Kier-La Janisse, a prominent figure in Canada's film community, has officially added director to her extensive list of professional roles. The Winnipeg-born film programmer, author, and academic has directed her first narrative film, The Occupant of the Room, which premiered as part of the annual horror series The Haunted Season on the streaming service Shudder.
From Film Scholar to First-Time Director
Janisse, 53, is best known for her deep expertise in the horror genre, notably through her acclaimed 2012 book House of Psychotic Women. Her career has spanned programming for institutions like Winnipeg's Cinematheque and the Alamo Drafthouse, and founding the Vancouver horror festival CineMuerte. Her move into directing was not initially planned for The Haunted Season, a series she executive produces.
In a phone interview from her home on Pender Island, B.C., Janisse explained that the directorial opportunity arose unexpectedly. "The director that we were originally supposed to have for this year ended up getting one of their other feature projects off the ground," she said. Faced with a tight schedule and a limited budget, Janisse decided to step behind the camera herself.
Adapting a Classic Ghost Story
For her directorial debut, Janisse turned to a personal favourite: a ghost story by Algernon Blackwood. "I had this favourite ghost story by Algernon Blackwood that I would always read every year for Christmas Eve," she shared. This story became the basis for The Occupant of the Room, the second episode of the series' latest season.
To ensure her first foray into narrative filmmaking was successful, Janisse assembled a strong support team. She enlisted celebrated cinematographer Karim Hussain and sought guidance from her colleague, producer and director David Gregory of Severin Films. For the lead role, she cast acclaimed Canadian actor, writer, and director Don McKellar.
A Supportive Cast and Crew
Janisse revealed that McKellar's voice was instrumental during the scriptwriting phase. "I was actually thinking of Don because I had to hear somebody's voice in my head saying the lines... I just kept picturing Don McKellar's voice," she noted. She also believed his own experience as a filmmaker would be a valuable asset on set, which proved true.
Prior to this narrative work, Janisse had already established herself as a director of documentaries, including the expansive 2021 folk horror documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched. However, directing a scripted film presented a new and welcomed challenge, marking another hyphen in her multi-hyphenate career as a Canadian film author, programmer, and now, narrative director.
Her episode, The Occupant of the Room, is available for streaming exclusively on Shudder as part of The Haunted Season.
