The oh, so serious Oscar season needs a jolt now and again, and the season’s horror lineup promises to do just that.
Sure, “Halloween II” jumped the gun on its own holiday, but film studios have plenty of other genre offerings to keep gore hounds happy.
WWTW checked in with Sean Redlitz, Editor-in-Chief of FEARnet.com, for his thoughts on the fall horror offerings.
WWTW: Are there any themes that connect the horror movies coming our way in the Fall and early winter?
SR: If there’s a theme for the upcoming crop of horror and thriller films, I’m afraid it’s “see you next year.” For a variety of factors but most notably the economy, movies like Universal’s The Wolfman and Paramount’s “Shutter Island” have been pushed back to early 2010.
Fortunately there’s still a lot to look forward to, including “Zombieland” and “Saw VI.” Not to mention the unstoppable juggernaut that is “New Moon.”
WWTW: With all the talk of a vampire resurgence, the zombie genre continues to deliver. What’s the most intriguing part of the upcoming film “Zombieland?” Are there other zombie films coming our way soon?
SR: I have high hopes for “Zombieland.” Zombies, especially the slow moving kind, are ideal for comedy. “Shaun of the Dead” is the best example but there are others, including the cult classic “Return of the Living Dead.”
Even in non-comic zombie movies, there are often laugh out loud slapstick moments. In George Romero’s original “Dawn of the Dead,” a zombie is so intent on eating the living that he lurches straight into the spinning blades of a helicopter. Funny stuff.
Speaking of Romero, he’s hard at work on “Survival of the Dead,” scheduled to hit film festivals later this month and hopefully theaters later this year. I love the fact that you can keep up with both “Zombieland” and “Survival of the Dead” via their Twitter feeds!
WWTW: What information can you share about “Jennifer’s Body?” Could Diablo Cody’s script have an impact on the writing of future horror movies if the film takes off?
SR: I haven’t seen “Jennifer’s Body” yet, only the clips, trailers and fake PSAs that they’ve put out online. I like what I’ve seen so far. It comes across as a smart, modern take on the classic high school horror. They’re certainly not shy about using Megan Fox’s undisputable hotness to get people’s attention. I can’t wait to see what Cody and director Karyn Kusama (“Girlfight”) deliver.
WWTW: Is the “Saw” franchise on its last legs as “Saw VI” heads to theaters, or is this still a film series horror fans are enthusiastic about?
SR: Last legs? Hardly. At Comic-Con, Lionsgate leaked – and then pulled – an intense clip from the new film that had horror fans very excited. Looking ahead, “Saw VII” has already been greenlit. Fans of Jigsaw have a lot to look forward to.
WWTW: Are there any horror films coming soon that people aren’t reading about but have plenty of promise?
SR: If you’re reading the news section at FEARnet.com, then you know there’s a lot promising horror on the horizon. The trailer and poster for Ti West’s “The House of the Devil” look great, like a throwback to ‘80s horror in the best possible way. It’ll be out in October. Mike Dougherty’s long awaited “Trick ‘R’ Treat” is currently touring the globe and will be out on DVD next month. Those who’ve seen it have raved about it. You won’t spot these two on newsstand covers, but they’re definitely films worth seeking out.
WWTW: What’s been the impact of IFC on Demand horror titles and FEARnet’s own streaming films on the horror genre? Is it empowering horror directors?
SR: New technology and new distribution outlets have always been a boon to the genre. Double bills at drive-in movies brought us classics like Roger Corman’s Edgar Allan Poe series. The home video market of the ‘80s and ‘90s opened the door for a flood of direct-to-video releases, some of them quite good.
Now VOD and online streaming make it possible for horror filmmakers to bypass theaters and video stores and bring their movies directly to living rooms and laptops. FEARnet’s free VOD channel and free online streaming offer a low risk, high reward way for movie lovers to sample great indie and international thrillers and horror films, as well as big-budget horror favorites.
Next: Fall Movie Preview: The Best of the Rest
(Photo: “Zombieland,” co-starring Jesse Eisenberg, is one of the most anticipated new horror films of the Fall movie season/Sony)
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