We sat down with James Kondelik, the writer, director, editor (yes, all three), and Wai Sung Chen, the producer, to talk about their horror film Pitfall. This is one of those projects that almost didn’t happen, multiple times, actually.
James had the idea over a decade ago, and it floated in the industry ether for years until Wai stepped in and said, “We can do this.” And then they did!
James told us he was inspired by survival thrillers, referencing 127 Hours as a loose influence, but with a horror twist.
The story of a man trapped in a pit spun out from there, gaining tension, stakes, and some truly nightmarish ideas, including one that stuck with James for over a decade: a centipede crawling into a leg wound. Yikes.
The project came together fast. Once greenlit, James had to get on a plane, scout locations, and start planning for a shoot just months away.
That frantic energy carried through production, but so did a strong spirit of collaboration. The script wasn’t even fully locked until filming was underway. Actors contributed ideas. Scenes evolved on the fly. Everyone was all in.
Making Movie Magic in the Middle of the Woods
Let us tell you, shooting Pitfall was no walk in the park. The cast and crew spent weeks out in the wilds of British Columbia, dealing with rain, cold, and unpredictable conditions. They weren’t faking the discomfort you see on-screen; everyone was wet, cold, and borderline exhausted.
There were even days when it rained hard during scenes that weren’t supposed to be wet, forcing last-minute rewrites and quick thinking from James.
James shared a story about scrapping a complicated action sequence when the rain just wouldn’t let up. Instead of giving up, they adapted.
The actors kept running, the cameras kept rolling, and somehow, the footage worked. That seemed to be a running theme: adapt, adjust, survive.
Oh, and they built three pits. Yep. One for water, one for standard shots, and one for the more intense setups. And, because the water scenes were freezing cold, James himself got in the tank to keep the actor company. That’s commitment.
Vibes on Set: Campfire Jokes and Real Friendships
One thing that really struck us in this chat was how much the cast and crew genuinely liked each other. The chemistry on screen? It’s real.
They didn’t even do chemistry reads. They just cast actors and got lucky; everyone clicked. There was a text chain full of dad jokes.
People became fast friends. Richard and Matt (who played Charlie) were competitive in a fun, sibling-rivalry kind of way. And yes, the actor playing the pit-bound protagonist was slightly isolated, but hey, method acting, right?
Wai and James described the set like a camp, complete with shared misery and bonding moments. People got sick. People pushed through. There was laughter, stress, and a lot of hustle.
They even lost weight from all the physical strain. It wasn’t glamorous, but it made for a tight-knit group that survived the chaos together.
The Gore, the Grit, and the Giant Centipede
Let’s talk about that centipede again, because wow. It almost got cut more than once, in scripting, in post, but James refused to let it go. And thank goodness.
Audiences at Screamfest squirmed in their seats during that scene, and we get it. It’s disgusting, it’s haunting, and it’s perfect horror.
James had heard a real story about a man in Vietnam waking up to a centipede chewing on his arm, and that image never left him. Now it won’t leave us either.
The special effects in Pitfall looked amazing, and that’s thanks in part to the killer team involved.
The same folks who worked on Final Destination and Godzilla Minus One helped bring the gore to life. The stunt crew came from major productions like Skyscraper.
And Wai’s background in VFX helped during the script stage, shaping how the team approached some of the trickier visuals.
As for editing, James wore that hat too. He admitted he’s a bit of a control freak, but honestly, that worked in the film’s favour.
He knew what shots he needed and could cut around missing ones if necessary. He repurposed footage, created composites, and picked everything down to the bone. This wasn’t a “fix it in post” situation; it was “make it work in post because we had no choice.”
Characters Who Think, Not Just Scream
One of the things we appreciated most about Pitfall was how the characters behaved like actual people. You know the trope, characters running headfirst into danger, dropping weapons, making the worst decisions possible? Pitfall avoids that.
James said they wanted to write smart characters who at least attempted logical decisions. So even if they made mistakes, they were trying. And that made it way more emotional when things went bad.
Charlie, for example, is an outdoorsman who actually knows what he’s doing. That grounded the story and made the stakes feel higher. It wasn’t just about surviving a killer; it was about battling the elements, isolation, and fear.
Speaking of the killer, Randy Couture (yes, the UFC legend) played the hunter. He brought a lot of his real-life skills to the role, handling weapons like it was second nature.
Off-camera, he was a gentle giant, giving neck massages and chatting with everyone. On camera, though? Terrifying.
His intensity, even without many lines, carried a lot of the film’s tension. James said there were scenes where they just let Randy stare; his eyes did all the work.
Wrapping It Up (and Burning Stuff Down)
Toward the end of our conversation, we asked James and Wai if they had any MVPs on set. They both refused to name just one person.
Everyone pulled their weight. There were moments when the actors had minutes, literally, to nail a scene before the sun rose. And they did it. No rehearsal, no notes, just instinct and hustle.
They also praised the stunt and effects teams, especially during a wild scene where they set a tent on fire and blew up vehicles. James joked that you’d know a stunt was good if he yelled “Oh, f*** me” from behind the monitor. Everyone pushed themselves. Everyone suffered a little. And it shows.
James also touched on how actors in horror never get enough credit. Playing scared, wounded, or broken for days at a time? That’s exhausting.
Several cast members lost their voices, got sick, or had to loop dialogue later. But they didn’t complain. They showed up, gave it their all, and made something unforgettable.
Bonus Round: Horror Nerd Questions
To cap things off, we played a lightning round with the guys.
Favourite horror film? Wei said Hereditary, James picked Evil Dead 2.
Guilty pleasures? The Notebook for Wai (yes, really), and Frankenhooker for James.
We also asked what non-horror film they’d remake as horror.
Wai wants to fix Train to Busan 2.
James wants to bring back Wishmaster, and he has a dream Evil Dead pitch he’s dying to make. Sam Raimi, call this man!