Bleeders, a new short film by local filmmaker Carssan T. Morrissey, will premiere at FilmScene in Iowa City Wednesday, following a showing of Evil Dead (2013). The two films are paired together as part of FilmScene’s long-running love letter to niche horror flicks, Late Shift at the Grindhouse.
Morrissey’s short film explores consumption, lust and addiction — and was produced entirely “by a team of incredibly talented Trans and Queer artists,” according to the director.
Born and raised in Cedar Falls, Morrissey has been creating movies for as long as she can remember. Her specific, intensely cerebral approach to the horror genre has made her stand out — and earned her the title “Queen of Iowa Horror” from Jake Daniels, a fellow horror filmmaker and founder of the Marengo-based Mediaverse Studios. Morrissey has proudly worn the moniker ever since.
This is evident in Bleeders, a “point-of-view” film where the audience steps into main character’s shoes during the duration of the film. Iris (played by Allison Chains) is addicted to ichor, a party drug that brings euphoria and strength — but if you don’t get enough of it, you are at risk of death. Another side effect of ichor: you need to drink human blood to survive.
The film can be seen as a pseudo-sequel to Of the Flesh, another one of Morrissey’s short films that came out last year and also starred Chains.
The Bleeders soundtrack, as envisioned by Morrissey, called for an electronic-industrial vibe, able to evoke both crumbling empires and psyches. Enter Aaron Longoria of Iowa City band Early Girl and her partner Dust Angel. The two were very involved in the production process, with Longoria even appearing as an extra in the film.
Most of Morrissey’s work has premiered at Late Shift at the Grindhouse. It’s no accident that this short film is paired with 2013’s Evil Dead, the fourth iteration in the horror franchise; Morrissey said she had the film in mind while writing the script for Bleeders.
Asked about her inspirations, Morrissey said the list is always changing, but some current picks are Julia Ducournau (Raw, Titane) Jennifer Kent (Babadook, The Nightingale), Rose Glass (Love Lies Bleeding, Saint Maud) and Louise Weard (Castration Movie), a fellow trans femme filmmaker.
While Weard established CyberCraft Video Productions in 2016, Morrissey founded her own production house, Matriarch Films, in 2018. She previously called it City M Productions, but decided to change the name in July 2022 when she first started expressing herself as gender nonconforming. Eight months later, Morrissey came out as a transgender woman.
Along with her new short film, Wednesday’s premiere will debut a new Matriarch Films logo designed by celebrated painter and graphic designer Rose Smith.
Morrissey said she grew up in a family with a strong matriarchal structure. Her mother, great aunts, grandmother and great grandmother were prominent influences on her life.
“All of them helped to build a strength and character in me that I hold very close to heart in my adult life. So because of who I am as a woman, and because of the women who raised me, the word matriarch carries a lot of weight for me.”
