AMERICAN HORROR STORIES

NECRO

A MORTICIAN IS AN ARTIST. THEY BREATHE THE SPIRIT OF LIFE BACK INTO THE DEAD FOR THEIR FINAL VIEWING MOMENT. SAM, HAS TAKEN HER PASSION FOR HER ART TO A PLACE RARELY EXPLORED, NECROPHELIA. THE NECRO TITLE TELLS THE STORY OF A MORTICIAN AT WORK WHOSE GROTESQUE SEXUAL FANTASIES ARE TRIGGERED BY THE EMBALMING PROCESS. 

MANY THANKS TO HAZEL BAIRD AT ELASTIC FOR ASKING ME TO BE A PART OF THIS. 

STREAMING NOW ON HULU

PROJECT: MAIN TITLES

CONCEPT: NECRO-FANTASY

STUDIO: ELASTIC

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: JOSH CHILDERS

EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR: HAZEL BAIRD

ART DIRECTOR / DESIGNER: Josh Childers

ANIMATORS: JOSH CHILDERS & BRUNO FERRARI

EDITOR: RACHEL FOWLER

PRODUCER: MITCHELL FRASER

COORDINATOR: ZAK MICCICHE

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: KATE BERRY

MANAGING DIRECTOR: JENNIFER SOFIO HALL

WE BEGIN IN A DARK MORTUARY TO SET AN OMINOUS TONE. INTRODUCE YOU TO THE INTIMATE PROCESS OF PREPARING THE BODIES, MASSAGING THEM, CARING FOR THEM; ONE REALLY MUST HAVE A PASSION FOR THIS. YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE IT TO BE GOOD AT IT. YOU UNZIP THE BODY BAG LIKE YOU UNZIP YOUR DRESS. PRESS YOUR FINGER INTO THAT BULLET HOLE, AND FEEL THEIR COLD WETNESS THROUGH YOUR GLOVE. A CHARGE SHOOTS UP YOUR SPINE AND THE IMAGE OF WHAT YOU DID LAST NIGHT FLASHES IN YOUR MIND. YOU'VE GOTTA PUT ON THEIR MAKEUP NOW. THEY DESERVE TO BE BEAUTIFUL ONE LAST TIME. ANOTHER IMAGE FLASHES IN YOUR HEAD: FACES YOU'VE CARED FOR, DEAD. THAT TINGLY FEELING IN YOUR NERVES, SWEAT FORMS ON YOUR LIPS, AN URGE TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW IS BAD. NO ONE'S AROUND, JUST YOU AND THAT ROCK-HARD SLAB OF MEAT.

"YOU UNZIP THE BODY BAG LIKE YOU UNZIP YOUR DRESS."

EMBALMING PROCESS

TO DRAIN BLOOD FROM A CADAVER, A MORTICIAN HAS TO MASSAGE THE DEAD BODY TO WORK THE FORMALDEHYDE THROUGH THE VASCULAR SYSTEM, FORCING THE BLOOD OUT THROUGH AN INCISION IN THE JUGULAR. A SUGGESTIVE  RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SEXUAL NATURE OF A MASSAGE AND THE EMBALMING PROCESS. 

"FEEL THEIR COLD WETNESS THROUGH YOUR GLOVE."

RECONSTRUCTION

RESTORATIVE ART IS THE PROCESS OF RESTORING A BODY FOR FINAL VIEWING. IT CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS BATHING, DRESSING, AND STYLING THE BODY’S HAIR AND MAKEUP, OR IT CAN BE AS COMPLEX AS RE-MOLDING FACIAL FEATURES. SOMETHING SAM IS VERY TALENTED AT.

"THEY DESERVE TO BE BEAUTIFUL ONE LAST TIME."

FANTASY VIGNETTES

SURREALIST CG CUTAWAYS JUXTAPOSE THE REALISTIC FOOTAGE, SUGGESTING A PSYCHOTIC BREAK IN THE MIND OF A NECROPHILE. AS THE STORY PROGRESSES THE IMAGERY ESCALATES INTO THE NIGHTMARISHLY ABSURD.

"THE IMAGE OF WHAT YOU DID LAST NIGHT FLASHES IN YOUR MIND."

THE FINALE

NOW IT’S YOU ON THE GURNEY STARING AT THE CEILING AS YOU ROLL DOWN THE HALL TO BE PREPARED. I WONDER IF THE LIVING WILL CARE FOR YOU AS YOU CARED FOR THE DEAD.