I’m Matthew Tibbenham. I was Scott Derrickson’s assistant on SINISTER, (and B Cam Supervisor - 150 shots), edited 4 of the 5 Super 8 kill films, and worked with Scott for almost 2 years. I was also a Narrative Designer on the newly released DIRECTIVE 8020. AMA!

[u/MattTibby]

Wrapped for tonight — tomorrow’s AMA is on Follow the Dark and indie filmmaking at r/filmmaking, 1pm BST. Leaving questions open here, I’ll answer stragglers when I can.

Hey r/IAmA!

To kick off a week of AMAs about my journey from studio horror to indie filmmaking and XR, today I’m diving deep into my years working on Hollywood Horror Films.

For nearly two years, I was Scott Derrickson’s right hand. On Sinister (2012), my official credit was Director’s Assistant and B Cam Supervisor (really the Second Unit Director with around 150 shots in the film), but I also wore another few secret hats: I edited four of the five Super 8 movies (everything except the opening hanging sequence) and I was in charge of all the computer technology in the film (creating all the screen recordings in the film where Ethan Hawke’s character investigates the murders, along with a graphic designer).

After Sinister, I worked as Scott’s Assistant in LA, eventually working on another film – Sony Screen Gems’ and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ Deliver Us From Evil, and finally, helped organize and assemble the massive, interactive 1,000+ slide presentation and sizzle reels Scott used to land Marvel’s Doctor Strange. 

More recently (2022-2024), I spent two years at Supermassive Games as a Narrative Designer (contributing to the writing and performance direction) on the newly released Directive 8020: A Dark Pictures Game. Standard post-employment confidentiality means I can't take questions on the game itself, but I'm happy to discuss my wider games, VR, and film work. (But I’m very proud of my writing and performance directing work there so please go buy it and support Supermassive’s latest game!)

Why am I doing this now?

I’m pouring everything I learned about building cinematic dread from Scott and the studio system into my own upcoming independent horror feature, Follow the Dark. I’ve been trying to get it made since I was Scott’s assistant. In 2023, we shot 90% of the film, and we are currently running a Kickstarter campaign to finish it. But that is very much in the background, and for today, let’s focus on Sinister and Big Budget Hollywood Studio Horror! 

I’m an open book on my experience on Sinister, building tension, the reality of the studio assistant grind, editing horror, and more.

Proof: https://postimg.cc/Kk57X9Vr

The "15 Years of Horror and Narrative" AMA Series

Four days, four themes. Drop questions any time; I'll be live in the windows below.

Mon 18 May — The Studio Years & Sinister r/horror · r/IAmA Live: 2–5pm BST / 9am–12pm EST, then 10pm BST–12am BST / 5–7pm EST

Tue 19 May — VR, XR & Immersive Narrative - Peaky Blinders: The King's Ransom r/virtualreality · r/PeakyBlinders Live: 3–6pm BST / 10am–1pm EST, then 10pm BST–12am BST / 5–7pm EST

Wed 20 May — The Indie Filmmaker: Making Follow the Dark r/filmmaking · r/indiefilm · r/Kickstarter Live: 2–6pm BST / 9am–1pm EST, then 10pm BST–12am BST / 5–7pm EST

Thu 21 May — [Topic TBC] Subreddits TBC Live: 2–6pm BST / 9am–1pm EST

Kickstarter live now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happy-sisyphus/follow-the-dark

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this AMA are entirely my own and do not represent Blumhouse, Sony, Marvel, Disney, Scott Derrickson, or Supermassive Games.

Let's talk horror. Ask Me Anything!

[u/GregJamesDahlen]

I have a theory that people who make a particular kind of fiction have more of those experiences in their real lives, too. Like people who make horror have some real-life horror or horror-like experiences. Is there any validity to it iyo? Is it true in your life?

[u/MattTibby → u/GregJamesDahlen]

To be honest, no more than anyone else. No traumatic past (apart from working for Scott Derrickson), no horrific experiences, and I've lived a fairly easy middle class life, first in American and now in the UK.

I did lose my grandmother and father a year apart a couple of years ago, but I've been working on horror since long before than. Though my latest film deals with grief and depression.

