RICH LOPEZ | Staff writer
Rich@DallasVoice.com
Joseph Herrera is no stranger to the Dallas film scene. But with the release of his new feature film, Dark Distortion, the director, writer and actor is leveling up his filmmaking career — and he’s dropping in some representation along the way on his terms.
The movie is a crime horror flick that centers on influencer culture, but the out director wants his queer stories to live organically in his work and not be a focus.
Dark Distortion marks Herrera’s feature film directorial debut distributed by Breaking Glass Pictures. For the longtime filmmaker and producer, this first full-length film has been the biggest challenge to date. But even on a larger scale of work, he felt more than his reputation was at stake.
“I feel like my age in this industry has always been a challenge. As I’m getting older, I feel like I’m getting more respect,” the 30-year-old said.
For the film, Herrera was influenced by the aesthetic of films like Spring Breakers where young, attractive people get away with illegal activity. But for Dark Distortion, the concept is set in modern culture.
“The movie Dark Distortion is about a group of influencers who con their way by promising that they’ll give men their body for one night,” Herrera explained. “And in reality, what they end up doing is stealing from them — stealing money, basically.”
Ultimately, the gaggle of influencers meets the wrong client, and the film turns from crime story to a horror thriller of supernatural survival.
While Herrera’s approach integrates queer characters, he deliberately avoids the notion of queerness being central to the story.
“I kind of take it from a different standpoint where I want to take queer characters or maybe even an actor who’s gay, but maybe he’s not playing a gay character, and just throw them into a typical story without making that the centerpiece,” he said.
He explains, “Manny [one of the characters] talks about his gay sex life. He talks about being gay, everything in there, but he’s surrounded by nothing but straight people. So I’m kind of just, my part as an artist is just making it the norm,” Herrera stated.
But it’s still gay as hell with a cast of locals that includes local content creator Larry the Fairy and Marcos Garcia of The Round-Up Saloon to ensure Dallas representation. Larry the Fairy plays a private investigator in the movie.
“Working with Joseph is always a treat. His sets are fun and professional, and I always jump at the chance to work with him,” Larry said. “This project in particular was a blast to shoot — the cast and crew were just so professional and kind.”
As Bill the Witch Doctor, Garcia found excitement in portraying a character key to the story’s plot.
“Working on Dark Distortion was such a fun experience. Playing a character who was the reason the antagonist learns the ritual that starts the terror was such a unique and exciting challenge,” he said. “The cast and crew brought so much passion to the project and helping Joseph bring the character to life was incredibly rewarding.”
The beefcake promotional materials and premise may be front and center, but Herrera does have some subversive intentions with Dark Distortion. He’s not anti-influencer by any means. But in his own way, the film is a commentary.
“My story is more like… if you’re going to do something, here are the consequences. And if you’re okay with that, awesome, then go for it,” he said. “The ultimate lesson for the influencers in the film is that in a world documented by cameras, there are times when you desperately don’t want the lens on you.”
The film, which came out March 3, is available to watch on AppleTV, Prime Video and expected to arrive on Tubi and Peacock.
See the trailer at BGPics.com/movie/Dark-Distortion.