Occult Horror Short NEVER LET YOU GO Unleashes Trauma-Fueled Terror in Creepy Trailer

We’ve got a trailer for you to watch for an occult horror short film titled Never Let You Go. In it, a young woman’s traumatic past resurfaces when a mysterious box arrives on her doorstep, setting forth a horrifying reality with ties to the occult.

The short is a proof of concept, with a feature film script completed. It was written and directed by Alex Domenici, who explained:

“The inspiration came from recent horror films focusing on an individual character and their struggles with trauma. The idea came to me when I decided I wanted to take a more psychological approach to my next film and trap the viewer within this mindset of a deeply traumatized character and their descent into madness.”

This trailer is shared in collaboration with the FilmQuest Film Festival, where we are looking to expose some of the great indie genre films and shorts that filmmakers are creating.

I’ve included an interview with the filmmaker below along with the trailer, which heavily riffs off of the trailer for 28 Year Later.

Tell us about yourself. What is your background? How long have you been a filmmaker? Please keep fairly brief - no life stories please.

I'm originally from Boston, MA and moved to Los Angeles in 2014. I studied film back in Boston and started making films when I was 13.

What inspires you to work within genre cinema and tell these kind of stories?

Horror films terrified me as a kid but I feel in love with the fear and the excitement of overcoming a scary movie. Horror film sets are some of the happiest and funniest work environments in the industry. I love how horror films build families, stay with you long after the credits and make you second guess that noise in the middle of the night.

What was your favorite part of the filmmaking process for this project?

Building a set for the first time was a challenge but the most rewarding part of this whole process. To see the vision in your head come to life in front of you is unlike anything I had experienced before. The amazing construction crew and production designer really put everything into the build and bringing this house of horrors to life.

What are you most proud of with this film?

Being able to bring so many talented individuals together and call them my friends by the end of production. I'm so proud of everyone's efforts and creativity that was put into this project and on full display in the final film. This truly was a team effort and I love every one of my teammates from top to bottom.

What is a favorite story or moment from the making of the film you'd like to share? 

Mixing the film at Sony Studios with some of the best sound designers in the horror genre was a moment I'll never forget. I was so appreciate that they even took on the project, so to watch them work on the film in such a prestigious place was nothing short of amazing. I felt like I was a kid meeting his heroes.

What was your most challenging moment or experience you had while making your film?

Shooting the climax in the cave was a tricky environment to work in. It required every one of the cast and crew to step out of their comfort zone and work together. It looked beautiful in the final film but it was difficult to maneuver in and in a very far and discreet location.

If it did, how did your film change or differ from its original concept during pre-production, production, and/or post-production? How has this changed how you'll approach future projects as a result?

The film was constantly evolving in all aspects to make it feel like a horrifying psychological experience. Sometimes the film you set out to make isn't the film you end up getting. However, in this case, everything exceeded expectations and it was the first film I've made in my career, that I truly am proud of. I think you just need to ride the wave sometimes and see what the film is trying to be and say.

Who were some of your collaborators and actors on the film? How did you start working with each other?

What is the best advice you've ever received as a filmmaker and what would you like to say to new filmmakers?

The best advice I've ever gotten is to be your only competition. It's you vs. you in an attempt to be the best filmmaker you can be and make the best movie possible. Don't look at anyone else as competition. To new filmmakers I would like to say that no one is going to care about your film more than you. You have to be willing to fight and sacrifice everything for it, if you truly love and believe in it.

What are your plans for your career and what do you hope this film does for it? What kind of stories would you like to tell moving forward?

My plans moving forward are to make a feature film. I want this film to showcase my abilities and prove that I am ready to take the next step forward. This film is a proof of concept for a larger idea that I would love to have the opportunity to tell. I don't see myself leaving the horror genre anytime soon. It's always been my true love and it's an amazing sand box to play in.

What is your next project and when can we expect to see it? 

I am currently shopping around the feature film script for "Never Let You Go" in hopes of shooting it in 2026.

Where can we find more of your work and where can interested parties contact you? Do you have a website or YouTube/Vimeo channel? Social media handles?

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexDomenici Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex__domenici/

Bonus Question #1: What is your all-time favorite film?

Goodfellas

Bonus Question #2: What is the film that most inspired you to become a filmmaker and/or had the most influence on your work?

The Shining