Filmmaker Johnny Coffeen is a 2015 graduate of the Transcendental Meditation-based David Lynch film program. His master’s thesis, The Swan Girl, went on to win a 2016 Student Academy Award in the Experimental category and world premiered at David Lynch’s Festival of Disruption. His directorial debut is a romantic horror film that follows two exes who wake up in a mysterious house buried under an avalanche.
The film features a talented cast, including Alex Essoe, known for her work in Starry Eyes and for her role as Wendy Torrance in Doctor Sleep, the sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. She stars alongside Lou Taylor Pucci, who audiences will recognize from the Evil Dead remake, Spring, and Daredevil: Born Again. Pucci also previously appeared in Coffeen’s absurdist short film, The False Mirror.
A Tribute to a Mentor
The Avalanche faced an unexpected and profound challenge during production. David Lynch’s team had agreed to show him the finished film once it was completed, but he sadly passed away on the eighth day of filming. Coffeen was in the midst of a highly experimental shooting day when he received the news. Instead of halting, he chose to channel the shock and emotion directly into the creative process, believing it was what David would have wanted. As a tribute, he screened Lynch’s debut feature, Eraserhead, for his crew.
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You can also follow Johnny on Instagram at @johnnycoffeen for all the latest updates on the film’s journey.
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