On Thursday, July 25, OxyArts at Occidental College in Los Angeles hosts a special screening of Red Night, an experimental slasher film by Beck + Col, with CalArts alum Beck Stafford (Art MFA 19) as one half of the creative duo. This feature-length experimental film dives into the colorful world of a queer chosen family, focusing on five monster siblings who find themselves fighting for survival against an evil force threatening to isolate and kill the monsters one by one.
Set in a suburban home, Red Night brings a twist to the slasher genre. A human killer stalks the five colorful monsters through a house where each room is painted a different monochromatic color. As the monsters move through the space, they change color with each room, creating a visually stunning experience. The film pays homage to Dario Argento’s Giallo films, particularly Deep Red and Suspiria, capturing the essence of ’70s and ’80s horror.
Red Night explores individual helplessness through the slasher narrative. Victims are typically pursued and killed when isolated, but when the characters unite, they find the strength to counter the seemingly indestructible killer. This message of community and togetherness is further emphasized through a collection of artwork created for the film. Beck + Col invited 10 artists to create works that adorn the walls of the monsters’ home, each contributing to a sense of community through their practices of education, collaboration, and support for fellow artists.
Featured artists include CalArtians Alicia Piller (Art MFA 19), Vanessa Holyoak (Art MFA 19), Jenny Eom (Art MFA 20), and Minga Opazo (Art MFA 20), along with Amia Yokoyama, Ching Ching Cheng, Hea-Mi Kim, Ofelia Marquez, Sapira Cheuk, and Tanya Brodsky. In 2023, the artwork, costumes, and set pieces from the film were presented in an exhibition by Lauren Powell Projects.
Beck + Col, a Los Angeles-based artist duo known for creating alternate universes populated by monsters, wrote, directed, and starred in the film. Red Night was filmed over seven days in a suburban home in Santa Clarita, featuring a cast and crew that includes fellow CalArtians Mel Sangyi Zhao (Film/Video MFA 21) as creative producer and performers Kayla Aguila (Dance BFA 19) and Tetiana Skylarova (Dance BFA 21).
After its initial release, Red Night garnered attention at several film festivals, including the Another Hole in the Head in San Francisco, BizarroLand Film Festival, ZedFest Film Festival, and Art Film Spirit Awards.
