An Interview with the Adams Family (John, Zelda, Lulu Adams, Tony Poser)
At The Fantasia International Film Festival, July 29, 2023
One of the treasures of the (really) independent American film scene is a unique conglomeration of filmmakers who just happen to also be a family, the aptly named Adams family, comprised of husband John Adams, wife Tony Poser, and daughters Lulu and Zelda Adams. Together they have been collaborating on pretty much every aspect of the filmmaking process (acting, writing, directing, art direction, camera, music) since their debut film in 2014, Knuckle Jack. Five more features followed, The Shoot (2014), Halfway to Zen (2016), The Hatred (2018), The Deeper You Dig (2019), Hellbender (2021). Tony Poser, John Adams, Lulu Adams and Zelda Adams were invited guests to the 2023 Fantasia International Film Festival to present their latest offering, the demented Depression era set period film (with anachronistic contemporary touches thrown in that rends an Adams family stamp) Where the Devil Roams, which represents their most ambitious film in terms of scale and scope. The home grown carnival sets are a stylistic patchwork of historical realism, expressionist homage and an arts and craft naivety. The main act is a Mr. Tipps (Sam Rodd) who gleefully cuts of a finger, and then stitches it back backstage. All four family members star as a travelling carnival act with deep family scars who leave behind a trail of blood and mayhem along their travels. WW1 veteran Seven (John Adams) suffers from severe PTSD (he can’t handle even the sight of blood). Maggie (Tony Poser) is a psychopath from birth. Zelda Adams as Eve is mute except for her angelic singing voice. And Lulu Adams plays the small singular part of the Axe Girl. Offscreen sat with them for a chat about their latest family affair.
Donato Totaro has been the editor of the online film journal Offscreen since its inception in 1997. Totaro received his PhD in Film & Television from the University of Warwick (UK), is a part-time professor in Film Studies at Concordia University (Montreal, Canada) and a longstanding member of AQCC (Association québécoise des critiques de cinéma).
