Table of Contents
Three Key Takeaways
- Lara Repko crafts a horror short that explores complex female sexuality and boundaries.
- The film’s unique tone blends absurdity, psychedelia, and horror comedy, realized through inventive sound and lighting on a micro-budget.
- FilmQuest selection marks a pivotal moment for Repko, who is evolving from actor to producer and future director within the genre.
Lara Repko’s provocative horror short Open Wide has been selected for the Midnight Madness program at FilmQuest 2025, adding to its impressive festival run including Fantasia and Fantastic Fest.
Co-written and produced by Repko alongside director Sam Fox, the film stars Ashley Smith, Ethan Daniel Corbett, Madonna Young-Magee, Wolf Homme, and Repko herself.
Open Wide delivers a visually vibrant and thematically rich exploration of female desire, societal boundaries, and the chaos lurking beneath domestic facades.
What drew you to make this film? Why this story, and why now?
I was stuck at a job that I didn't like, knowing that I needed to produce my first, real short film. I ended up getting laid off from this job and now there was no excuse. I decided it was time to dive in and tell a fun, off-kilter story that could help launch my filmmaking career. This short film is about opening ourselves up to new, uncharted territory both emotionally and physically, making it a double-entendre. I also liked the idea of imagining an open mouth in a scream, which Phoebe does soon after Vera opens her legs to Phoebe. I like films where chaos is relished and a part of the build to the climax and unexpected ending. When I joined up with Sam, she helped me build the story and used her own personal experiences to add her own unique flair and meaning into the film.
“This short film is about opening ourselves up to new, uncharted territory both emotionally and physically, making it a double-entendre.”
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process this time—creatively or logistically? Was there a moment on set or in post that completely changed how you saw the story?
Yes! We didn’t have time to shoot the original ending, so Sam, our director, came up with an idea on the spot. It totally made sense for our story once it was all edited together.
Is there a moment in the film that feels the most you—something only you could have made?
Creatively, I love films with bright, colorful wardrobe and production design. I love films that have a similar tone and look to “Suspiria” (1977), “Strange Darling”, “Last Night in Soho”, and “Paris, Texas”. In terms of character, I based Phoebe's personality and backstory on my experience growing up in a Christian household and conforming to the pressures of purity culture. That is why she dresses in light blue and looks like a schoolgirl, with loose curls and pink blush, signs of her wide-eyed innocence and curiosity. It was so fun getting to take those inspirations and combine them with Sam’s artistry and inspirations to create a short film so playful and colorful.
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making this film?
Realizing that I needed to make more money to pay for everything. Our budget was very small, but it was still a lot of money for me personally. I came to the understanding that what was a lot of money for me was actually not much money for a short film. I’m really glad I figured out ways to make that extra money (taking on another part-time job, crowdfunding) because if I had spent less it wouldn’t have been the same. This process taught me a lot about how much filmmaking costs, and now I know for my next short film.
What do you hope audiences take away from your film?
Women are often discouraged from being "bad". Being "bad" means embracing behaviors and decisions that might be disapproved of by societal standards, even if it means being seen as unlikable or the "bad guy". But being the bad guy in someone else's story doesn't mean we aren't the good guy in our own. This story explores the complexity of setting boundaries and how the line between "good" and "bad" is often blurred (if there even needs to be a line at all).
The horror genre is perfect for portraying women in ways they are often discouraged from being in the real world: messy, dark, flawed, and neither good nor bad. In horror, women can be loud, angry, assertive, defying traditional norms that often dictate women should be accommodating and emotionally restrained. This break from societal expectations allows women to see their raw, “ugly” sides on screen, validating those parts of themselves that are often suppressed and criticized.
BTS shots from Open Wide
“The horror genre is perfect for portraying women in ways they are often discouraged from being in the real world: messy, dark, flawed, and neither good nor bad.”
How has this film shaped or shifted the kind of stories you want to tell next?
I began this film with the intention of developing an acting career in horror. A year and a half later, I can confidently say that this film helped me realize that I actually take more pleasure and joy from producing - with creative and logistics - and that horror is the genre I want to create more work in. I’m writing my next short film and have planned to direct it and NOT act in it, something I wouldn’t have done even a few years ago.
Independent filmmakers often rewrite the rules out of necessity. What do you think is the greatest strength of independent filmmaking, and how did you lean into that on this project? Is there a lesson or breakthrough you’d share with others navigating this path?
“I think the greatest strength of independent filmmaking is collaborating as a team on a low budget and shorter time frame than bigger budget projects.”
I love problem solving on a dime and coming up with solutions in pre production. On set, I had to rent some equipment last minute, the day before the shoot. It was cool that I was able to solve the problem so quickly.
What does it mean to you to have your film selected for FilmQuest, one of the world’s top reviewed genre film festivals?
It’s seriously such a dream. I keep metaphorically pinching myself because it doesn't seem real. I went to FilmQuest last year as a friend of a filmmaker and had the absolute best time. Jonathan and the FilmQuest community is so filmmaker-focused and the programming is top-notch. Everyone really cares about what they do and supporting other filmmakers. I’ve seen amazing films here as well as met filmmakers who I would love to work with someday. Not to mention, the audience reactions are the best - especially at Midnight Madness, which Open Wide is playing in.
FilmQuest celebrates the majesty and might of genre filmmaking across fantasy, horror, sci-fi, action, thriller, western, kung-fu, and beyond. How does your film fit within—or push the boundaries of—genre storytelling?
We had a tiny budget and shot only one day, which meant we didn’t have coverage or time to make things extra “scary”. This meant that a lot of the tone and atmosphere was created with the color and sound design. In addition, our editor used some of his technical skills to create Ron’s shapeshifting, which added a strange element to the short film. Sam and the post-production team really pushed the boundaries by creating that off-kilter feeling that the short gives off by developing that in the edit with sound and original musical composition.
Where do you see this film going next?
We've gotten into some great festivals that are coming up, so that is very exciting and I can't wait to attend them and hear people's feedback. Also, this short film has already brought my other opportunities to produce other shorts and has even inspired me to direct my next short film. I can't wait to see where this goes!
At the core of all my work is a desire to make female-driven narratives that explore feminine desire, self image, and rebellion. I hope to infuse these themes in all my future films. I also want my legacy to be someone who is easy and fun to work with, who creates great set environments and solves problems all while being calm and composed. It is important to me that my legacy is not only formed from the audience's perspective, but from the people I work with as well.
Other Cast and Crew
- Jack McDonald — Cinematographer
- Desiree Staples — Producer
Check out the film trailer here.
