Possum

"Possum" is a 3rd year Massey University Short Film that follows a young man entering a ritualistic drinking cult. The film is in the horror/thriller genre, think a grittier Midsummer with elements of Get Out sprinkled in. The story is based on the real NZ drinking game, Possum, where the participants climb a tree with a box of beer and attempt to finish the beers without falling out. 

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Writer and Director - Connor Hislop 

Connor is the creative lead on this project. As a Teetotaller, he's drawn from real-life experiences to write this story. Conner's an all-around creative; if he's not making movies, you'll see him DJing at your local venue.

The Rest of our talented crew are as follows 

Producer - Felix Townend 

1st AD - Maddison Whitaker

D.O.P - Nathan Coburn 

1st Ac - Alexey Joy

2nd Ac - Sophie Hince

Gaffer - Arlo Andrews

Key Grip -  Eddie Mathews 

Sound Technician - Daniel Maslen

Sound Assist - Alana Hughes 

Production Designer - Mia Reid 

Costume Designer - Mia Jamieson 

VFX Artist - Toby Peno

Special SFX - Thora Daisy

Key PA - Evia Linnell-Olson

Editor - Harvey Pentecost

Editors Assistant - Gabrielle Keith

Composer - Morgan Finlayson

All Money raised for this short will go directly towards production costs :)

Some of these costs include

• Catering (feeding our Lovely Cast and Crew)
• Transportation
• Props and Costumes
• Paying our talented Actors 

*Connor -

Possum is a deeply personal project for me, rooted in real experiences from my own life and those of my closest friends. At its heart, this film explores New Zealand’s drinking culture: the dangerous habits, peer pressure, and subtle manipulation that shape so many young people’s lives. As someone who chooses sobriety, I’ve experienced firsthand what it feels like to be on the outside looking in. There’s an unspoken bond people share when they’re drinking—a sense of belonging that, when you’re sober, feels painfully out of reach.

The Possum game, which inspired the film’s title, is a real drinking Activity. My friend Alex took part in this exact game and suffered a serious injury because of it. Sadly, his story isn’t unique. It's part of a much larger narrative of young New Zealanders being pressured into choices that harm them, all for the sake of fitting in.

This film is my way of shining a light on that quiet struggle: the longing to belong, and the painful reality that sometimes the price of acceptance is betraying your own values. It’s a dilemma that leaves you feeling like you’ve lost no matter what choice you make.

The film aims to spark conversations about the pressure to belong, the risks associated with unhealthy drinking habits, and how we can create social spaces where people feel safe saying no. By bringing these issues to the surface, Possum encourages empathy, awareness, and change in how we think about drinking culture in Aotearoa.