We are now in October. The temperatures start dropping, the leaves will soon be changing colors and falling to the ground and everything starts turning orange and black in anticipation for the upcoming holiday. Pumpkins and candy sales rise and the t.v. is filled with horror films. That's always my personal favorite. Of course, it's a little bitter sweet because I enjoy watching the old classics and the contemporary classics and realize that without the Whales and Brownings there would not be the Carpenters and Cravens, but where have we come since then? Eli Roth's torture porn? Franchises and remakes? Recently you've had The Green Room and Don't Breathe but these are few and far between. At least Lionsgate has kind of woken up to the fact that they've made the same movie about a dozen times with a different title and the public doesn't give a damn or a dollar any more.
One of the main problems with the horror genre is that once upon a time you could go into a darkened room with a group of strangers and share an experience of having the shit scared out of you by a chainsaw wielding escaped mental patient chasing co-eds through the dark woods or abandoned house but now, in the times we live, that seems like Club Med. One man (or woman, insanity doesn't discriminate) with one objective-to kill you. They may be hiding in the attic or the basement, closet or even under the bed, but if you're vigilant and well armed, you can make it through until morning.
Now, you can get shot standing on a street corner, blown up in a bar or poisoned by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The random shit happens-ness of life has been amped up to ear bleeding levels, so what are you going to show people that will scare them and hit them where they live?
It would have a small demographic so it would have to be shot on the cheap bu I've had an idea running around my head where the electricity goes out and there's no internet and people have to talk to each other and leave their homes in order to communicate. Those of you over thirty are just thinking, yeah...and? Those of you under twenty-five are thinking oh my God, no wait, I'm showing my age, OMG, I'd be in the fetal position on the floor of my closet waiting for the wolves to get me.
Every time I think about writing a horror film, I'm haunted by Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon. It was written and directed by Scott Glosserman and it is brilliant. I kick myself regularly for not writing it. He doesn't necessarily re-invent the wheel but he does put one hell of a hubcap on it and take it to a creative place. Check it out, you won't regret it.
Speaking of movies and moving on to cheerier subjects, Order 86 now has a rough cut! It's two hours and thirty-three minutes so, needless to say, we have some editing to do. Our ideal length was ninety minutes so the cuts will be many and brutal if we are to hit that objective. Local bureaucracy is forcing us into a Sophies Choice moment about the scene where a car blows up. Maybe in the next movie...whatever that may be.
In other movie news, IX Productions adaptation of A Midsummer Nights Dream has wrapped and they will be editing that and hope to have it in a festival near you by next year. Keep an eye out for it.
I guess we've reached the point where I pass along some reading suggestions, so in the spirit of Nick Hornby, let's get started-
Taliban Shuffle (a.k.a. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot) by Kim Barker- This is the memoir of a journalist who, while working for The Chicago Post, was a foreign correspondent in the Middle East in the early 2000's. It's a great journey of self discovery as well as the political scene in Afghanistan and Pakistan. If you liked the movie Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (the first Tina Fey film I've actually enjoyed), then you will love this book. Think of it as a directors cut or, in the language of my people, a direct quote from a reliable source.
Tarzan And The Jewels Of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs-In the fifth installment of the adventures of the ape-man, Lord Greystoke finds himself in financial dire straights so he straps on his loincloth and hunting knife and is off in search of treasure. Unfortunately, during a cave in, he gets slammed in the head with a chunk of marble and reverts back to his early youth. Will Tarzan realize who he really is in time to save Jane from being sold into a sultans harem and save the family estate? Sorry, no spoilers here, you'll have to read the book to find out. If you liked the first four, you'll enjoy this one.
Jungle Tales Of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs- This book is exactly what the title implies, a collection of short stories that mainly focus on Tarzan's life in between events of his earlier life as depicted in the first book. It kind of feels like a cross between Burroughs emptying out his attic and a contractual obligation. The stories hold your attention but, personally, I expected a little something more since he was dealing with the short story method. If you take some of the novels and boil away all of the getting up and going to work and hard luck situations that make for a good serial, you'd have a really exciting short story. These just seem to wander around a bit, luckily, they're only about 10 to 13 pages long so by the time you get bored, they're over. Worth a look if you're a fan.
