Open Wide Filmmakers on Fantasia, Twisted Desires & Building Bold Horror on a Budget
- Horror Movies Uncut
- Jul 17
- 4 min read
INTERVIEW: Sam Fox, Ethan Daniel Corbett & Lara Repko on Open Wide, Breaking Genre Rules, and the Humanity in Horror
By Travis Brown
Horror Movies Uncut
One of HMU’s favorite up-and-coming genre filmmakers, Sam Fox, is back on the circuit with another devilishly inventive short—and this time, she’s bringing friends. Following the success of The Blue Diamond, Sam returns with Open Wide, a stylish, tender horror-comedy that’s closing out Fantasia Festival’s short film lineup after already making noise at two other fests this year.
I first saw Open Wide during my Atlanta run for Chattanooga Film Festival and knew right away we needed a follow-up conversation. Sam, along with actor Ethan Daniel Corbett and writer/star Lara Repko, joined me for an in-depth sitdown to talk life after The Blue Diamond, reuniting on set, horror as a vehicle for empathy, and why filmmaking should be a little bit weird and a whole lot of fun.
From Instagram to Indie Icon: The Birth of
Open Wide
Lara Repko, the creative mind behind Open Wide, credits a random scroll through Instagram for connecting her to Sam Fox—and everything clicked from there. “I’d seen what Sam was doing visually and I was like, ‘This is who I want to tell this story with,’” Lara said. The film explores personal themes through a horror lens, keeping it intimate while still embracing genre tropes in a fresh way.
Sam, who directed and produced the short, emphasized the challenge of creating a bold visual world on a shoestring budget. “We shot it in Lara's parents home, used what we had, and built the style together through lighting and blocking,” she said. Despite the constraints, the team delivered something visually sharp and emotionally resonant.
Theater Roots, Real Scares, and Perfect Chemistry
Ethan Daniel Corbett brings a quiet intensity to the screen that stems from his theater roots. Reuniting with Sam was a no-brainer. “The trust was already there,” he explained. “We weren’t afraid to take risks because we knew the support was built in.”
That camaraderie echoed through the entire cast. Lara, Sam, Ethan, and co-star Ashley all shared how seamless and enjoyable the shoot was. “There’s something really special about making horror with people you trust,” Lara said. “It lets you go deeper emotionally—even when things get absurd.”
Horror, Humor, and a Dance Sequence?
Yes, Open Wide has a dance number. A surreal, heartfelt, slightly unhinged one. Sam laughed, recalling how a scratch vocal track she recorded “for timing” almost made it into the final film. The short is peppered with weirdness in the best way—blending family dynamics, sacrifice, and genre elements into something that feels both funny and heartbreaking.
“Horror doesn’t have to be one thing,” Sam said. “We wanted to show tenderness, vulnerability—even joy—inside the chaos. That’s what makes it human.”
From the Club to the Campfire
Sam also opened up about her own lifestyle shift, trading late nights for outdoor getaways. That shift, she says, is reflected in her work. “I’m more interested now in stories about what people do when the noise goes away—what they cling to, who they become.”
It’s that same authenticity that makes Open Wide feel personal despite its supernatural edge. “There’s a realness under the monster,” Ethan added. “It’s not just for shock—it’s for reflection.”
Authentic Stories, Bold Voices
The conversation moved to storytelling at large—what’s missing in genre, and what needs to be amplified. Travis spoke about his own fiction work, featuring Black and LGBTQ+ characters navigating extraordinary horrors rooted in real-life struggles. “We need more stories about us,” he said. “Not the polished version—just honest ones.”
Ethan chimed in about a recent Indie Night festival piece that flipped racial dynamics and stuck with him for days. “That kind of stuff is what keeps me going,” he said. “That, and projects like Open Wide, where we get to tell something off-kilter, unexpected, and real.”
Looking Ahead: Festivals, Features, and a New Vision for St. Louis
In addition to Fantasia Open Wide, Sam’s feature making the rounds, with hopes of landing at Beyond Fest and others. Ethan’s diving into a new TV project, while Lara is producing a stage show and another short film. The crew is busy, energized, and brimming with ideas.
Meanwhile, I'm laying the groundwork for a new independent film festival in St. Louis, focused on diverse, high-quality genre cinema. “I want it to be like Hysteria meets Slamdance—but rooted here, with zero industry gatekeeping."
Closing Thoughts
As Open Wide prepares to bow at Fantasia Fest, it feels like the perfect moment for this crew—and this conversation. It’s a film that pushes boundaries without posturing, delivering warmth and weirdness in equal measure. And if it’s any indication of what’s coming from Sam Fox, Ethan Corbett, and Lara Repko, the future of indie horror looks beautifully strange.
Open Wide
🎟️ Playing Closing Night of Fantasia Festival 2025
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