In the twisted world of indie horror, few filmmakers embrace the absurd, the offensive, and the wildly unfiltered quite like Daniel Hållquist. With The Killjerk Killer in the Woods, Hållquist dives headfirst into the grotesque parody of 70s and 80s slasher films, unearthing a villain born of camp, violence, and deranged sexual subtext. What started as a dark joke about BTK and slasher clichés quickly became a film so raw, only one actress dared to play every victim. In this interview, Daniel unpacks the bizarre origins of his short film, the mythology behind his upcoming feature, and why censorship has no place in his creative process.

1. What inspired The Killjerk Killer, and how did you develop the concept for this project?

The Killjerk Killer began as a parody of Dennis Rader, the serial killer known as the BTK Killer, which stands for Bind, Torture, Kill. Many are likely familiar with him from David Fincher’s brilliant series Mindhunter, where the actor who plays him is quite terrifying despite limited screen time.

You can also see The Killjerk Killer as a parody of slashers from the 70s and 80s. In many of those movies, sexual violence often occurs, and it is usually part of the film’s subtext. The knife penetrating the woman, instead of a penis…

Yes. You get it. At the same time, I’m a big fan of slashers from that era. So I don’t analyze myself too much.

Anyway, in our film, we highlight the subtexts from those films and make it the core of the movie.

A few years ago, I decided that I wouldn’t censor myself, no matter how crazy or distasteful an idea might be. Since then, I’ve become a much happier filmmaker.

2. The team behind the film plays a crucial role. Could you tell us more about their contributions and how their collaboration brought this story to life?

Well, Oskar Bunyong (the film’s cinematographer and co-producer) was a significant part of making the film happen. As many filmmakers know, you have many ideas, but not all of them get filmed. It was when I mentioned the idea of The Killjerk Killer to Oskar, and he got excited about it, that I decided to make the film. At the beginning, Oskar and I had the idea that all of the film’s victims would be clichés from slashers, but it turned out to be quite difficult to achieve.

Twizz Forsberg, who plays The Killjerk Killer, also played a huge part in the creation. Twizz made the mask, the wig, and chose the clothes. The only thing I really did was write in the script that he looked like a parody of the BTK Killer.

3. What were the most memorable moments or challenges during the production of The Killjerk Killer?

The biggest challenge was the casting. When you’re doing something really tasteless for very little money, it’s hard to find actors. That’s why Sara Jussi plays all of the film’s victims. No other actress was interested, and that’s why Oskar and I had to scrap the idea of making all of the film’s victims clichés from old slashers.

At the same time, I think it turned out well. Very absurd, which I like. You could almost see the short film as a serial killer’s fantasy. He sees the same woman in every new woman. Pretty spooky when you think about it.

4. How did you approach balancing the horror elements with the storytelling in the short film?

It’s simple. We don’t tell much of a story; it’s mostly running in the woods, murders, and masturbation.

5. The upcoming feature-length version sounds exciting! What can you share about its development and what audiences can expect in 2026?

I’m currently working on editing our latest feature film, but as soon as I’m done with that, I will start writing the script.

It’s in the feature film that you get to know The Killjerk Killer.

His real name is Derek, and he is an escaped convict with a dark past, who stumbles upon an ancient, twisted tree deep within a forest. Drawn by this force, Derek soon finds himself under the control of a malevolent spirit that dwells within the tree. This evil presence warps his mind, turning him into The Killjerk Killer—a relentless, monstrous predator who stalks anyone who dares enter the woods.

You could say it’s a tribute to the gritty, guerrilla filmmaking of the slasher era, but infused with our own twisted creativity. Don’t Go in the Woods is a major inspiration. We want to make a wacky and entertaining film, with a lot of murders. About one murder every ten minutes.

6. How does the short film set the stage for the full-length version, and are there any major changes or expansions planned?

The short film is mostly something we made to entertain ourselves, but also to serve as a proof of concept. I’m very satisfied with it. It’s filled with action while capturing many moods—creepy, absurd, and even a bit funny.

The main difference between the short film and the feature film will be that there will be many more people both behind and in front of the camera. We have broadened our network and demonstrated what we can do, and it has paid off. People seem to want to work with us, even though we are still working with very small budgets.

The Killjerk Killer in the Woods feature film version will also be our first film in English.

7. What’s next for you and your team? Are there other projects in the pipeline besides The Killjerk Killer?

Yes, absolutely. We are going to release an erotic vampire film called Alma Wants New Playmates on streaming services in 2025.

As mentioned, we are editing another feature film called Freedom, Truth, Chaos, Death. It’s a psychological thriller set in a conspiratorial environment, and it features some slasher elements.

We have also made a documentary called Cerebral Palsy Blues, which is available on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Tubi.

Thank you for taking the time to talk to us! And of course, for showing our Killjerk Killer.

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