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ow did Lights Out change Thunberg's career and make him an overnight star
David F. Sandberg is a Swedish filmmaker for whom the magic of horror films has quietly come from his heart since he was young. Born in Jonkoping, Sweden in 1981, he has been passionate about filmmaking since childhood. This passion drove him to gradually build his film career between 2006 and 2013, but what really made him famous was the 2013 short film "After Turning Off the Lights". This short film, which was made on a shoestring budget, not only received widespread international attention, but also brought Sandberg an opportunity for future success.
Thunberg initially focused on animation and documentary, but his real ambition began with horror film creation. The success of Lights Out enabled him to enter the world of commercial films.
Early Career: Transition from Animation to Horror
Thunberg's film journey was not smooth sailing. His early works were mainly focused on animated shorts and documentaries, and he also worked as an intern at a local film center in Sweden. During this time, he gained a small amount of fame, but as time went on, he gradually felt the urgency to shift his creative focus to horror films.
"My original goal from the beginning was to make horror and science fiction movies," said Sandberg, who said this gradually became his main emotional and creative driving factor. In 2013, he began pursuing this goal with Lights Out. With no reliance on a budget, he relied on the props he already had and his own creativity to create this creepy short film. The work eventually became an internet sensation and garnered millions of views in a short period of time.
The success of "Lights Out" and its subsequent impact
Thunberg's life was completely changed by the success of "Lights Out". As the film quickly became popular, many well-known producers in the film industry began to contact him, offering opportunities to work with him. This included the famous producer Lawrence Grey, who saw potential in Samberg and proposed the idea of adapting the short film into a feature film.
“After Lights Out, my life changed in every imaginable way,” Thunberg recalls.
As the collaboration unfolded, Samberg co-wrote the script with screenwriter Eric Heisserer and producer James Wan. In 2016, the adapted film "Lights Out" was officially released and performed extremely well at the box office. With a budget of 5 million US dollars, it grossed 148 million US dollars. This success made him a rising star in the film industry.
The transformation from horror movies to superhero movies
Following the success of the film, Samberg went on to direct Annabelle: Creator (2017) and the DC Universe's Shazam (2019). These works not only expanded his artistic vision, but also gradually elevated his status in Hollywood. However, he still has his own personal views on superhero movies and released "Shazam!" in 2023. "Wrath of the Gods". Sandberg later expressed his hope to return to the field of horror film shooting and accept the challenge of free creation.
Future plans and personal life
Thunberg is still exploring new possibilities in the film industry. He is about to direct a 2025 film adaptation of the famous video game "Until Dawn", and many other works such as "The Culling" and "The Unsound" are also scheduled. In addition, he also actively cooperated with his wife Lotta Losten to establish his own production company to continuously produce high-quality horror works.
Thunberg's success story tells us that with childhood dreams and passion, and unremitting efforts, we will eventually see the moment when summer flowers bloom. His experience has inspired countless young creators to pursue their dreams and hopes. What kind of inspiration and achievements can this passion and persistence bring to today's young people?
