A Conversation with Screenwriter Kyle Christopher McNamara

Let’s dive into questions and savor the experiences you’ll be sharing on your journey:

1. What inspired the core concept of Intrusive?

When I set out to write a horror film, I asked myself “What scares me the most?” I had to look deep, but I realized that heights was a big one. But, it’s not heights alone, it’s the thought that I could just walk off a cliff or rooftop. I started to realize that I had other fleeting thoughts like this; driving off bridges, stabbing myself with a sharp object, ect. At the time, intrusive thoughts weren’t as widely talked about as they are now. I wanted to write something that not only tapped into many people’s biggest fears, but also used a psychological horror film as a vehicle to let people know that they are not alone in having these thoughts.

2. Can you tell us about the protagonist’s journey throughout Intrusive? What makes them relatable, despite the extreme circumstances they face?

The protagonist, Ollie, is flawed, just like most of us are in one way or another. He is a pushover and has a hard time standing up for himself. He is also in a toxic relationship, due to his being a pushover. Although, the toxicity doesn’t diminish the love he has for his partner, Raven. At the beginning of the story, Ollie is ready to run away from his love, it’s easier than standing up for himself. Through the dangers that he and Raven face and the much needed communication that happens due to the circumstances, Ollie learns to stand up for himself and for Raven, he grows and fights for the thing that he really cares about, his love.

3. What role does perception play in the film, and how did you use this to manipulate the viewer’s emotional response?

What a wonderful question. I’d say that perception is the main tool I used in telling this story on a thematic level. Through the first two acts of the film, we see the events through the eyes of Ollie and Raven. We see the events unfold from the viewpoints of two protagonists that are not only flawed, but who are also on a mind altering drug. The perception that they are under attack, allows them to see how important they are to each other. When it is revealed to the audience and the characters that they are actually attacking themselves, it forces them to face the real demons, the ones they have inside themselves.

4. Suspense is a key element of Intrusive. What techniques do you use in your scriptwriting to build tension?

As I discuss in the previous question, the entire story is seen through the eyes of Ollie and Raven. But, both characters act as unreliable narrators. They are blacking out, on drugs and have underlying emotional issues. Their weak grasp on reality causes them and the audience to struggle to understand what is happening to them. We know they are in mortal danger, but the blackouts are unexpected and the attacker is an enigma. When we learn the cause of their peril, the suspense builds even more as they stop fighting what is inside their apartment and are forced to fight what is inside themselves.

5. In your script, the horror seems to stem more from the psychological unraveling than traditional jump-scares. How important was it for you to make the horror feel more cerebral than visceral?

Another great question. Any time I write something, I shine a light on issues that we face as a society. When I started researching my own intrusive thoughts and learned how ubiquitous they are across most of society, it came as a relief that I was not alone. I have never been the type to be scared by jump scares, but when I see something that I believe could happen to me, something that I fear on a deep level, that truly scares me. It was very important to me to make something that really made people think, while also giving some level of catharsis through the fear they felt while watching it.

6. Intrusive seems to have a strong symbolic thread running through it. Can you share some of the key symbols or metaphors you employed in the script, and how they contribute to the overall themes?

So often I see people give up on others so easily, they are too ready to discard people and walk away from situations that are challenging. The themes of taking the shortcut, taking the easy way out, and the bigger theme of unconditional love are what drive this entire story. We watch the characters make many attempts at solving their problems without doing the work. Whether it’s doing drugs to allow themselves to communicate or backing down when they should be fighting for what they want, they take the easy way out. Gush is a major symbol for this. As the characters move past their surface level wants and begin to see their deeper needs, we see the theme of unconditional love start to surface. The fighting becomes less of a representation of their hatred for each other and more of a sign of what they are willing to do to be with each other. The ultimate metaphor is when they actually fall for each other from the balcony, and in her dying breath, Raven rolls her head onto Ollie’s chest just as she had done throughout the movie to show they were fighting for a reason, fighting for each other.

7. Can you describe a particular scene where dialogue was key to heightening the psychological aspect of the narrative?

There’s a theme in the beginning of the second act, that begins with a lot of sweetness between the characters. Ollie confesses some of the reasons for his deepest fears, things he hasn’t told anyone. In turn it draws out Raven’s biggest fear, losing Ollie. The emotions quickly escalate as Raven sees that her fear is already being realized and leaves the audience wondering when Ollie’s fears will also come to fruition.

8. Are there any specific pacing choices in the script that you feel were pivotal to maintaining the intensity of the story?

 Whether it was intentional or just a representation of events that happened to me in life, I think the pacing has a huge impact on the story. We have these interlaced moments of calmness and true connection between Ollie and Raven. The drugs allow them to forget the danger they’re in and really concentrate on each other during these little oases of time, something they have not done in a while. Then we jump into these intense events, horrific things that are a huge contrast to the tender moments. 

9. Intrusive has a powerful ending. How did you approach writing the conclusion, and what was your goal in terms of how the audience would feel once the credits roll?

I struggled with the ending. I think I always knew how it should end, but it was hard for me to even write it. I eventually came to terms with the fact that, even though the ending is sad, it is a wonderful representation of how much they loved each other. I knew these characters weren’t the most likeable people, but there is something about them that makes us root for them. I believe the reason we care is because they will do anything for each other. The ending represents the consequences of their character flaws combined with the romanticism of the true love they were blessed with experiencing. I’d hope the audience can relate to the struggles they face and that they leave with a fire inside themselves to be the best version of themselves and always fight for what they love.  

10. There’s a lot of competition in the thriller genre. What do you feel makes Intrusive stand out from others in its category?

PaI’m not usually the type of person that worries about competition, I just want to make the best art I can make. That being said, I believe that Intrusive is very real. I think that people can relate to Intrusive thoughts and, unfortunately I think many people have experienced a toxic relationship. I also believe this story is very unique and will stand out as something very different than most of the movies out there.tience, Discipline and Perseverance. Never, ever, give up.

11. After the success of Intrusive, do you have any upcoming projects that continue exploring similar themes or genres?

This film is very personal to me, it is based on a lot of events that I faced in real life. So, I haven’t written anything that focuses on these specific themes.  And, we are still in development for getting Intrusive filmed. We also made a short called Gush, that focuses on Intrusive thoughts. Gush has done really well in the festival circuit. But, as Intrusive focuses on a subject matter that I believe is beneficial to be brought to light on a larger scale, many of my other films do the same. I have films that I have in development that explore themes of racism, immigration, and even the overlap of science and religion. Although, I have to admit, love tends to be a common thread in most things I write, just as it seems to be in many of the things that happen in life.

As we wrap up this insightful conversation with Kyle Christopher McNamara, it’s clear that Intrusive is much more than just a psychological thriller – it’s a testament to McNamara’s skill in crafting stories that challenge, engage, and resonate with audiences on a profound level. His thoughtful exploration of fear, perception, and the human psyche elevates the genre, offering a fresh and compelling narrative. We look forward to seeing where his creative journey takes him next and can’t wait to experience more of the intriguing worlds he’s bound to bring to life. Thank you, Kyle, for sharing your time, vision, and expertise with us today.

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