[EXCLUSIVE]: 'VIOLENCE' — We Talk Punk, Cinema, and Chaos with Director Connor Marsden In Time For Brooklyn Horror Film Fest

By Klep Napier | Wearecritix.com

Fifteen years is a long time to carry a story in your bones. For filmmaker Connor Marsden, that’s exactly how long it took for his explosive debut feature Violence to break free from the page and onto the big screen. What began as a scribble in film school at 21 has evolved into a neon-drenched, punk-fueled odyssey set to premiere October 19 at 9:45 PM during the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. And if there’s one thing Marsden made clear when we caught up with him, it’s that this movie was always meant to happen — even if it took over a decade to get here.

“This movie has really taken over a decade to happen,” Marsden told us. “I came up with this thing in film school when I was 21. I’m 36 now. The path from the writing stage to actually premiering it has taken 15 years. It’s been a real journey.”

That journey wasn’t just about perseverance. It was about patience, building trust, and finding the right people to bring his violent vision to life. From early drafts to endless networking, Marsden explains that Violence became possible only after the right mix of collaborators, resources, and momentum aligned. And once they did, the film transformed from a gritty script into a fully realized world — one soaked in punk attitude and painted with the aesthetic of 1980s rebellion.

A Love Letter to ‘80s Cinema and Subculture

Marsden’s influences don’t hide in the shadows. From the moment Violence kicks in, it wears its cinematic DNA proudly. Films like Walter Hill’s The Warriors and the cult classic Streets of Fire serve as both inspiration and launchpad, helping Marsden craft a movie that feels simultaneously timeless and new.

“You’re the first person that’s actually called out Streets of Fire by name,” he laughed. “That’s a massive influence on this movie. As I got older, my influences changed. I wrote ‘We’re back in the ‘80s’ on page one of the script, and everything clicked. We leaned into that era visually, musically, and tonally.”

The result is a bold piece of filmmaking that feels like it could have played at a grindhouse theater in 1984, yet lands squarely in the now. Marsden and cinematographer Vincent Barron even committed to period-inspired lighting and camera work to recreate the look and feel of the era while still speaking to modern audiences.

“The goal was to make a film that feels like a movie you missed,” Marsden explained. “Not a parody or a pastiche — just something that could stand next to those classics but still feel fresh to people discovering this style for the first time.”

Watch Our Full Interview with Connor Marsden on YouTube (or keep reading below for more behind-the-scenes insight)

Casting a New Icon in Punk Cinema

No story hits without the right face at its center, and for Marsden, that face belonged to Rohan Campbell. Known for Halloween Ends and the upcoming Silent Night, Deadly Night, Campbell embodies the grit and vulnerability that Marsden says the character of Henry Violence demanded.

“I was sitting in the theater watching Halloween Ends and I texted someone right after — ‘I think I’ve just found Henry Violence,’” Marsden said. “Rohan has that presence. He’s the kind of actor who looks like he can take a punch and still get back up. And he believed in me when he didn’t have to. That means everything.”

Campbell isn’t the only standout. Marsden assembled a stacked ensemble that includes Maddie Hasson (Malignant), who was the first actor to sign on to the film, and an array of rising talents who inject the story with raw, kinetic energy. The cast, he says, was crucial in elevating the material beyond its genre trappings.

Music as a Character — and a Weapon

The beating heart of Violence is its music. For Marsden, punk and hardcore aren’t just background noise — they’re the movie’s soul. And in a rare creative alignment, the score and soundtrack were built by NOWHERE2RUN, a new project formed by members of the acclaimed band Code Orange.

“I was always listening to Code Orange while writing,” Marsden revealed. “I DM’d Jamie [Morgan] years ago about scoring the movie. He left me on read for three years, then two weeks before production, I messaged again. He said the timing was perfect. Now they’re in the movie, they scored the film, and they even created the title card you see on screen.”

The result is a soundscape that’s as aggressive as the story itself — a fusion of pounding riffs and cinematic synth work that makes the music feel like its own character. Marsden hopes it will be the audience’s gateway not just to his movie, but to a whole world of music and culture.

The Premiere

For Marsden, the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival isn’t just another screening, it’s the moment a 15-year dream becomes real.

“My one dream in life was to make movies,” he said. “To premiere one in New York City, at a festival like this, is beyond a dream come true. I hope people love it, sure, but more than anything, I just want this to become theirs. Maybe we’ll even start a little Violence club.”

And if the buzz around this film is any sign, that “club” is about to get very big. Violence premieres Sunday, October 19 at 9:45 PM at Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg as part of the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. It’s raw, it’s loud, and it’s unlike anything else hitting the genre circuit this year.

Whether you’re a lifelong punk, a lover of ‘80s cinema, or someone looking for a fresh, rebellious voice in filmmaking, this is one premiere you don’t want to miss.