Table of Contents
Three Key Takeaways
- Peeping Todd blends irreverent comedy with dark musical thriller elements, creating a genre-bending experience unlike any other.
- Chris Alan Evans’s unique portrayal of a singing, dancing stalker adds a distinct sweetness to a morally twisted character.
- Collaboration and fearless creativity drove the film’s production, embodying the spirit of independent filmmaking at its best.
Actor, co-writer, and producer Chris Alan Evans brings a fresh and wild energy to Peeping Todd, a dark comedy musical murder thriller selected for FilmQuest 2025. Alongside director Josh Munds and a talented ensemble including Mabel Thomas and Alexander Jeffery, Evans dives into a story that’s as irreverent as it is inventive. With a bold narrative and a surprising musical twist, Peeping Todd promises a fresh take on genre storytelling—and Evans shares the journey behind this unique film.
What drew you to make this film? Why this story, and why now?
The world is getting serious, and that's often when people most want to escape. This film hearkens back to a type of irreverent comedy that's reminiscent of the great comedies from the early 2000's. It's a fun escape and I promise it's like nothing you've ever seen before.
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?
I play the title character in the film, Peeping Todd We have a scene where my character gets cracked over the head with a potted plant. What we learned is that breakaway clay pots cure over time in the Louisiana heat. When I got smacked with the pot that was supposed to break away... but didn't, I definitely saw things differently. Like, literally everything was blurry.
Is there a moment in the film that feels the most you—something only you could have made?
"I think the way I'm able to play this singing and dancing stalker, who clearly is a horrible person, but manage to give him a sweetness that is at odds with the crimes he is actually committing... yeah, I think that portrayal is something I uniquely pulled off."
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making this film?
Whether or not to appear naked in the film. Frankly, I was coerced. Look out for a full moon in Peeping Todd.
What do you hope audiences take away from your film?
"If you are unable to leave this film without a belly full of laughs... then you should go talk to a health professional. Seriously... it's very unserious."
How has this film shaped or shifted the kind of stories you want to tell next?
We wanted this wild romp to end up as a female empowerment story. Audiences and particularly women have had encouraging praise for that aspect of the film and I'm down to support that cause again and again.
What’s a tool, technique, or resource that really helped you during production?
There was this unique collaborative approach we had on this film and as all of us started to realize that we were having the best time of our lives on set. Whether cast or crew, we were all freed up to just go for it each time our creativity was needed to solve a problem. The support we had for one another is something I wish for all independent filmmakers.
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?
We convinced ourselves that we had to push the boundaries in every way. Whether it's taking a scene to a shocking outcome or efforting to achieve some grandiose production value that a low budget film doesn't deserve... we never told ourselves we couldn't do it. Truly, if you believe you can... or if you believe you can't, you're right.
"We convinced ourselves that we had to push the boundaries in every way... Truly, if you believe you can... or if you believe you can't, you're right."
What does it mean to you to have your film selected for FilmQuest, one of the world’s top reviewed genre film festivals?
We are early in our festival run and FilmQuest is the first genre festival that we've been selected for. After getting such remarkable responses at the festivals we've screened at already we're so stoked to see how audiences who are already seeking crazy fun genre movies will react. It's a real honor to be selected to FilmQuest with all the other amazing films!
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?
Peeping Todd is a dark comedy musical murder thriller and possibly the first stalker musical ever! None of the characters, even the young lady who gets stalked, are normal people. Every character has a quirk.
Where do you see this film going next?
"Straight to your heart! We're not stopping until it's a cult classic."
At the core of all my work is a desire to entertain while emboldening confidence in the meek and change for the underrepresented.
Cast & Crew
- Chris Alan Evans — Lead Actor, Co-Writer, Producer. Actor and producer in Louisiana known for versatile performing and comedic chops; also a writer and director of drama, satire, and comedy adventure. (IG: @velvetysatin)
- Josh Munds — Director, Co-Writer. Writer/Director in Louisiana known for irreverent comedy and genre-bending stories. (IG: @joshmunds)
- Alexander Jeffery — Producer, Cinematographer. Independent filmmaker with several feature films; director of romantic comedies, documentaries, and heartwarming dramas. (IG: @alexanderjeffery)
- Mabel Thomas — Lead Actor. Atlanta-based actor known for performances in low-budget horror and genre films, including Popeye the Slayer Man. (IG: @mabe_thebabe)
- Brittany Fallow — Producer, Project Manager. Producer and founder of Picture Pool Productions, with experience on Netflix series and independent films. (IG: @brittfallow @picturepoolproductions)
Learn more about the film on their instagram.
