One Night in Body Shop – a new dark fairytale

Sponsored Feature: Rooster Rooster Creative Co.

One Night in Body Shop is a dark fairytale written and directed by Alexey Kotolevskiy.

Watch the short film here:

A mechanic, struggling to move past some heavy life events, finds himself stuck alone in a massive body shop after closing time. He has no idea that what he’s about to discover — and the horror he’ll face — will trap him in a night of danger and fear. But maybe it’s not that simple. Maybe these trials are exactly what he needs right now.

A Q&A with writer/director Alexey Kotolevskiy

Welcome, Alexey! Thanks for joining us to discuss your new dark fairytale, One Night in Body Shop. What inspired the idea for the film and how did you develop the story?

Thank you so much for inviting me to the interview. First, the initial idea came from visualizing the five stages of grief as a physical, emotional journey. Then I started thinking about what kind of situation would resonate with my audience — and I decided to channel my own personal feelings into the story to make it feel more authentic.

Because I don’t support the war, I can’t return to Russia — and I haven’t seen my mother in four years. That’s where the emotional core of the story came from: the relationship between a mother and her son.

Visually, the idea sparked while I was working on an ad for a real body shop. These places are always loud, full of people, fast-paced. So I thought: what if someone ended up in a space like that — totally alone, in silence and darkness?

One Night in Body Shop - short film by Alexey Kotolevskiy

Did you draw inspiration from any other horror films when crafting the tension?

Of course. I’m a big horror fan in general, and especially love A24 films. Midsommar, The Lighthouse, Talk to Me — they’re all incredibly creative and always have depth, a real concept, not just a bunch of cheap jump scares.

I also grew up watching ’80s horror on VHS, so we leaned into that aesthetic — grainy visuals, slightly naïve sound design, and classic practical effects. If you pay attention, you’ll catch a few subtle nods to my favorite directors — little visual tributes to the filmmakers who inspired me.

How did you balance the demands of performing as the lead character Joe with the responsibilities of directing?

It definitely wasn’t easy — but I had a great team. We all worked hard to get the best result, starting with detailed pre-production and careful storyboarding. I also had an amazing assistant director who wouldn’t let me leave the set until we nailed the best shots and performances.

As for the acting — I kind of cheated. I wrote the character to be a version of myself, but from an alternate universe. For example, instead of trying to hide my accent, I made the character an immigrant — and that “flaw” became part of who he is. It actually made him more real.

How do you think Joe’s backstory informs his experiences in the body shop?

I really love characters with history. That’s why I added small clues to his backstory throughout the film. Like the Miskatonic University patch on his backpack — it suggests he’s educated, but likely couldn’t find a better job because he’s an immigrant.

Or his name: it sounds American now, but you can guess he probably changed it. Maybe his real name is Iosif, which is common in Odessa, Ukraine. Piece by piece, the audience can assemble a deeper picture of who he really is.

One Night in Body Shop explores themes of trauma and redemption. Can you discuss your approach to tackling these topics?

I wanted to present the story in a way that felt honest and human. At the end, it’s up to the viewer to decide what Joe actually sees in the trunk.

For me personally — he sees the same suitcase, but this time it’s closed. He’s gone through the emotional process, and the guilt no longer haunts him. But like any experience we survive, it doesn’t disappear — we just learn to carry it without pain. So Joe simply closes the trunk… and drives away.

He sees the same suitcase, but this time it’s closed. He’s gone through the emotional process, and the guilt no longer haunts him.

What do you hope audiences take away from the film?

My hope is that the audience understands this: When something terrible happens in your life, you have to go through it — not around it.

Even terrifying moments can become part of your past if you keep trying to grow and be better.
And, of course, I hope this film reminds people how important it is to cherish the ones you love.

Learn more about One Night in Body Shop at alexeykotolevskiy.com and IMDB. Follow director Alexey Kotolevskiy on Instagram at @kotolevskiyadventure and @alexeykotolevskiyart.