Dekkoo, the streaming platform built for LGBTQ+ audiences, announced today that it will release Scorch Marks, a new apocalyptic survival horror film, on October 1. The film marks writer-director Brendan Haley’s feature directorial debut and blends psychological terror, supernatural dread, and queer storytelling.
Written and directed by Brendan Haley, the film stars Brandon Shypkowski, Chris Salvatore, Peter Stickles, Tiffany Shepis, and Vander Von Odd
Scorch Marks follows Beckett, a man who awakens to a seemingly devastated world, only to find himself trapped with the haunting presence of his abusive ex-husband, Joel, as an even greater force approaches from beyond the horizon.
“We’re always looking for films that offer something different for our audience. Scorch Marks combines psychological horror with a queer perspective in a way we haven’t seen before, and we’re pleased to premiere it this October.” – Brian Sokel, President at Dekkoo
The screenplay began as the concluding chapter of a loosely connected cinematic universe of queer horror stories Haley had been developing for years. When Dekkoo came on as Producer and distributor, Haley reworked it into a standalone feature centered on themes of toxic relationship dynamics within the gay community.
“I was particularly drawn to the examination of toxic gay relationships and how some dynamics within them are born out of destructive heteronormative standards which have the potential to bleed over from the time before we’re ‘out’ as our true selves. So, what happens when a gay couple fails and betrays one another so badly because it’s all that they understand, and what if that’s happening during the literal end of the world? How do we weather the storm and pick up the pieces afterwards?” – Director Brendan Haley.
The film’s omnipresent, cataclysmic storm functions as a central metaphor throughout the story. “The storm was always intended to be a metaphor for the chaos of non-queer mainstream society while speaking to the dread and isolation it imposes on those who aren’t like it,” Haley continues. “It is threatening, unnatural, and feels utterly impossible to rectify, and yet, as with all weather patterns, it is meant to pass sooner or later.”
Haley cites Clive Barker and Samuel Beckett among the film’s primary influences, blending cosmic horror with existential drama. The film’s primordial antagonist, Tiamat, draws inspiration from ancient Mesopotamian mythology while incorporating elements of modern cosmic horror.
Brandon Shypkowski stars as Beckett, a flawed protagonist who Haley wrote as “selfish, arrogant, chronically passive and even annoying at times,” yet driven by a buried sense of hope. “He brought with him an innate sense of good and compassion that I believe was necessary to understanding who Beckett begins as before he’s caught up with his abuser,” says Haley of Shypkowski. “We worked very closely to tailor the role and, in certain instances, rewrite dialogue and behaviors so that they felt more in step with the type of flawed individual we were trying to bring to life.”
including Eating Out, plays against type as Joel, Beckett’s abusive ex-husband. “I wanted to have him dig hisChris Salvatore, known for romantic leads in queer comedies teeth into someone truly antagonistic,” Haley explains. “Salvatore was a hundred and fifty percent game to play in that villainous sandbox and give both depth and sympathy to the role of Joel. Both of our leading men rehearsed for months leading up to principal photography, fostering a noticeable chemistry and trust that translates so beautifully in their on-camera relationship.”
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Peter Stickles, a frequent collaborator of Haley’s, plays Leith, “an unnerving survivalist with a warped sense of right and wrong, only made more unpredictable by his internalized homophobia.” Says Haley.
Horror veterans Tiffany Shepis and Vander Von Odd, the inaugural winner of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, round out the principal cast. Von Odd portrays Tiamat, the film’s primordial cosmic threat, a creation Haley describes as incorporating “key traits and iconography from ancient Mesopotamian mythos with cosmic Lovecraftian flare,” developed in partnership with renowned folklore consultant Dr. Emily Zarka while the look was crafted by creature fabricator Miya Tamlyn. Shepis plays “a deliciously evil tech CEO,” and the film also features her daughter, Mia Tretta, in a scene-stealing supporting role.
“In a market where there is a dearth of LGBTQIA+ content, it’s imperative to explore non-traditional and difficult queer stories that deal with the many facets of the experiences therein,” Haley adds. “Scorch Marks at its core is an examination of the destructive behaviors brought on by heteronormative society even when we don’t realize they’re at play. It is an existential meditation on our ability as queer people to hope for better and to choose better than what’s been given to us. Dekkoo is the perfect home for such a dynamic form of storytelling as they are champions of artists and artistic vision alike. They trusted me through the entire process to take these very ambitious ideas and stick the landing.”
“Ultimately, the film is one about great hope at the end of so much darkness, so hope is the main takeaway I’d like to see with our audiences,” Haley concludes.
Salvatore in ‘Scorch Marks’
The film will stream exclusively on Dekkoo, the subscription streaming service dedicated to LGBTQ+ films, series, and original programming. For more information, visit https://dekkoo.com/scorch-marks.