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Chappell Roan's horror film era before fame: Where to see 'Posies.'

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Chappell Roan's horror film era before fame: Where to see 'Posies.'

“She’s so regal and thoughtful and talented,” director Rachel Stavis said of Chappell Roan. “She took the time and cared deeply, and I was so grateful then and now.”

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Years before queer pop star Chappell Roan became an international sensation, she teamed up with a Los Angeles filmmaker to score her first — and only — film.

The short horror film “Posies,” originally released in 2022, is available to stream and features Roan's spooky vocals for an original song, alongside her 2018 single “Bitter.”

The 14-minute short horror film follows Maddy (Anna Diop) as she tries to hide her transformation into a monster by tucking flowers under her skin.

““I wanted to tell a story that reflected the world right now – how easily and often people do terrible things and just accept them as normal,” director Rachel Stavis told USA TODAY. “Leave a lasting impression until we completely lose our humanity and become the nightmares we try so desperately to hide from others and ourselves.

Based in Los Angeles, Stavis is a famous exorcist and author of Sister of Darkness: The Chronicles of a Modern Exorcist. The book, which is currently being adapted into a television show, is about Stavis' experiences as a “secular exorcist” who works with people ranging from “small children and Hollywood moguls to housewives and politicians,” according to HarperCollins Publishers. . “Posies” is Stavis' first film.

Collaboration with Chappell

Stavis and her team began working on “Posies” in October 2019 and began production, set in New Orleans, in December of that same year. Stavis said the majority of the film was shot at Maison Vitry, a Creole mansion in New Orleans built in 1855 for free woman of color Louis Arsene Vitry.

Already a fan (Stavis said she first heard Roan's music in 2018), Stavis reached out to the now-pop star in September 2019.

“Honestly, even though she said at the time that she had never done a score before, it was clear that she could do it,” Stavis said. “Her voice is her instrument, and we really felt like that was exactly what 'Posies' needed. And that was definitely it. This eerie, ethereal quality enriches the images and the story so well.”

Stavis and Roan first met in Los Angeles in November 2019, and Roan delivered her score in April 2020, Stavis said.

“She was great to work with,” Stavis said of Roan. “She is so kind, considerate and talented. She took her time and cared so deeply for me, and I was so grateful then and now.”

Roan's team confirmed to USA TODAY that the original music for “Posies” was created by her.

“Posies” is available to stream for free on the Alter YouTube channel. Alter started as a YouTube channel and is evolving into a horror streaming service for independent filmmakers.

Greta Cross is a national trends reporter for USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].

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