Aswang (1994 film)

The film was based on a Filipino vampire legend and set in northwoods of northern Wisconsin.[3] Co-director Barry Poltermann had originally written another script and upon showing it to friend Frank L. Anderson, was advised they needed to "do something crazy that was going to break through and get attention", with Anderson believing that the script would amount to a "by-the-numbers" horror film. Anderson had grown up in the Philippines and told both Poltermann and co-director Wyre Martin a legend about a vampire "that would sit on rooftops and drop down its tiny thread-like tongue to suck out the blood of fetuses."[4] Martin expressed that upon hearing about the legend, was surprised that a film had not already been made about it.[5] Poltermann believed the story was "totally screwed up", yet began brainstorming some ideas and had written a script within a week.[6] When the script was read by Anderson, he thought it was "an interesting take on the myth" but was not what he envisaged or expected having told the original story.[2]

The limited budget of the film meant the cast and crew were unable to travel to the Philippines, so instead opted to change the story to a family that grew up in the Philippines but moved to America.[2]

Martin made his production debut with the film, which first premiered on October 30, 1993, at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.[5] He believed it was "such an arresting story" and provided the subtext they needed, as they did not want to do a "senseless, blood-letting slasher film."[7] Co-director Poltermann noted there was a sense of "let's try this, let's try that" to determine what would work and would not and that it was deliberately shot in this manner, although suggested that if he were to do another film he would "be more disciplined stylistically."[8]

Filming took place during October and November 1992 at various locations around southeastern Wisconsin,[9] including in Milwaukee, Lake Geneva,[3] while some exterior shots were filmed along Wisconsin Highway 142[10] and Bong State Recreation Area in Kenosha County. Although the mansion in the film was supposed to be located in the countryside, it was actually in the middle of downtown Whitefish Bay.[9] The cabin and estate were owned by the Buffett family, of whom Peter Buffett was a friend of the producers.[8] The fight scene between Katrina and Claire was filmed in an abandoned house that was due to be demolished. The filmmakers had not found a suitable location just a week prior to shooting, as owners did not want their property to be destroyed, until Poltermann's brother suggested a house that was due to be burned down in a training exercise several weeks after the scene was filmed. The inclusion of a chainsaw in the scene was a last-minute decision by the directors.[11]

According to Poltermann, the film, shot during the autumn with leaves decomposing, had a "secluded feel to it", making it look like it was "set in northern Wisconsin," despite being around 30 minutes away from Milwaukee.[10] Filming was mostly outdoors, often starting at 8am each morning and would sometimes not finish until 11pm. Some scenes, according to Poltermann, were lifted from classic fright-flicks including The Shining and Rosemary's Baby, which he referred to as "visual sampling" in paying homage to great horror movies.[9] A mechanical rubber tongue was created which was capable of complex movements, which required hiring an effects technician at a cost of $5,000, which used a large portion of the budget. However, it developed a cabling fault within the first few minutes of its first scene. With only one operational cable resulting in a one-sided limp tongue and limited to just small twitches, some scenes were adjusted to take in to account the limited operation. Scenes with the tongue were shot partially as reverse motion.[11]

Despite trying to originally raise $125,000, the filmmakers were only able to raise $70,000. The filming budget did not exceed $70,000, while the remaining $40,000 to finish was made up from the filmmakers' personal finances.[2] Actors received $75 a day for their participation, in anticipation of a greater sum once the film was released, a typically common arrangement for low-budget films employing inexperienced assistance.[10]

The cast included university student Tina Ona Paukstelis and John Kishline, as well as Victor DeLorenzo, former drummer for rock group Violent Femmes.[10] Paukstelis, who played Katrina, reflected on how fun, but exhausting it was to film, noting that she remembered "having to run around barefoot in a nightgown in November at night in the woods". She injured herself on several occasions but "handled it very well", according to co-star John Kishline. She auditioned for the role on the recommendation of her friend Joe DeLorenzo, who also was cast in the trailer.[9] Paukstelis reflected on what was "a great experience" and judged the film as good, despite the five-week shooting schedule on a small budget.[12] She felt one of the toughest challenges was trying to appear scared, as she considered that acting in front of a camera was more subtle than acting on stage. She was singled out by a critic as "a tough, independent heroine".[13]

Poltermann described the casting of Norman Moses as Peter Null as interesting, as in his audition he redefined the character as one that would sing and dance, which writers did not envisage. Many of his character's elements were brought by the actor himself. The remaining members of the cast were from a Milwaukee theater group called Theater X. Although the characters were written as always being nude, this was changed in the film so that they would be clothed. Actors from Theater X were chosen particularly as they were locally available and known as risk-takers, alongside a view that being in a movie would be fun.[14] John Kishline, a resident of Milwaukee and one of the founding members of the Theater X drama company, was cast as Dr Roger Harper.[9] Kishline, who described the film as being "professionally done on a limited budget", spent most of his time on the film "ensnared from head to toe in a gooey cocoon".[13]