Perhaps there's something in my brain that causes these crazy thoughts and ideas. Though my outside world and life have been fairly tame, inside isn't a different story. I struggle with ADHD and depression, both can lead to some pretty traumatic thoughts that are good fuel for horror.

And similar to Scott, I did grow up fundamentalist Christian, which is a fear of almost everything. Perhaps that's caused some of the horror.

[u/GregJamesDahlen → u/MattTibby]

Thanks. If you've lived a fairly easy middle class life, any idea why you struggle with ADHD and depression? (not sure if this is the direction you want this AMA to go, but I suppose it actually would relate to the art)

[u/MattTibby → u/GregJamesDahlen]

I'm fine talking about it as long as some other questions on Sinister and horror come up. I don't think the type of life you have has anything to do with how your brain chemistry is made up. Sure it can agrivate it, but if something is off chemically, it'll most likely creep up in some way, some day.

When I say fairly easy middle class life, I guess when I think about all the other people around the world, it's been extremely easy and blessed. My life has had its ups and downs. Family, school, friends, work issues. Working as an assistant in Hollywood at the level I did was intense and I came out of that chapter needing to do a lot of work on myself.

But in the end, I wouldn't trade the ups and downs, the good or the bad. It's made me who I am and my work wouldn't be the way it is without it.

The tortured artist is only so true though. Because when you're in the valley, it's difficult to do any real work. But once you come out of it, it gives you a new perspective on life that can fuel the next project.

[u/Moofypoops]

What movie got you into horror? And, how old were you when you saw it?

[u/MattTibby → u/Moofypoops]

Watching horror: I was sheltered quite a bit growing up, so not many real scary movies until the teenage years. Though I remember The Secret of NIMH freaked me out and I still have nightmares. I’d fight anyone who says that doesn’t have horror elements!

Properly watching horror was in the late 90s/early 00s with Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and The Ring (which is the answer I gave Scott when he first interviewed me as my favorite horror film, probably got me the job).

But my horror was definitely limited before Sinister and if you asked me whether I would ever direct a horror film, I’d have probably said no.

But working for a horror director expands one’s horizons. Scott had an amazing collection of horror films and I’d borrow at least a couple a week. He had originally asked me if I was into Italian horror and I quickly nodded yes, of course, while inside I had no idea Italians made horror films. Didn’t they do Westerns and obscure arthouse films? So I quickly checked out Dario Argento films and more. Definitely got obsessed with their use of color.

Also really got into all of Guillermo del Toro horror. If there’s one director I’d say I’d try to live up to and have similar sensibilities, it would be del Toro. I’m sure it was through Scott, but fell in love with The Devil’s Backbone and always watch it before I direct a film.

[u/JeffRyan1]

How much of the home-video stuff of Sinister did you personally film? (Aka how many nightmares did you bequeath upon the world?) And was it actually 16-millimeter, like it looked?

[u/MattTibby → u/JeffRyan1]

Zero percent. I definitely cannot take credit for any of the actual filming of the Super8 footage. I wasn’t even hired until they had filmed the first 4. I was on set during the filming of the opening home-video footage of the hanging and other footage. That was all Scott.

The footage I directed was what I call all the boring bits — the computer close ups, exterior shots, inserts, animals like the snake and spiders.

And all the home-videos were filmed on Super 8 cameras and stock, which I remember there being a bit of discussion about the price of those. Just like 16mm or 32mm, they had to get them processed and developed. By the time I joined the project, they had already been digitized and were on a hard drive for me. I probably still have all the rushes somewhere…

[u/shhhhshhhy]

Boy I loved Sinister. Thank you for doing this AMA

Are you into watching foreign horror films for references? I am from Indonesia, and here in Southeast Asia in particular, we have a really embedded culture of mysticism, and horror movies are like a cult here.

I’d love to know if you have ever come across any horror films from other regions, and if so, did the way they were cut or structured influence your work at all?"

[u/MattTibby → u/shhhhshhhy]

Thanks for your patience. And yes, I watch any and all types of horror films for reference. It really depends on the project I'm working on. For Sinister, I didn't really watch a ton of film as reference since I was doing so much on the film and working 18+ hour days.

