Speed Queen 51 was born out of a desire for simplicity—to craft a single tense and engaging scene. My goal was to present two morally ambiguous characters and resolves their situation without drawing a clear ethical winner. Cory and June are both looking to escape their lives and rid themselves of a persistent feeling of dissatisfaction; they’re also both people who, to an extent, believe themselves better than their surroundings. This dichotomy between a genuine, wholesome need to connect and dark, desperate self-preservation is what takes these characters on a journey from approachable strangers to their darkest selves.