We love James’ Director’s Statement –

I’ve always had a soft spot for 1970s horror.

There’s something magical about the films of that era. The sometimes insane storylines,

the colour palettes, the tone and the grainy film stock texture is perfection. I’m equally fascinated by the found-footage genre and its ability to create a raw sense of realism. In horror, the more believable it feels, the deeper the audience connects, and the more they react when things turn bad.

With Fire Alive, I wanted to blend those two worlds: the gritty realism of found footage with the visual and emotional texture of ’70s cinema. The decision to shoot entirely on a phone was a deliberate nod to the

spirit of independent filmmaking, using whatever tools are available, breaking rules, and chasing authenticity over polish. I love that scrappy, fearless energy that defines indie horror and indie cinema, and I wanted that to pulse through every frame.

In the film we see the cast play the Fire Alive game. Astrange ritual/urban legend that blurs the line between superstition and reality. I wanted to invent something that felt so unsettling yet tempting, that audiences might want to try themselves (and obviously film it on their own iPhones). If they dare.”