Anna Diop, known for her captivating performance in 2022’s “Nanny,” starred in another horror film the same year titled “Posies,” a short film by writer-director Rachel Stavis. Although “Posies” was positively received upon its initial release, it is being re-promoted on the horror streaming platform Alter, largely due to the involvement of pop superstar Chappell Roan, who composed its score prior to her notable success with the 2023 album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” Roan’s 2018 song “Bitter” is also featured in the film.
The premise of “Posies” revolves around a woman who attempts to conceal her transformation into a monster by placing flowers under her skin as people around her begin to devolve into monsters.
Stavis, who co-directed “Posies” with Katherine Fisher and is also known as a non-denominational exorcist, expressed her admiration for Roan’s contribution in a press release. She stated, “Having Chappell Roan’s creativity and intensity strewn throughout ‘Posies’ by way of the score that she so eloquently created was a dream come true. Our earliest discussions about this project centered around using her greatest instrument—her voice—to create a haunting, emotional, and atmospheric depth to the film. She captured exactly what we envisioned for this and did it virtually on her first try. It was extraordinary. She has an amazing gift of storytelling through music, and her composition remains one of the most unique and unforgettable elements of the film. We’re beyond grateful that she was able to create something so special—specifically for me and my audience—before her inevitable rise to fame.”
In 2022, Roan was on the brink of major fame, with hits like “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Hot to Go!” becoming popular on pop radio, and she made headlines with her appearances at music festivals. It has recently been announced that Roan will make her “Saturday Night Live” musical debut in the show’s upcoming 50th season. Her future in film scoring remains a possibility, given her apparent enjoyment and proficiency in the area as highlighted by Stavis. However, in a recent interview piece, Roan admitted that although she had initially planned on pursuing an acting career, she has since focused on music, making it unlikely for her to appear on-screen as an actress anytime soon.
The film “Posies” will be available for viewing on Alter’s YouTube platform starting October 9.