HIS MONSTER, the haunting new #OregonMade feature from director Erich Cannon, will make its Oregon premiere at the Tomorrow Theater in Portland, Tuesday, March 17th and The Columbian Theater in Astoria Friday, March 20th at 7PM, introducing local movie fans and press to a chilling, character-driven genre film that blends psychological horror with raw emotional realism.
Coinciding with the market premiere, the film’s first international trailer has just been released, offering audiences an unsettling glimpse into its dark and emotionally charged world.
HIS MONSTER already started a successful festival run by winning the Best Feature Award at the Old Towne Film Festival, and screening at 45th FantaFestival in Rome and Cine De Terror in Chile. Produced by Compassionate Disaster Films, HIS MONSTER
stars Gabe Casdorph (Killers of the Flower Moon, Yellowstone) in a devastating lead performance as James Streeter, a broken man battling alcoholism, grief, and an unspeakable terror that no one else is willing to see. Co-Star and Portland local Ashley Song projects a strong and quiet sadness in her stellar performance as Su-Yeong, James’ wife. Local actress Miette Blanche at only 4 years old playing their daughter. James Streeter loses everything—his family, his stability, and his place in the world — when his young daughter is mysteriously swept out to sea. Convinced she was taken by something inhuman, a monster from Japanese folklore, James isolates himself, wandering the surrounding woods in a desperate search for answers, finding solace only at the bottom of an empty bottle.
With HIS MONSTER, Cannon pulling from his own experiences in addiction, having refrained from drinking for over 5 years, delivers a stark and unsettling exploration of addiction, guilt, and belief, using horror not as spectacle but as an extension of its protagonist’s fractured inner world. In the words of the director: “HIS MONSTER explores the idea that the true horror is the grips of addiction and grief. I wanted to highlight the struggle of addiction, numbing pain with substance and abuse in a fantastical way, and show how these addictions can bring harm to those closest to us.”
The feature was shot in Mt. Hood, Astoria, Hug Point and parts of Portland. Local cast and crew had a large part of the production, including creature design by sculptor and artist Scott Foster, with production design and monster build by Andee Hess of Osmose
Design. Cannon, who grew up in Washington and now resides in LA, worked many years as a radio and tour promotor for bands and artists in Portland.
Currently being showcased at the European Film Market, HIS MONSTER now launches onto the international stage, with EuroObscura opening sales talks with global partners.
