Closet Monster

[projekktor id=’24730′]

Closet Monster is a Canadian coming-of-age drama written and directed by Stephen Dunn. The film premiered last year at the Toronto International Film Festival where it picked up the Best Canadian Film prize. Starring in the film are Connor Jessup, Joanne Kelly, Aaron Abrams, Isabella Rossellini, and Mary Walsh.

Oscar Madly hovers on the brink of adulthood – destabilized by his dysfunctional parents, unsure of his sexuality, and haunted by horrific images of a tragic gay bashing he witnessed as a child. A talking hamster, imagination and the prospect of love help him confront his surreal demons and discover himself.

Dunn and his star Connor Jessup had met previous to making the film, but they didn’t know it at the time. “I wrote the first draft of the script over three weeks at Hart House, and while I was there I kept seeing these total nerds coming in and playing these weird board games – it happened several times. And each time they came, I noticed that Connor was there. I didn’t know him then, and he didn’t have any idea who I was. But I was basically writing the character of Oscar during this time, and creating this character while Connor was actually in the room with me. So I guess I just had him in my head a little bit while I was writing.”

Closet Monster is rated 14A.