Osgood Perkins discusses relocating to Canada to film horror movies: "Vancouver is truly wonderful"

Osgood Perkins is enjoying a creative high after his recent releases Longlegs and The Monkey with Neon, both filmed in Vancouver. He is currently shooting his fourth local project, The Young People, following a less successful outing with Keeper earlier this year.

Weve found our rhythm. Ive connected with the right collaborators, and weve achieved a level of success thats rare in the film world, Perkins shared ahead of leading a master class on horror filmmaking at the Whistler Film Festival.

Partnering with Vancouver producer Chris Ferguson of Oddfellows, Perkins benefits from a first-look deal with Neon, making the studio the primary home for their projects. With this setup, Perkins has no plans to return to the U.S., having applied for permanent residency in Canada to ensure stability for his wife and six-year-old son while continuing to make small-budget horror films locally.

Permanent residency offers financial perks and a sense of belonging for my family. My son goes to school here, and its important that we feel rooted, Perkins explained.

Ferguson noted that Vancouver has embraced Perkins and his team similarly to how Toronto welcomed Guillermo del Toro and his family after producing films like The Shape of Water locally. Its wonderful to see Vancouver celebrate Oz in the same way, and we hope the government supports his permanent residency, Ferguson added.

Perkins describes his production team as a family, making their decision to settle in Vancouver even more meaningful. I want to work daily alongside people I know and trust, not strangers brought in by a studio, he said.

Perkins move north coincides with a downturn in the U.S. indie film market, giving him an edge in Canada. Many are struggling, but were breaking through. If it works, dont change it, he emphasized.

He also reflected on how living abroad has changed his perspective. Growing up, I believed America was superior, but experiencing another country opens your eyes to how vast and varied the world really is, Perkins noted.

Perkins continues to collaborate with Brian Kavanaugh-Jones of Range, who introduced him to Ferguson, and has partnered with notable filmmakers and investors to support Vancouvers historic Park Theatre restoration. Vancouver is a vibrant, artistic city that cares about its community, he said.

His Canadian journey began in late 2022 with Longlegs. The film, starring Nicolas Cage, blended occult horror with FBI procedural elements, earning $128 million worldwide on a $10 million budget and becoming the years top-grossing indie film in the U.S. Encouraged by this success, Perkins stayed to make The Monkey, which opened to $14 million domestically and earned $68.7 million globally.

Perkins and Ferguson also produced Keeper, which had a modest box office return of $4.8 million worldwide. Despite this, Perkins remains undeterred. Every film has its purpose. Keeper was meant to be a smaller story, and it has still supported the crew, he said.

The duo also produces projects for other filmmakers through Neon, releasing them theatrically in the U.S. and managing international rights. Perkins is committed to maintaining a fast pace of production. The industry is shifting rapidly. The more we create, the more we navigate this challenging environment successfully, he explained.

The Whistler Film Festival continues through Sunday.

Author: Noah Whitman