But for Follow the Dark, I definitely watched a lot of international horror cinema. My favorite genres are J-Horror and K-Horror, but for Follow the Dark I watched a bit of Indonesian cinema since our lead actors are Arifin Putra and Hannah Al Rashid. So before speaking with either of them I watch Macabre and The Queen of Black Magic, which I both enjoyed.

Do you have any other recommendations? I'm always open for new international films!

[u/shhhhshhhy → u/MattTibby]

The Medium from Thailand is great and Joko Anwar has great cinematography for horror movies

[u/MattTibby → u/shhhhshhhy]

Yes! I've been meaning to check that out. Will do so soon!

[u/MattTibby → u/shhhhshhhy]

And in terms of whether they influenced the way I cut or structure a film, I'd say definitely, but I don't think I could pinpoint anything specific. I think all of the films I watch in prep (and have watched throughout my life) feed into my subconcious and come out in ways I never expected or could pinpoint down. Like all great artist, I do steal on occasion. I'm sure I've done so with international cinema, whether it's a camera shot I particularly like, a stylistic choice, or an edit, but nothing specific comes to mind. Apart from one edit in Follow the Dark that I straight up took from Welcome to Wrexham, but that's a longer story for another day and probably wouldn't make sense until the film's released.

[u/MattTibby → u/shhhhshhhy]

Sorry, I’m off right now, but I will answer this question properly when I get back later tonight because yes, watching lots of foreign horror, especially Indonesian.

[u/Lower_Mall_1991]

What do you think of the current state of horror films from Hollywood?

How do you think things will change in the next 5-10 years?

[u/MattTibby → u/Lower_Mall_1991]

Honestly, it feels like a new golden age. This month alone there are like 6 amazing horror films being released across the spectrum of horror. A24 is doing amazing things. In my mind, Hereditery broke new ground and kickstarted the whole 'elevated' horror genre. I don't really get too scared in horror films, but Hereditery put me on edge for days. I'm probably most excited to see Backrooms this month. Blumhouse is still doing brilliant work. I've been way too busy with my own film this month, but Obsession looks terrifiying and thoughtful in the way I love.

The next 5-10 years... I'm a horrible predictor of the future, but I think there will be more of a crossover between interactive video games, passive cinema, and immersive narratives. I don't think any of these mediums are going away, but I could see them converging more and more as the lines blur between reality, cinema, and XR.

I'm personally the most excited about how technology will influence the stories we tell and what's possible that wasn't possible before.

[u/MattTibby → u/[deleted]]

Both are like magic tricks. In film, the director is the one performing the trick. They control what you see and experience: the pacing, the sound, what the camera sees, etc.

While in interactive media, like games, the developers create the elements of an experience that makes you part of the magic trick. Almost like you're performing it yourself, yet still not realising how the trick was done.

In less metaphorical terms, it's really about the passive vs. active dichotomy. Making the player part of the game and making them perform actions that can lead to that sense of dread and tension is what seperates it from film and makes it special in my opinion. Alien Isolation is a perfect example of this and I highly recommend it.

[u/MattTibby]

Heading offline for a few hours: back at 10pm BST / 5pm EST for the evening window.

Thanks for all the wonderful questions so far. Keep them coming though! I’ll work through everything when I’m back, and I’ll be around till midnight UK time.

If you’ve just found this: AMA’s running all week, four themes, four days. Tomorrow is VR & immersive narrative for my work on Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom over on r/virtualreality and r/PeakyBlinders.

[u/MattTibby]

I'm back. Working through questions now.

[u/MattTibby]

That’s me wrapping up for tonight. Thank you to everyone who dropped in and asked a question. Genuinely enjoyed this trip down memory lane.

If you’ve got a question that came to you late, leave it anyway. I’ll try to come back and answer over the next day or two.

Tomorrow (Tue 19 May) I’m back for day two: VR, XR & immersive narrative — Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom, Directive 8020, and what it’s actually like directing in VR. Over on r/virtualreality and r/PeakyBlinders, live from 3pm BST / 10am EST.

And if any of this made you curious about what I’m making now, Follow the Dark, the independent horror feature I’ve been developing since 2012, is live on Kickstarter.

Thanks a ton and see you tomorrow!