Eerie life on set of Calgary horror film Still/Born

Actress Christie Burke is currently living in the Calgary house that doubles as the set of her new horror movie – Still/Born.

Burke said it’s not exactly a scary experience – it’s just a house at the end of the day – except when the cast and crew try to make it a little eerie.

“The director would ask me, ‘Hey, are you having a bath right now? I’m like, ‘No,’ and he goes, ‘Hmm, I wonder who that is?’ That’s terrifying because I’m in the attic and you’re on the first floor – so who is that?” she laughed.

The film itself is produced by Calgary indie filmmakers Chris Ball and Kurtis David Harder, who are channeling their horror skills for the first time after working in drama and sci-fi in previous projects.

Still/Born follows Burke’s character, Mary, a new mom who was going to have twins, but lost one in childbirth. She suspects a supernatural entity took her first baby – and is now coming for the other one.

“I actually had a twin that died at birth, with very similar circumstances, so when I read the script I was obviously attached to it,” said Ball. “The best horror isn’t from blood and guts, but suspense, real world problems and trauma.”

Trauma is the key word, as the audience isn’t quite sure whether Burke’s character is truly dealing with the supernatural – or is suffering through a dangerous episode of post-partum depression.

“The whole film plays with this balance,” said Harder. “We’re not sure if it’s in her head or if it’s real.”

The hardest part for Burke has been dealing with the emotional draining production. They’re half way through, but are only now shooting scenes with other characters in them.

“The first week was me running around the house, screaming and being super depressed. So, I kind of went a little mad,” Burke said.

In that week she was knocking down doors with an axe, running through fake rain and getting pulled down hallways.

It’s a rapid fire shoot for the co-producers – as soon as the production wraps, they’re off to CIFF the next day for the premiere of their last film, Incontrol.