Want a horror that'll get under your skin at Grimmfest 2025? Bari Kang's ITCH is for you, here he chats about this skin-crawling piece of cinema.
STV: Where did the idea for Itch! come from?
BK: ITCH! is actually inspired by a bizarre event I witnessed in my Discount Store. An odd “customer” came in one day, covered in layers of clothing and complaining about an itch. She proceeded to remove her clothes and scratch herself. I figured she had bed bugs or something, but it seemed a bit surreal. That incident stayed with me for a long time, and I knew I could compose a narrative around the idea of a contagion spread through the act of itching and scratching.
STV: Are you a fan of body horror?
BK: It really depends on the context. If it serves a purpose in the story, then yes.
STV: There’s a lot of social commentary in this movie. How hard was it to make sure its message didn’t get lost within the horror?
BK: I don’t actively try to add social commentary in my work, but it inevitably seeps through. I tend to highlight aspects of my life that I struggle with or have gone through. It’s a sort of therapy, I suppose. In hindsight, I would have added more horror elements! So no, it wasn’t hard.
STV: How hard is it directing yourself?
BK: Having written the material and lived with the story and characters for about 2 years before production, it was surprisingly easy. You have to do all the work before getting on set. If you’re trying to figure it out on set, it’s already too late. It’s crucial to surround yourself with people who share in your vision, who aren’t afraid to let you know something isn’t working.
STV: Was it a tough movie to cast?
BK: Yes and No. We shot it during the strikes, so obviously we couldn’t do Union. That ended up being a blessing. We were lucky enough to find some fine actors with raw talent. When we cast, I tend to look for actors who are themselves a version of the character they’ll be portraying. Given the budgetary constraints, we usually don’t have the luxury of working too much on set.
STV: They are amazing. Did you have much time to rehearse?
BK: Oops, I answered this above. Haha. But yeah, I tend to work with the actors individually to understand the characters and where we need to go with them. One thing I tell the actors is to know the script inside and out.
STV: How did you go about directing Olivia?
BK: I didn’t intend to cast my own daughter for the role, but that was the only way to make the movie. I knew it would lend a raw and emotional core, if it worked. And thank god it worked. Once I knew it was going to be my daughter as Olivia, I rewrote the part for her natural tendencies. As far as directing her, I took the less-is-more approach. I didn’t want to overwhelm her with the technicalities of acting, so we just went with the flow. I did drop her in the deep end with the heavier scenes first. What made it tough was that most of the shoot was overnight, so keeping her awake was one of the biggest challenges.
STV: What was the shoot like as it seems to have been completed all on location?
BK: Yeah, it was shot mostly in my parents’ home and our discount store. Again, it was the only way to make the movie. Limiting the shooting locations helped us shoot more efficiently. The store is almost like a character in the story. There were so many different parts to it, each with its own vibe. For example, the basement is where most of the mayhem happens, so every time we go down there, you know, sh*** about to get real.
STV: The effects are very impressive, were they all done on set?
BK: All on set and practical. We took the KISS approach and just had fun with it. Lots of blood was spilled. Fake blood that is. Though I did get banged up a few times.
STV: Do you get nervous when your movies play at festivals?
BK: I think if you don’t get nervous, there’s something wrong. When you put yourself out there, nerves are a part of it. What you do with those feelings is what matters. With time, you’re able to handle criticism and feedback better. At the end of the day you can’t please everyone. All you need is one person who connected with your work and that makes it worthwhile.
STV: You’re a multi-talented creative, is there one job that you prefer doing?
BK: I started as an actor. I began to write and direct so I could portray meaningful roles, but I think they all lend to each other. It’s hard to choose one aspect over another. As long as I’m creating, I’m good.
STV: So, what are you working on at the moment?
BK: ITCH!! Haha. I’m enjoying the festival circuit at the moment while contemplating the world of ITCH! I see this as a franchise.
STV: Bari Kang, thank you very much.
BK: Thank you, James. I appreciate what you do.
