Having technology ease the burden of mundane tasks can actually inadvertently making people lives more difficult, as it’s preventing them from conforming into the rest of society. The new dark comedy-thriller ‘In the Mouth,’ is highlighting how as a result of the increase in comforts, social anxiety is becoming more prevalent in modern culture.

The film foreshadows the potential growth of a great mental health crisis that will rapidly progress without people’s own conscious resistance. The movie‘s co-writer/director, Cory Santilli, based on the script’s vision on his own personal experiences with agoraphobia over the past several years.

Besides co-scribing and helming the comedy-thriller, Santilli also served as a producer and the editor on the feature. The film stars Colin Burgess and Paul Michael, the latter of whom also served as an executive producer.

Throughout ‘In the Mouth,’ Merl (Burgess) has been living his life as a shut-in recluse in complete isolation, unable to leave his house after discovering a giant version of himself protruding from his lawn, blocking any attempt at escape. He’s run out of money, but if he doesn’t pay his rent in the next five days, his landlord is going to evict him. With no other options left, he’s forced to get a roommate to pay him the debt in advance.

Larry (Michael), an older man traveling shockingly light with only the clothes on his back, comes to live with Merl. It’s an adjustment for sure, but maybe they can learn something from each other. Or maybe Larry’s just found the perfect place to hide.

‘In the Mouth’ had its World Premiere in the Breakouts section at the Slamdance Film Festival, where it was honored with the Breakouts Feature Honorable Mention. Santilli, Burgess and Paul Michael generously took the time before the start of the festival last month to talk about penning, directing, editing and starring in the project during an exclusive interview over Zoom.

Film Factual (FF): Cory, you wrote the script for the new dark comedy-thriller, ‘In the Mouth.’ What was the inspiration on scribing the screenplay for the film?

Cory Santilli (CS): The inspiration for the script was that I was just dealing with some housebound agoraphobia. So I wrote it in the middle of that, as a letter of frustration.

I wanted to get back out and make something. So I called upon these fine two gentlemen to help get it made. I had been talking to them for awhile about making something together, and this ended up being the thing that we worked on first.

FF: Colin and Paul, you both star in the movie. What was the casting process like for the thriller?

CS: It was kind of a coincidence that the script brought us all together. I had kind of wanted to work with both of them for awhile, and we had been talking about various things prior.

But it was kind of a coincidence that I had a script that I felt fit both of them, and had characters I felt both of them could play. So it just all worked out that way. But we were just all talking about working on something together for a bit individually

Colin Burgess (CB) Cory and I met via email or phone in about 2019. Would you say that’s right, Cory?

CS: Yes, that sounds about right.

CB: But I didn‘t meet Cory until the day I arrived on set in Rhode Island, the day before we started shooting.

CS: Yes, it was to do the test footage.

CB: But in between, it was a serious of attempts to work together. (Rothery laughs.) But this worked out, and I was really happy about it. For a second there, I thought that was going to e our relationship – we would call each other about a project every few years, and then it just wouldn‘t happen. But this time, it did!

Paul Michael (PM): For me, it’s a similar story. Through a series of weird coincidences, I ended up being cast in a film that Cory was set to direct in 2020, which COVID promptly shut down. Then I was cast in another film with Cory that was also promptly shut down.

We were on the phone with each other about a week after that one ran into trouble. I said, “We have to do something; I really want to do something with you. What can we do?”

Cory then got back to me about the same time he got Colin. He said, “I’d like you guys to look at this.” So that‘s how it came about for me.

FF: Once you bot signed on to star in ‘In the Mouth,’ Colin and Paul, how did you work together to build your characters’ relationship?

CB: I feel like the dynamic was very easy to get into

PM: Definitely.

CB: I felt comfortable on set because Paul put me at ease, and I hope likewise.

PM: Oh, yes. Both of them are great. Colin gives you so much to work with that it was fun playing with him. Cory also gave us a great script, which is a clear indicator of what the character should be and where he’s going to head.

Then when he’s directing, as long as he gets the take he wants, then he’s like, “Play guys, have fun.” We did – we had a lot of fun doing it! It was an enjoyable experience. It was a very relaxed set.

FF: Speaking about the directing, Cory how did you approach helming the film?

CS: It was really fun; it was probably the most fun I’ve ever had making something. I feel like I was laughing more than what‘s normal. I would pull people aside and ask them, “Is this really fun?”

PM: He had to be taken off the set a couple of times because he was laughing! (Michael laughs.)

CS: Yes, I laughed so hard a few times that I had to bring the monitor to a different room. (Michael l laughs.) So it was a blast.

It was a really small group of people. So every day it felt like we were all coming together to get something done. There wasn‘t much pressure, like rushing to get stuff done.

For the most part, we would push to get stuff done on certain days, based on the schedule. But we didn’t want to sacrifice the integrity of what we were doing. So everyday felt fun, aside from the normal stressors of wanting to do a good job. Everyday felt like a blast.

CB: It was a very chill and easy set to be on. I think that Cory crafted it to e that way

PM: Yes, absolutely.

CB: It was so easy shooting this that I accidentally double booked my work schedule and I couldn’t change the day. But I was able to edit videos between each shot and do both at the same time.

PM: I don‘t know how you did that, by the way! I was impressed. (Michael laughs.)

CB: I was stressed! But I slept on set, so when I woke up, it was an easy transition into shooting.

FF: The basis of ‘In the Mouth’ is Merl living his life as a recluse, in complete isolation, unable to leave his house. With the movie’s location being such an important part of its story, how did you decide where you would shoot the project and secure the home?

CS: That was sort of fate. A project that I was supposed to have just worked on with both of them had just fell through.

I had just called the location to cancel and say, “We’re not going to be finishing up here.” He said, “Okay, if you ever need this place again, you can use it however you want. If you want people to sleep here, they can.”

So I just kept thinking about that. I realized I had ‘In the Mouth,’ and that takes place at one location. Coincidentally, it was supposed to take place on a farm.

So it all just sort of worked out. It was also cool that the house had so much personality and character inside. So that made everyone’s job a little bit easier.

PM: It was kind of creepy funny. (Rothery laughs.)

CB: I slept in the other room we didn’t shoot in, which was the doll room.

PM: It was a terrifying room! I don’t know how you did it.

CB: There were 80 dolls in this room, at least!

FF: Cory, besides penning and helming the thriller, you also edited the feature. How did you approach putting the final version of the film together?

CS: Well, I don’t do assemblies because they make me really nervous. So I just edit it as rough of an edit as I can, but also striving to be tonally current. I usually do that pretty closely with the producer.

I just don’t like the process of putting something together and understanding that it’s not working yet, and having to figure out why. So it’s just better for me, personally, to just move forward intentionally, and work alongside producers and collaborators in real time.

It’s always more fun to edit a comedy because the dailies are amazing and hilarious. It’s always easier to edit something that’s full of funny moments than it is to edit something that’s serious. My first film was more atmospheric and drama-focused, which can be really stressful sometimes.

FF: ‘In the Mouth’ (had) its World Premiere at this year’s Slamdance Film Festival. What does it mean to you all that the movie (debuted) at the festival?

CS: I (was) excited, personally. We (were) all looking forward to it. We’re all big fans of Slamdance. We talked about how it would be a dream to premiere there while we were on set, actually.

PM: I (was also) really excited about it. I (was) curious to see what the reaction to the film (was). It‘s probably the same for Colin and Cory, I remember all the stuff that isn’t there that took place around that that led us to get there.

So our experience watching it is different than someone who wasn’t there on set. So I (hoped) that it would be a good experience to watch on the big screen with an audience.