Table of Contents
Three Key Takeaways
- She Devil powerfully explores the commodification and weaponization of femininity through a darkly comedic lens.
- The film’s visual style evolved creatively from logistical challenges, enhancing its signature red-hued climax.
- Allie Perison’s commitment to a rich ensemble cast preserves the story’s sharp satire and complex character dynamics.
Emerging director, writer, and producer Allie Perison brings a fresh and daring voice to genre storytelling with her award-winning short film She Devil, selected for the prestigious FilmQuest 2025 festival.
Featuring a dynamic ensemble cast led by Paula Andrea Placido, Taylor Owen, Phoebe Voss, and Jackie Gonzalez-Durruthy, the film delves into the dark undercurrents of female influence and groupthink within a sharply satirical horror-comedy framework.
Perison’s background working with industry heavyweights like Liz Meriwether and Jean Smart informs her bold approach to this project, which blends biting humor with social commentary.
What drew you to make She Devil? Why this story, and why now?
This film is all about the commodification and weaponization of femininity - of women, by women, to women. Over the past few years, I've been marketed a lot of content in my algorithm of aspirational, vibey women, who seemingly have the recipe to become just as successful as them. They preach practices like main-character energy and boundary-setting - things that in the right context (like therapy) are healthy, but when they’re sold as a product, become much more sinister. We've reached a point in our society that the influence of social media is ironically erasing independent thought, and I wanted to make a film about the dangers of groupthink.
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?
This is a story I've been wanting to tell, in this way, for a long time. As far as the unexpected, we were most surprised by the obstacles raised because we were trying to do everything above-board with permits and whatnot. At one point, the Fire Department told us we needed a pyrotechnics specialist on set, which was decidedly not in our short film's budget. It completely changed how we were planning on shooting the film's climactic scene. What was meant to be a room full of candles ended up becoming a room bathed in red light. It ended up taking the color motif that we had already established in previous scenes to the next level - and we couldn't be happier with it!
Is there a moment in the film that feels the most you—something only you could have made?
It’s hard for me to pick a specific moment because all the women in She Devil truly represent different parts of me. I think Sarah (with an H) is probably who I think I am in my head - when she’s stabbing the piñata - that feels the most raw, unhinged version of myself. And, at the same time, I'm Gemma - looking around at all this madness with an eyebrow cocked, wondering if these women's philosophy is healthy or toxic. I think this scene most embodies the different parts of my personality - and displays my brand of sharp, satirical humor.
This film is all about the commodification and weaponization of femininity - of women, by women, to women.
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making this film?
A lot of people had a lot of advice about how to produce a short film, specifically making something under ten minutes with only a couple actors in a room. I think the hardest decision we had to make was to stay true to our vision. I wanted to tell a full story, and cutting down our script or our film would have sacrificed the project. In the same way, She Devil wouldn't fully articulate itself if it wasn't a party movie with a robust cast of 15. It was important to me that Lake's 'Femmes' resembled a true witch's coven of 13, and I think the number of women supporting Lake (and Mae) really amplifies the tension and isolation that Gemma feels by the end of the film.
What do you hope audiences take away from your film?
I want people to walk away examining the contradictions that come from female influence and the way women can both empower and repress each other at the same time.
How has this film shaped or shifted the kind of stories you want to tell next?
She Devil has really entrenched my desire to tell satirical stories that speak to our contemporary society. I'm particularly interested in the psychology of social media - both those who create and those who consume it - and how it is contributing to the extremist nature of our society today.
What was meant to be a room full of candles ended up becoming a room bathed in red light... and we couldn't be happier with it!
What’s a tool, technique, or resource that really helped you during production?
I couldn't have done this without my collaborators! Beyond my fellow producers Alana and Matt, a key contributor was our Cinematographer Ellin Aldana. Ellin was not only vital in helping shape the visual language of the film, but she was also able to call in favors from the team she hired, giving our little short film a significant boost in production value, specifically in lighting and color.
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?
I think the greatest strength of independent filmmaking is that the filmmaker doesn't have to answer to external powers to shape the movie they're making. There's no one way to make a short film; the only way to do it correctly is to make the film that you want to make. We learned so much, but to the point of this question, a chief lesson from the project is to rewrite those rules as much as you have to, because no one cares about your film as much as you do!
What does it mean to you to have your film selected for FilmQuest, one of the world’s top reviewed genre film festivals?
I'm beyond thrilled to have been selected for FilmQuest. We very obviously went out to make a genre film, and to be recognized by a festival as reputable as FilmQuest means the world. It's especially exciting, knowing how much FilmQuest puts into the filmmaker experience at their festival. It's clear that FilmQuest has created an incredible community, and I couldn't be happier to be a part of it!
There's no one way to make a short film; the only way to do it correctly is to make the film that you want to make.
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?
She Devil very proudly continues the now-popularized genre smash of horror-comedy. We like to pitch it as 'Mean Girls' meets 'Midsommar,' and we think it's such a fun romp because of the equal influences of those two films.
Where do you see this film going next?
We are currently adapting it into a feature film! We hope to package and sell it next year!
“At the core of all my work is a desire to explore complex relationships, flawed but compelling protagonists, and humor in the unexpected."
Cast & Crew
- Paula Andrea Placido, Taylor Owen, Phoebe Voss, Jackie Gonzalez-Durruthy — Main cast
- Allie Perison — Director/Writer/Producer, Texas-born filmmaker with experience at Paramount, CAA, Netflix, and Hopetown Entertainment
- Matt Almquist — Writer/Producer, Los Angeles-based, with credits on THEM, SURFACE, and DEXTER: NEW BLOOD
- Alana Wright — Producer, Tisch-trained with experience at CAA, Scott Free, and New Regency
- Ellin Aldana — Cinematographer, key in shaping the film’s visual style
For more on She Devil, visit their Instagram.
