Q&A: Writer/Director Joe Lam Discusses Working with a Talented Cast and Crew for THE FETUS

A young woman's pregnancy takes an unexpected turn when she discovers she's carrying a bloodthirsty demonic entity in the new horror film The Fetus. Starring Lauren LaVera, Julian Curtis, Amy Arena, and Bill Moseley, The Fetus recently screened at Orlando's Megacon and enjoyed a red-carpet premiere in Los Angeles before it heads to select theaters in partnership with Emagine Entertainment, MJR Theatres, Malco Theatres, and Santikos Entertainment on March 7th. Daily Dead caught up with writer/director Joe Lam to discuss collaborating with his skilled cast to develop their characters, the two most memorable moments that stand out from the making of the movie, and working with a talented effects crew behind the scenes of The Fetus.

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions for us, Joe, and congratulations on your new film The Fetus! How did you initially come up with the idea for this movie?

Joe Lam: The idea for the movie stemmed from exploring the pro-choice/pro-life debate, a theme that hasn’t been deeply examined in horror before. In most horror films, you see creatures, ghosts, or demonic forces chasing humans, but it’s rare to see these elements merge with humanity in a meaningful way. I wanted to create a film that pays homage to classics like Rosemary’s Baby, The Thing, and The Fly.

At the same time, I aimed to tell a story about characters grappling with the presence of an evil force growing inside a woman—something that poses a threat to her and others. The duality of nurturing something both dangerous and potentially transformative was fascinating to explore. I wanted the audience to confront the question, “What would I do if I were in this situation?”

The Fetus stars Lauren LaVera, who has become a horror icon with her amazing performances as Sienna in Terrifier 2 and 3. What was it like working with Lauren to bring the character of Alessa to life throughout her harrowing arc in the film?

Joe Lam: Working with Lauren LaVera was incredible because of her thorough and dedicated approach to developing her character, Alessa. In our first meeting, she shared how she writes extensive notes to build a detailed backstory—covering everything from Alessa’s upbringing and her relationship with her father, Maddox (played by Bill Moseley), to the type of friends she had growing up, and other specific traits.

During the audition process, we received over 7,500 submissions for the role of Alessa. When Lauren’s self-taped audition came in, it was remarkable. Her performance was deeply emotional and felt so authentic that it seemed like she had already fully embodied the character rather than just discovering her for the first time.

In rehearsals with Julian Curtis, who plays Chris, Alessa’s love interest, I encouraged both actors to take full ownership of their characters. Drawing from my experience directing hundreds of actors across numerous short films, I’ve learned the importance of collaboration and giving performers the freedom to fully explore their roles. Based on the overwhelmingly positive reactions from our test audiences, their performances resonated deeply, and their chemistry brought the story to life in a powerful way.

The Fetus also co-stars the legendary Bill Moseley as Alessa’s father, Maddox. How did Bill get involved with the film, and what was your experience collaborating with him on set?

Joe Lam: Bill was the first actor we cast and one of my top three choices for the role. I envisioned him as Maddox while writing the screenplay based on his previous work. We offered the part to his agent, and within three hours of reading the script, Bill agreed to take on the role.

Working with Bill proved effortless. With over 100 films under his belt and his experience playing such diverse characters, he completely made Maddox his own. We didn’t do any rehearsals, nor did I need to give him specific direction. I simply asked him how he wanted to approach the character. Interestingly, the Maddox that appears on screen is not the Maddox I originally envisioned while writing. Initially, I pictured him as a blind, worn-out, grumpy Vietnam veteran.

However, Bill portrayed him as a loving father who would do anything to protect his daughter, Alessa. At first, I felt conflicted because this wasn’t how I imagined the character. However, I stuck to my process of giving actors full ownership of their roles, even though it deviated from my original vision. In the end, Bill’s portrayal of Maddox fit the story far better than I ever imagined, and the authenticity of his character wouldn’t have emerged without my trust in his ability to bring Maddox to life.

Special makeup effects are integral to this story, and you worked with a talented team behind the scenes, including Alex Rojas, Isabelle Isel, and Mary Katie Engle. What was it like working with these great artists to make the scares in this film as palpable and real as possible?

Joe Lam: We were incredibly fortunate to have Alex Rojas, a two-time winner of the Colombian Academy of Film Award, lead the creation of most of the creature and special effects makeup. This was my first time working on a project with practical creature effects, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I gave Alex the screenplay to read, and he began sketching concepts for what the fetus could look like. His designs perfectly bridged the gap between a half-human, half-demonic fetus. He wasn’t just creating a creature for shock value or grotesqueness, which to me would have felt forced and disconnected from the story. Instead, his work reflected the duality of something existing between two worlds, and I felt his designs captured that balance beautifully.

