The Architecture of Fear: Directing Horror with Corin Hardy
About this Master Class
Master Classes are in-depth, interactive learning experiences focused on craft and career building and led by renowned industry experts. Topics include fiction and documentary filmmaking, TV writing and production, and navigating and succeeding in the entertainment industry.
The success of independent films like Saw, Hereditary, and Get Out proves that making a memorable horror film can lead to a long lasting career. Crafting a unique look, tone, and style in horror is the key to standing out from the crowd. Building the sense of dread and mastering the jump scare are essential to creating a terrifying and memorable experience for your audience.
Taught by award-winning director Corin Hardy (The Nun, Whistle, The Hallow), you will learn his process for prepping and filming horror films from collaborating with cast and department heads to nailing the final look in post-production. Pulling from his own materials, he will break down storyboarding, creature design, and shot listing, providing insights on how to bring your vision to life on screen.
You will learn:
- How to communicate your unique vision for a story
- Tips for getting authentic performances from actors in genre films
- The process of utilizing storyboards and overheads
- Insights for working with the cinematographer and production designer in prep
- Planning for in-camera and post-production VFX
- Crafting shots for building suspense and effective scares
- Navigating stunts and VFX on set
- Creating a safe environment for cast and crew
- Getting what you need “in the can” and tips for making pivots in the cutting room
- How to best collaborate with your sound designer and composer
For this Master Class, Corin will be referencing his work on The Hallow, The Nun, and Whistle. If time allows, familiarize yourself with one or all three of these films.
Whether you are planning to direct a horror short or feature film, or simply want insights into the thought process behind making a great horror film, this Master Class will provide you with tools you can apply to any project. Take a deep dive into the horror genre and leave inspired to make a film with teeth.
If you would benefit from an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please either submit a request here, contact us at (435) 776-7790, or email us at accessibility@sundance.org to discuss your specific requests. Every effort will be made to accommodate advance requests; however, requests made within 5 days of the event may not be guaranteed.
A recording of this Master Class will be posted to Sundance Collab two business days after the live event. Once it is posted, all registered attendees will find the recording in the “My Purchases” section of their account.
Master ClassInstructor
Corin Hardy
From a young age, Corin developed a dark and distinctive visual flair for creating monsters, animations and Super-8 horror films in his work-shed, before gaining industry experience in art, costume, props and special effects departments for film and theatre.
Hardy studied Theatre Design at Wimbledon School of Art before spending 5 years making his award-winning stop-motion film Butterfly which premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival to critical acclaim.
With a keen interest in music, he signed to Academy Films, directing cinematic promos for bands including The Prodigy, Keane, The Horrors, Biffy Clyro, Paolo Nutini and Ed Sheeran, which have racked up over a billion Youtube views, winning multiple awards for technical elegance, dark narratives and a sophisticated approach, mixing live-action, special FX, puppetry & animation with intense performance. In 2011, Hardy was selected as a ‘Star Of Tomorrow’ by Screen International.
In 2015 Corin’s debut feature The Hallow launched at Sundance to international acclaim, winning numerous awards including best horror film in The Empire Film Awards, Best feature at Strasbourg’s Fantastic Fest, and taking home 5 awards at LA’s Scream Fest, including best director. Guillermo Del Toro described The Hallow as one of his favorite horror films that year and Corin was nominated as Best Debut Director at BIFA (British Independent Film Awards).
In 2018, Corin directed his second feature The Nun for New Line and Warner Brothers. The Nun went on to become the highest grossing film of the Conjuring franchise and is the 9th highest grossing horror movie of all time making a staggering $367m at the worldwide box office.
Corin became lead director, co-showrunner and executive producer of Season 2 of Sky/AMC+’s critically acclaimed action crime saga Gangs of London having directed half the episodes in Season 1, which became Sky’s most binge-watched show of 2020.
Corin’s new supernatural horror film Whistle for IFC/Black Bear premiered as closing night film at 2025’s Fantastic Fest and was released in theatres on February 6th 2026 before its streaming debut in May saw it race to the #1 spot on Amazon in America, UK and international networks.
Corin has a number of feature and TV projects in development as writer director, is represented by Range’s Rich Cook and Francis McDonaugh in the US and Hugo Young at Independent Talent in the UK.
He sings in his own pirate-rock band Conspirators and lives in the South of England with his family, cats and monsters...