Vile & Sweet: Best Ghost Story at HorrorFest International

Screenwriting is a test of patience and a leap of faith. The lengthy process of conceptualizing, writing, and polishing a screenplay involves countless drafts. The writing process can seem never-ending, especially when fresh eyes never fail to find something to revise. Once the final draft is delivered, another sort of waiting game begins: I put my work work in someone else’s hands with no guarantees or control over how it will be made. Given those circumstances, it’s truly rewarding to see my words brought to life in ways that exceed my wildest imagination.

Needless to say, I was thrilled to watch the final edit of Vile & Sweet, a short film I co-wrote with Charles Vuolo in 2020. The film follows a grieving woman who is gifted a supernatural object: a strange music box that, when opened, breaks the barrier between the living and the dead. Driven by her grief, she opens the box only to discover its mystical powers have terrifying side effects.

Produced by StarPilot Productions and directed by Charles Vuolo of Vuolo-Phillips Productions during the pandemic, Vile & Sweet won Best Ghost Story at HorrorFest International in 2021. It also played at Abertoir Horror Festival in the UK and Salem Film Festival's Mass Hysteria event. The film would have played at Macabro in Mexico City if it weren’t for Covid restrictions preventing the team behind the film from attending. The film is also slated to screen at BUFF and the Horrible Imaginings campfire in 2022.

The 9-minute film was shot at a magnificent location in Vermont and features a powerful performance by Jontelle Taylor. The music was done by Dylan Castora. The entire cast and crew did an incredible job of transforming this script into a hauntingly beautiful film and I am grateful for taking part in the project.

Here’s a glimpse at the first page of the screenplay. The first minute of the film introduces us to the protagonist, setting, music box, and antagonist. From there, the mystery surrounding the music box and its supernatural nature builds to a reveal.

You’ll have the watch the film to find out more!