Unveiling Trauma and Resilience with Director and Writer Nathan Walker in Til I Rot

Director Nathan Walker takes audiences on a journey into psychological horror with his latest film project, Til I Rot. The idea for this chilling film stemmed from Walker's personal grief. "The script developed naturally, albeit intensely," he recalls. "While I was in Florida on assignment, my mom, who had been sick for 10 years, passed away. I received the news from my brother while on a sailboat in Key West. The reception wasn't great, but I made out 'mom is gone.'"

This devastating news plunged Walker into a period of intense mourning and reflection. "It hit me hard. The next day, I flew back to be with my family and grieve. Over the following weeks, I processed her death and reflected on my own experiences," he says. Walker's emotional journey took a cinematic turn with recurring nightmares. "About a month later, I woke up in the middle of the night, panting and covered in sweat after an intense nightmare. I had the same dream four more times, something I've never experienced before or since."

Driven to understand these haunting dreams, Walker turned to writing. "Writing helps me process strong emotions," he shares. "As I examined and wrote about them, I discovered thematic connections that formed a compelling story." The vivid and atmospheric settings of Til I Rot were directly inspired by Walker's nightmares. "The story begins in an attic apartment, mostly drawn from my nightmare, with a few adjustments to fit the narrative and characters."

Walker explains the symbolic significance of the film's characters, each representing different aspects of mental illness, drawing from personal experiences and those of others. "There are four characters, each embodying a different facet of mental illness," says Walker. 

"I have a deep appreciation for visual metaphors. With Til I Rot, different viewers interpret each scene differently, and that's what intrigued me."

Complementing the psychological horror genre the film embodies, Rhode Island’s haunting atmosphere was a strong influence in creating Til I Rot.  Walker acknowledges, "Rhode Island and New England can be incredibly eerie." To learn more about the project and support, visit SeedAndSpark.com.