With another exciting round of FrightFest finally upon us, a fresh crop of movies emerge from the depths of its horror-heavy lineup. Enter: Cogn-AI-tive, a freaky, wildly hilarious take on the artificial intelligence craze of the last few years. Don’t miss my exclusive interview with the film’s director, Tommy Savas, ahead of his film’s premiere at the 2025 iteration of FrightFest UK.
Congratulations on your film’s exciting debut at FrightFest! Have you ever been to the festival before?
No, this is actually my first time. But it’s one of those festivals I’ve always wanted to attend, even just as a fan. So to be premiering my first feature here is pretty surreal. I’ve always admired the way FrightFest champions good, weird, genre storytelling.
Can you tell me a little bit about how Cogn-AI-tive took shape, and your initial involvement in the creative process?
Absolutely. Reckless Content, an independent film studio in LA, approached me after seeing some of my short-form work. They offered me the opportunity to direct my first feature. I immediately teamed up with my creative partner, who also happens to be my wife, Angie Simms. We knew we wanted to do something contained and genre, and at the time I was ranting nonstop about AI and what it was doing to our industry. Angie finally said, “Why don’t we make that the movie?” So we started digging into what AI can actually do and built a story where, realistically, an AI could kill everyone in an office.
The ensemble cast truly helps make the film more fun. What was the vibe on set, and what was it like working with Noel Fisher?
The vibe on set was everything to me. I’ve worked on both sides of the camera for a long time, and I know how crucial it is to maintain the right energy. I made it a priority to keep things light and collaborative because I think creativity thrives when people are enjoying themselves.
As for Noel, working with him was a dream. I’ve been a fan since Shameless, and what he brings to this role is next-level. He totally disappears into the character. When you see what he does in this movie, you’ll get why I was so pumped to have him on board.
In choreographing the film’s often hilariously bizarre death scenes, were you inspired by any other horror films? What are the benefits of using practical effects vs. visual effects in these types of sequences? The bit with the VR goggles was particularly gnarly.
I’ve always been inspired by the deaths in Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive. That mix of absurdity, gore, and humor really stuck with me. I love when a death scene can make you laugh and cringe at the same time.
As far as effects go, practical is always my first choice when it’s possible. It saves time and money in post, which matters a lot on a low-budget indie, and it also helps the actors because they get to react to something real in the moment. It makes the scene feel grounded and gives the performances more weight. That said, there are certain things you just can’t do practically. For example, we have a scene where someone gets hit by a car. We didn’t have the budget to actually launch a person into the air, so VFX made that possible.
And yeah, the VR goggle death is one of my favorites too. That one was so much fun to dream up and execute.
Kaya makes for a compelling lead to follow. What do you think are the right ingredients for a memorable genre final girl?
A great final girl has agency. She’s not just reacting, she’s evolving. The best ones survive because they learn something they’ve been avoiding and find strength through that. It’s not about being perfect or tough from the jump. It’s about growing into someone who refuses to go down.
With AI currently on the rise across all forms of media, the hyper-intuitive nature of the Cogn-AI-tive program doesn’t seem too far outside the realm of possibility. What do you hope people take away from the film in regards to AI?
I hope people leave thinking about how much we already rely on AI and where that’s heading. Obviously the film is an exaggerated metaphor, but the core fear is real. If we let technology do everything for us, what happens to us? It’s not just about jobs or the creative industry, it’s about identity. If we stop doing the things that make us human, then what’s left?
Keep an eye out for that pesky AI, and don’t miss out on Cogn-AI-tive! It was truly a pleasure to chat with Tommy Savas. Looking forward to whatever comes next! Check out my review for the film out of FrightFest over at the link.