We also had an incredible team of makeup and special effects artists, including Mary Katie Engle and Isabelle Isel, who handled natural makeup, bruises, and prosthetics placed onto the actors. It’s a challenging task to make something unnatural feel completely believable in a real-world context, but their expertise with makeup and blood effects brought a seamless realism to the film.

I’ll also highlight that some of our special effects makeup artists—Fernanda Collado, Daniela Galindo, and Holland Maevers—took on double duty as puppeteers. Their exceptional training and talent in animating the various iterations of the fetus creatures significantly amplified the unique horror elements of the story. Ultimately, all of their combined talents elevated the scares and brought an authenticity to the visuals. But don’t just take my word for it, you’ll have to see the film to experience how well it all comes together.

Where did filming for The Fetus take place, and how many days were in your shooting schedule?

Joe Lam: We initially filmed The Fetus in Tafton and Scranton, Pennsylvania, over 17 days. We knew from the start that we’d need an additional two days at a green screen studio in Los Angeles, California, to capture scenes that couldn’t be filmed practically. For instance, how do you realistically shoot an unborn fetus floating inside a womb? The solution for us was to film practical effects on a green screen combined with visual effects. Splitting up the shoot like this turned out to be a huge advantage because it allowed us to edit the film early on and use placeholders for the green screen shots. This meticulous planning ensured we captured everything we needed during the studio shoot.

Once the film was assembled with all the practical and visual effects in place, we conducted four separate audience test screenings. The feedback was largely positive, but one key takeaway was that the audience wanted more from the story’s climax. They were so engaged that the ending felt too abrupt. That realization was tough for me as a director—especially after raising significant funds, working with over 100 people, and thinking the film was complete. It became a pivotal moment for me as I had to decide whether to release the film as it was or raise additional funds to improve it. I chose to go back and make it the best it could be, and that decision elevated the film immensely. In total, we spent 22 days filming across three separate shoots, and based on the most recent test audience feedback, the extra effort was absolutely worth it.

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

Joe Lam: That’s a tough question, but two moments really stand out to me. The first is when Bill Moseley sings “Amazing Grace.” It’s deeply unsettling to watch a character, who is both a loving father and has a psychotic side, sing so joyfully. It was raw, emotional, and profoundly impactful for me as a filmmaker.

The second moment is when the fetus emerges from Lauren’s body. The way she screams to release her pain feels so authentic that even mothers who’ve seen the film have told me she nailed it, despite never having children herself. I don’t know how she did it, but it was truly remarkable to witness.

Ultimately, what do you hope viewers take away from their viewings of The Fetus?

Joe Lam: Beyond just enjoying the film, I hope people become deeply invested in the characters and their transformational journey. For me, that’s the true power of cinema. If I can create characters who undergo significant change, and the audience can empathize with their struggles—whether it’s trauma, healing, or personal growth—that’s the most fulfilling outcome for me as a filmmaker. When that happens, I know I’ve done my job.

Do you have any plans to make a sequel to The Fetus if the opportunity arises?

Joe Lam: That would largely depend on whether certain cast members are willing to return. I do have ideas for a sequel, but it would take the story in a completely new direction as the characters continue to evolve. My goal is to create something fresh and unexpected—offering audiences a unique experience while telling a deeply meaningful story. That’s what excites me the most as a filmmaker.

When can viewers look forward to seeing The Fetus, and do you have any special screenings planned for the film?

Joe Lam: A public screening took place at Megacon in Orlando, FL on February 7th, where we partnered with Indie Horror Junkie who were generous enough to provide us a booth and film screening. We also had a red carpet premiere February 10th in Los Angeles, CA, which was an invite-only event for our cast & crew, press, and influencers. Following that, The Fetus will play in select theaters starting March 7th.

In addition to The Fetus, do you have any other projects coming up that you’re excited about? Where can our readers go online to keep up to date on The Fetus and your other films?

Joe Lam: The next project we’re working on is a sci-fi film called Ex Gratia, which will be written and directed by our producer, Brent Trotter, for his directorial debut. I’m also writing my next screenplay, a sci-fi thriller called Memory Hunter, which is a cross between two of my favorite mind-bending films, Minority Report and Memento.

For the latest updates, you can visit www.thefetusfilm.com or follow us on social media @thefetusfilm across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X.