Let’s say for a moment that you’re Jaume Balaguero. After your acclaimed feature debut THE NAMELESS, you see the US distribution rights to your second feature sold to . Pretty cool, right? But then it sits on the shelf, or in the vault, or up some suit’s ass for lo too many years. Why? Who knows. But at least it goes through a variety of small and confusing name changes before finally settling on DARKNESS. Don’t lose hope now, because it’s finally getting released. Yes indeed a full-blooded US theatrical release to appease the hordes of genre fans who’ve been chomping at the bit to see the flick. In fact, really wants to open up your audience, so while giving you no input in the decision whatsoever, they decide to chop up your long delayed baby and let it fester into a PG-13 rating. Balls!
What do you do? Kill ’em? Kill yourself? Spend the next year in a LEAVING LAS VEGAS-type stupor? Maybe, but Balaguero is surprisingly zen about the whole thing. Check out his comments from Fangoria’s translation of an interview:
The he’s referring to should take place in an Asian Spa, ‘cause the guy earned it, but instead reflects a different sort of relief – that the film got released at all. I suppose I can understand that perspective, but I wonder if hadn’t sat on his work for so damn long if he’d still be so laissez faire about the slashing.
Or perhaps that was their evil plan all along.
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