Some movies entertain you.
Some movies surprise you.
And every once in a while, a movie sends you down a rabbit hole where you’re still thinking about it days later.
That’s exactly what happened when I sat down to watch Fathers, the latest psychological thriller from filmmaker Harley Wallen.
In fact, I watched it twice.
The first time, I experienced it as a viewer. The second time, I watched it as a storyteller, trying to understand why certain moments stuck with me long after the credits rolled.
By the time Harley joined me on NH Spotlight Tonight, I realized the answer was surprisingly simple.
He doesn’t make movies that hand audiences easy answers.
He makes movies that ask questions.
Lots of them.
Our conversation covered everything from suspense and misinformation to audience attention spans, creative risks, and why some of the best stories leave room for interpretation. What became clear very quickly is that Harley isn’t interested in creating films people can solve within the first twenty minutes.
He’s chasing something much harder.
Surprise.
“How often in life are we surprised anymore?” Harley asked during our conversation.
That question says a lot about the filmmaker behind Fathers.
Building a Story Around Uncertainty
One of the first things I told Harley was that everything in Fathers felt intentional.
The atmosphere.
The pacing.
The sense that something wasn’t quite right, even before the story fully revealed itself.
As it turns out, that feeling was by design.
Harley explained that the film grew from several ideas that had been living in his head for years. Some were inspired by personal experiences involving family and relationships. Others came from observing how easily people accept information as fact simply because they’ve heard it enough times.
What interested him most was exploring what happens when people don’t have the full picture.
That idea became the foundation of Fathers.
Throughout the film, viewers are constantly evaluating what they believe, who they trust, and what version of the story might actually be true.
And honestly, that’s what made the film so compelling to me.
Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story found another way to make me question myself.
Why Fathers Feels So Uncomfortable
One thing Harley and I spent time discussing was atmosphere.
Because Fathers has plenty of suspense, but what really stayed with me was the feeling underneath it all.
The uneasiness.
The dread.
That sense that you’re walking into a room and immediately know something feels off even if you can’t explain why.
Harley shared that he loves filmmakers who trust audiences enough to sit in that discomfort instead of rushing toward explanations. He pointed to projects that allow tension to build naturally and let viewers participate in the experience instead of simply observing it.
As someone who loves psychological thrillers, that really resonated with me.
The film reminded me of Misery in the best possible way. Not because the stories are similar, but because both projects understand that anticipation can be far more powerful than shock value.
Sometimes what you don’t know is far scarier than what you do.
Giving Kaiti Wallen Her Flowers
I also had to take a moment during our interview to talk about Kaiti Wallen.
Because if you’ve seen Fathers, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
She carries so much of the emotional weight of this story.
Harley spoke openly about watching her evolve as an actor over the years and how their creative partnership continues to grow with every project. What stood out most was hearing him describe the trust required to build a performance like this one.
Much of Kaiti’s character journey is rooted in uncertainty.
She doesn’t always know what’s happening.
The audience doesn’t always know what’s happening.
And according to Harley, that was part of the process.
Instead of overexplaining every moment, he encouraged her to stay present and trust the story as it unfolded.
The result is a performance that feels incredibly authentic because you’re experiencing the mystery right alongside her.
Movies Should Feel Like an Adventure
One of my favorite parts of our conversation came when Harley started talking about the movies that inspired him.
Films like The Usual Suspects and Inception came up because they share something he values deeply.
They don’t treat audiences like passive observers.
They invite them to participate.
They challenge them.
They reward attention.
Most importantly, they trust viewers to keep up.
That’s a philosophy Harley carries into his own work.
He wants people to put their phones down.
He wants them to get lost in the story.
He wants them to walk away with questions.
And maybe a few answers.
By the end of our conversation, it became clear that Harley Wallen isn’t interested in making movies that fit neatly into a box.
He’s interested in creating experiences.
The kind that keep audiences engaged.
The kind that spark conversations afterward.
The kind that stay with you long after you’ve left the theater.
And after watching Fathers twice, I’d say mission accomplished.
Fathers is available now. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers that keep you guessing and reward close attention, add this one to your watchlist.
For more exclusive interviews, NH Spotlight features, and conversations with the creators shaping entertainment, visit NewHollywoodMagazine.com and follow New Hollywood Magazine on social media.
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