Q&A: Emma Tammi Discusses Directing a Heartfelt Werewolf Story for INTO THE DARK: BLOOD MOON

Trying to protect the world from her young son's ferocious secret, a mother looks for a fresh start in a small town, only to find that the prying locals may make the next lunar cycle the deadliest one yet in Blood Moon, the second season finale of Blumhouse and Hulu's anthology horror series Into the Dark.

With Blood Moon premiering on Hulu beginning Friday, March 26th, we caught up with director Emma Tammi (The Wind, Into the Dark: Delivered) in a new Q&A feature to discuss the making of the heartfelt werewolf story, including reading Adam Mason's script during COVID-19 quarantine, collaborating with stars Megalyn Echikunwoke and Yonas Kibreab, and overcoming the obstacle of a broken camera on the final day of filming.

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions for us, Emma, and congratulations on your new movie, Blood Moon! This marks your second time directing a film in Blumhouse and Hulu’s Into the Dark anthology series. How did you get involved this time around, and what was it about Adam Mason’s screenplay that made you want to bring this story to life?

Emma Tammi: My pleasure! The Into the Dark team asked me to read Blood Moon while production was still shut down due to COVID-19, and start dates were unknown. But I loved the script and thought it was such a great take on a werewolf story—heartfelt and unexpected. When production was able to resume (under new safety protocols), I had been sitting with these characters for several months with growing excitement.

There is some gorgeous scenery featured throughout Blood Moon that really adds a sense of isolation to the proceedings. Where did filming take place, and how many days were in your shooting schedule?

Emma Tammi: We filmed in California (in or near Los Angeles), and our main town was in Piru, CA. I was really thrilled to team up with cinematographer Lyn Moncrief again on this episode, to help capture that sense of isolation. We had an 18-day production schedule, but our hours each day were reduced due to the pandemic, so time was precious (as it always is) and we needed to make the most of every setup.

The mother-son bond between Megalyn Echikunwoke and Yonas Kibreab is fantastic and makes you completely invest in their characters from the get-go. What was it like working with Echikunwoke and Kibreab to create that believable mother-son connection?

Emma Tammi: Megalyn and Yonas brought the highest level of dedication and enthusiasm to set every day, so that’s the dream scenario for any director. They were open and excited to try new things, and we played around as much as time allowed. I wanted each of them to get as many takes as we could squeeze into the day, and prioritized that as much as possible. (We were often even rolling on rehearsal.) Having time to get comfortable in the shoes of one’s character is really key, but both Megalyn and Yonas found their stride very quickly and formed a strong bond that the movie hinges on.

Looking back at your time on set, is there a favorite or memorable moment that stands out?

Emma Tammi: On our last day of filming—only several hours short of wrapping picture—our camera went down. It also happened to be in the middle of one of Megalyn’s most emotional scenes of the film. I bring it up not as a favorite memory, but as a memorable one, because everyone rose to the challenge so brilliantly. Our camera department hustled to prep a backup camera body, so that we could get back up and running, and Megalyn stayed in a highly emotional state of mind for 45 minutes, till we could resume. Everyone on set hustled to finish not only the day, but the movie, in full force. Champs all around!

While making Blood Moon, were you influenced or inspired by any other movies, TV shows, or books about werewolves, eerie small towns, or monsters in general?

Emma Tammi: I was inspired by the tone and setting of No Country for Old Men, and Lyn and I referenced An American Werewolf in London for some of the wolf POV shots (and sound design).

Ultimately, what do you hope viewers take away from Blood Moon?

Emma Tammi: I hope viewers have different takeaways, based on the elements of the film that strike a chord with them.

I’ve seen a lot of people online talking about how much they enjoyed your first feature film, The Wind, and it seems like the audience for that movie continues to grow with each passing year. What has it been like to see the continued positive reception for The Wind, and do you hope to make more horror westerns in the future?

Emma Tammi: That is so lovely to hear, and if the right horror western project comes along, I’ll not hesitate to make another. I’m a huge fan of both genres, and the mashup is really a treat.

With Blood Moon premiering on Hulu on March 26th, what other projects do you have coming up that you’re excited about, and where can our readers go online to keep up to date on your work?

Emma Tammi: Coming up, I’ll be directing a new Netflix series—an adaption of the book Devil in Ohio—and have currently been popping in and out of the writers’ room for that project (which has been a total delight). Teresa Sutherland (writer of The Wind) and I are also working on a feature adaptation of a thriller novel, which I’m very excited about.