e over there. Let’s just shoot it.”
Trim Season: A Horror Film That Will Haunt Your Dreams
Imagine working on a beautiful cannabis farm, making some extra cash while surrounded by the lush green buds. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, for the characters in director Ariel Vida’s film, Trim Season, that dream quickly turns into a nightmare when they discover their employer is a witch with sinister intentions.
But that’s all you need to know before experiencing the terrifying and visually stunning world of Trim Season. The film is a perfect blend of beauty and horror, with vibrant green hues and low-key gore creating an atmospheric and chilling experience.
After receiving critical acclaim at film festivals, Vida and her team have created a must-see film for all horror and cannabis enthusiasts. Recently, Vida sat down with High Times to discuss her inspiration for the film, her experiences visiting cannabis farms and speaking with trimmers, and her DIY approach to filmmaking.
Interview with Ariel Vida, Director of Trim Season
High Times: I noticed you have a poster for Tarsem Singh’s The Fall, which is a must-watch for all readers. Was that film an inspiration for Trim Season?
Ariel Vida: Absolutely. It’s one of my all-time favorites. I read an interview with Tarsem where he mentioned going bankrupt while making The Fall, but he said he would do it all again in a heartbeat. As I’m trying to get my next projects off the ground, that gave me hope. If my hero can say he’d do it again, then I can too.
HT: Were there any other films that influenced Trim Season?
AV: Definitely. As a filmmaker, you have these unconscious influences that come through in your work. Sometimes you don’t even realize it until after the fact. For me, there were definitely elements of Lord of the Rings that made their way into Trim Season. When you watch a film over and over again as a child, it becomes a part of you.
HT: Trim Season is a beautifully shot horror film, with a mix of arthouse and DIY filmmaking. How did you and your team bring this vision to life with limited time and budget?
AV: Thank you, that means a lot. Like any independent film, we had our challenges. I’ve worked on over 200 narrative projects, mostly in the horror genre, and I’ve seen different approaches to filmmaking. Some people go for elaborate VFX shots, but I’m always the one saying, “Let’s not do that, because here are 18 things that could go wrong.” So for Trim Season, we took a more DIY approach. Our cinematographer, Luka Bazeli, would jump in and shoot scenes himself, even if it was raining or there was a moose nearby. We just went with the flow and made it work.
