Retro horror is having a moment — and Indiana-born filmmaker Aidan Campbell is right at the heart of it. His debut feature, The Watchers, is a pulse-pounding homage to the golden age of 80s slashers, but with a slick, modern twist. Funded through a passionate Indiegogo campaign, the film promises the kind of blood, grit, and neon-drenched atmosphere fans of the genre crave.
Campbell, who serves as writer, director, and cinematographer, has poured his all into the project and describes The Watchers as “a love letter to the movies that made me fall in love with filmmaking.” Now in post-production, it’s already turning heads online with teaser reels and haunting behind-the-scenes stills.
We caught up with Aidan one-on-one ahead of the film’s release to talk about chaotic night shoots, his creative process, and how The Watchers became his ultimate test of passion and endurance-here’s the scoop
Stephen Stallone: Glad we finally caught up. I came across your new feature The Watchers and love the retro slasher vibe. Before we dive into that, tell us how you got started.
Aidan Campbell: Sure. I started making short films in middle and high school with friends, mostly for fun or class projects. I loved art and animation, so I went to Ball State University for fine arts and later joined their animation program. When COVID hit, everything went online, and I fell out of love with animation. I realised what I really loved was storytelling and filmmaking, so I switched to video production and directed my first short. That experience hooked me completely. Since then, I’ve directed several shorts and now The Watchers, my first feature.
Stephen Stallone: Nice. Let’s talk about casting. How did you find your actors?
Aidan Campbell: We had no budget, so I handled casting myself. I put out calls online and got around 4,000 submissions. After three rounds of auditions, including chemistry reads, I had my final cast. Honestly, I knew early on who I wanted, but the later rounds confirmed my choices.
The film has that 80s slasher energy but feels modern too. What inspired the look and tone?
Aidan Campbell: Visually, I was inspired by Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, and John Carpenter’s work, the gritty textures, bold lighting, and strong moonlight tones. I gave it a teal twist to make it my own. I also wanted the film to feel like its own world, like Tim Burton or Wes Anderson’s do, stylised but distinct. It’s retro in look, but the story’s deeper than traditional slashers.
Stephen Stallone: And since you wrote, directed, shot, and composed the score, what was most challenging?
Aidan Campbell: Time management. Doing everything myself was exhausting. I tested lighting setups alone, built props, even aged newspapers with coffee grounds. During shooting, we had a tiny crew, so I was moving lights and directing at the same time. The cast really pitched in, one actress even held the boom mic some days. It taught me how important delegation is.
Stephen Stallone: What scene are you most proud of? And what do you hope audiences take away from the film?
Aidan Campbell: Without spoiling much, there’s a massive one-shot sequence inside a decorated lake house that I’m really proud of. It was the most ambitious scene I’ve ever done.
As for the audience, I want them to feel like they’ve entered a full world, something nostalgic yet new. A mix of 80s slasher fun with the emotional depth of modern horror.
Yeah, so the whole lake house had an open floor plan, everything flowed together. We fully decked it out for Halloween, there’s this big one-shot sequence that moves through the entire house. Planning it was wild, with so many moving parts, extras, and action. But once I saw it edited, I knew it would be one of those scenes people talk about.
We shot mostly at night — 10 p.m. to 4 a.m and there was one cabin scene that was so intense the whole crew went silent after I called cut. No one said a word. That’s when I knew it worked, when everyone in the room could feel it.
Stephen Stallone: That’s amazing. How long did you have to shoot the entire feature?
Aidan Campbell: Principal photography was 28 days, then 12 more for reshoots, just over a month total. The film’s about two hours long, so it was a beast. Lots of long nights, but totally worth it.
Stephen Stallone: I can imagine. What do you hope audiences feel when they see it?
Aidan Campbell: The film’s labeled as a slasher horror, which it is, but it’s more than that, it mixes adventure, action, sci-fi, romance, and coming-of-age elements. I wanted to make a movie I’d want to see myself.
I hope audiences laugh, cry, and feel for these characters. There are some brutal kills, the first ten minutes are absolutely insane. It’s probably one of the goriest openings I’ve ever seen, and even I had to look away during editing.
Stephen Stallone: Love it. Do you have a premiere date yet?
Aidan Campbell: Not yet. We’re waiting to reshoot a few shots my main spotlight broke on the last day of filming and it’s still being repaired. Once that’s done, I’ll finish the edit and set a premiere date. We’re showing it at an IMAX theatre in Indiana — it’s the fifth-largest screen in the world, which is pretty exciting.
Stephen Stallone: That sounds incredible. Definitely keep us posted so we can cover it. What’s next for you after The Watchers? Any sequels or new projects lined up?
Aidan Campbell: A bit of both. There are distributors interested I can’t say much because of NDAs but some exciting things are happening behind the scenes. While waiting on that, I’m making short films with people from The Watchers, like Catherine, who’s brilliant.
The shoot was tough but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love filmmaking, even the long hours and dehydration. I do have sequels written, and I’d love to make them, but we’ll see how the first one performs. Whatever happens, I’ll keep making films. It’s what makes me feel alive, it’s my spark.
⸻By Stephen Stallone | DistractTV