By-line: Ernest Hemingway by Ernest Hemingway-This is a collection of articles that he wrote spanning various wars and his time in Cuba. Pretty fascinating stuff from a master wordsmith, especially if you're into journalism or Hemingway.
The Revenant by Michael Punke- This is the mostly true story of Hugh Glass, a frontiersman who was attacked by a grizzly bear while in the service of a trapping company. He was abandoned by his companions to die but he did not oblige them. There was a movie by the same name (it's really good) but, comparing the book and the movie is kind of like comparing the Benchley and Spielberg versions of Jaws. If you want to read a great tale of the determination of the human spirit, read this book.
I feel like I've been slacking on the movie watching scene lately but here are some recommendations that maybe you haven't seen in a while or haven't seen at all-
48 Hrs.-You can't go wrong with early Walter Hill. The story telling was great, the casting was spot on and he has this really cool editing style that he started using in The Warriors and perfected by Streets Of Fire. He used a subtle variation in Johnny Handsome but managed to get away from it before it became cliche. If it's been a while, check it out, it's still good, just avoid the sequel.
Batman v. Superman-The Ultimate Edition-I hated Man Of Steel but the sequel is actually enjoyable. The only reason this movie wound up on my watch list is because DC was using it as a spring board for their Justice League film. On that level, it kind of fails but as a narrative story that brings the two icons together, it works. You don't have to see Man Of Steel to enjoy this one but for those of us who endured the first one, there is some pay off. If you have no interest in this or any of the DC Universe films, don't bother, but if you missed it theatrically now's your chance to see the whole movie.
Days Of Wine & Roses-I've seen this movie about a dozen times. It's awesome! It makes my list of all time great films. When I saw that there was a version of the DVD where Blake Edwards did a commentary, I snatched it up in a heartbeat. To hear the maestro talk about one of his finest films...I could barely sit still. To hear about how certain scenes were constructed and what went on behind the scenes, to find out from the man himself about the ending he felt so strongly about that he sent Lemmon and Remick out of the country so the producers couldn't re-shoot it...these and more questions were about to be answered! Unfortunately, Edwards hadn't seen the movie since it came out in 1962 so he spent most of his time reacquainting himself with it. This would be cool to be in the same room with him as it happened but on an audio commentary, it's a little south of cool. There were a few stories so it's not a complete waste of time and energy but it would have been better if this were his second viewing. Worth a look (or listen).
Don't Breathe- What happens when the "ideal score" goes wrong? Three small time burglars think they've found the big heist when they discover that a blind man has a safe full of money. Unfortunately, he's not your average blind man and ends up hunting them throughout the house. It's an interesting film with some really good moments but the film makers really sold themselves short on tension building by relying on score over sound effects. Slightly disappointing but still worth a look.
Hell Or High Water- This movie is incredible, go see it, that's all I'm going to tell you.
Man On A Ledge- Don't look it up online, don't read the synopsis, just watch it. I'm not going to say Wow, it's great! but it is worth your time and the less you know going into the better off you are.
Red Heat-Another Walter Hill film, this one from 1989. I remember seeing this theatrically and enjoying it but, even then, I remember the wonder wearing off by the following week. That's not to say that this movie is bad, it just seems muddled, like there were too many chefs in the kitchen. It's worth a look if you're a fan but this is one of his lesser works (but still better than Another 48 Hrs.)
Finally, for my television watching friends, there is Daredevil season 2. If you thought season one was good, wait until you see this one. I know I'm behind the curve on this for most of you since I don't have Netflix, but on the off chance you haven't seen this yet, check it out. There's even one of the great moments of television in one of the episodes where Daredevil takes on a biker gang. You'll know it when you see it and you'll go daamn, what just happened? and rewind it and watch it again.
That's all I have for now. I'll sign off and get back to the editing. Have a good month!
