An interview feature from CUFF 2025 with Cade & Kit
š¹ The Premise
We caught Love Will Tear Us Apart at the Calgary Underground Film Festival and were immediately drawn inānot just by the blood and goo (though thereās plenty), but by the emotional pulse beneath the body horror. This short film from a trio of emerging creatorsādirector Elijah Ziegler, lead actor Carter Dodd, and co-star Skyler Greyāis the kind of genre surprise CUFF is famous for. So of course, we had to talk to them.
š„ The Team Behind the Gore
Elijah, Carter, and Skyler met during film school, though their paths didnāt fully cross until this project. Elijah wrote Love Will Tear Us Apart as a kind of emotional antidote to a more cynical earlier film (The Lamb), inspired by his real-life relationship and produced with his partner Carmen, who wore every hat from editor to production designer.
Skyler joined the team after spotting the logo on the script and feeling an instant pull. Carter, already close with Elijah from their first film, signed on againācementing a creative crew that quickly turned into a real film family.
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What Makes It WorkThis is a blood-slicked short about romantic decayāgiddy, gooey, and somehow still tender. The team pulled off incredible prosthetic work on a small budget, with Skyler fully immersed (and often partially blind) under prosthetics. Elijah credits the cast and Carmenās everything-everywhere-at-once producing for pulling the vision together. And Carter? He wins the blooper reel with a fake tooth gag that wouldnāt stay in placeāpure indie chaos.
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What Doesnāt LandVery little, honestly. This is a tight, high-impact short that knows what it is. If anything, weāre just greedyāwe want more. Elijah even jokes that the film didnāt tear them apart, despite the title. In fact, it stitched them closer.
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Should It Have a Bigger Budget?Give these three a feature. Full stop. Their synergy, commitment to practical effects, and balance of dark comedy with real heart deserve a larger canvas (and more fake teeth that stick).
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The Verdict
Love Will Tear Us Apart isnāt just a catchy titleāitās a playful inversion of romantic horror, packed with visual texture, genre savvy, and genuine affection behind the camera. At CUFF, it stood out not just for its splatter, but for the love baked into its DNA.
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Where to WatchFestival circuit for now. But keep your eyes peeledāthis team isnāt done.
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info@CadeandKit.com
