'The Birth of Sister Hidden' is November's Film of the Month

We are very pleased to announce that the winner of our latest round of Film of the Month is Joe, with his horror film The Birth of Sister Hidden, a prequel to the equally terrifying Sister Hidden (which was a runner up in Film of the Month earlier this year, and which you can watch at the bottom of this page).

Engaging for audiences aged 14+, this terrifying tale sees a woman, haunted by shocking nightmares, unaware that there is a mysterious being following her around her home. The film's chilling soundtrack and brilliant editing makes this one not for the faint of heart!

We caught up with Joe to find out more about his terrifying film. 

Congratulations! How long have you been making films?

I haven't been making films for too long now, just a couple of months as I don't have much time because of my college course - but I love expanding the Sister Hidden universe so I made time to add a new chapter.

The Birth of Sister Hidden is a prequel to the equally terrifying Sister Hidden - where did you get the idea for these films?

I got the idea from my nan who told me she saw a nun dressed in white standing in the mirror watching her late at night, that's what inspired the nun outfit for Sister Hidden. The stories are based around some of my favourite horror films that have inspired me over the years.

What are some of those films that have inspired you?

My favourite horror film director at the moment is James Wan as he has changed the horror game with his based-on-true-events ghost stories like The Conjuring. Some of my favourite horror films are actually from James Wan himself, like The Conjuring Universe which contains the main Conjuring films, the Annabelle spin-off and it's newest member The Nun, which came out earlier this year. I also love a lot of classic horror films like The Exorcist and The Shining and some low budget horror films like Hereditary.

The sound design in The Birth of Sister Hidden is fantastic. How did you create it?

I believe a key aspect to a horror film is the sound design, so I got the most realistic sound effects I could find, because - fun fact - there is no live sound used in the film! It's all either sound effects, or the backing track, which is 2 layers most of the time, but there can be up to 5 or 6 layers of sound effects depending on how many are required for the scene.

Why do you think people enjoy watching horror films and being frightened?

I think people like to test their own fears sometimes, as a lot of moviegoers like simple formula horror films that contain a lot of jump scares and no real structure. And then you get some people that like the structure of a horror film and how the tension is built up to the scare, or how hidden meanings can be found behind the supernatural.

What tips would you give to a young filmmaker about to make their first film?

My advice to younger people would be create a film that interests you, because if you don't love the film you're working on, you're not going to put your all into it. So make what you enjoy, and keep building your skills, like I am.

Can we expect to see any more films in the Sister Hidden series?

Yes, the Sister Hidden universe is still going to expand, but not in the 'right' order - so it's sort of like a jigsaw puzzle for the audience. But yes there will be another Sister Hidden Chapter coming up early next year hopefully.

Joe's film will now be showcased to over 300,000 film club members online and all of our Film of the Month films are now on the Into Film YouTube channel, and he has won a DVD inspired by his film and a £100 Amazon voucher. If you've been inspired by this month's winner, find out more about how you can enter our ongoing Film of the Month competition.

If you liked The Birth of Sister Hidden why not try these related films: 

• The Babadook (2014, 15, 90mins) Engaging for ages 14+
  Perhaps one of the most frightening horror films of recent years, this story sees a mysterious children's book character haunt a mother and her son.

• The Innocents (1961, 12, 99mins) Engaging for ages 11+
  Set in Victorian England, this classic ghost story follows a governess looking after two orphans fearing supernatural forces.

• The Orphanage (2007, 15, 105mins) Engaging for ages 16+
  This Spanish-language drama is set in a strange home with a shocking history that threatens to ruin a couple's new home.

• The Woman in Black (2012, 15, 92mins) Engaging for ages 14+
  A spine-tingling adaptation of the popular Gothic novel which sees a lawyer visit a desolate estate to inspect a haunted mansion.

Sister Hidden

The first film in Joe's Sister Hidden series was runner-up in a previous round of Film of the Month.