metallica.

“I’m still in disbelief that we got Metallica,” he says. “Usually I write a list of what songs I want in my movies, then ­presume I won’t get them because I’m making an indie.”

Fortunately, one of the film’s producers is a friend of Metallica’s manager, and the band agreed to watch a rough cut.

“They loved it and came on board, says Byrne. “Once you have the biggest band on and not charging too much, no one else wants to say no and they all want to be in it, so thanks to Metallica we were able to get all these amazing bands on board.

“I really think metal is underused in movies. It’s so cinematic, and it’s been a big soundtrack to my life.”

• The Devil’s Candy is in cinemas from tomorrow

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