INT: David DeCoteau

Last Updated on July 28, 2021

The Arrow
interviews David DeCoteau

David
DeCoteau has been hitting the genre for a while. He gave us
cult classics like “Sorority Babes In The Slimeball
Bowl-O-Rama”
and today, he’s still kicking it with his popular “Brotherhood”
series and his new slasher flick “Final Stab”. I
recently had the chance to shoot a couple of questions the man’s way and
here’s what came out.

1- What’s your favorite horror movie?

“Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice?” Very
creepy and quite a shocker for its time.

2- How was your road to “movie director” status?
Hard, easy, a fluke? Was making films your lifelong dream?

Very difficult. I directed my first film
at 24 years old. I was quite young and naïve but it was
something of a hit and that allowed me to make many more films.
I think directing “Leather Jacket Love Story” in ’96 was a life-long dream. Critical acclaim and numerous world wide film festivals.

3-One of your earlier films, “Creepozoids” scared
me when I was a kid (I’m sure today that wouldn’t be the case…but
hey…I was young). Looking back, can you share a memory about
the shoot of that film?

Creepozoids was shot in 15 days in a
warehouse in Los Angeles. I think the budget was something like
150k. It was a difficult shoot because of all the FX and monster
sequences. Lotsa slime and very ambitious. Linnea Quigley starred
in it and we had a great time working together. It was my first
feature shot in 35mm. It was theatrically released and a hit
on video.

4-
“Sorority Babes In The Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama” has become
a cult classic. It’s pretty wild stuff! Did you expect the movie
to attain such a cult following?

Not at all. It was shot in 14 days in
San Marcos, California at night. Working nights, it was a real pain
but we got through it. We flipped cars and caught people on
fire. That IMP was quite the handful too. I couldn’t get him
out of his trailer!

5- The “Brotherhood” films seem to be
doing very well. I heard that the movies are mainly aimed at
gay horror fans (taking into account the abundance of male flesh
that’s showcased in them). I guess my question is: being a heterosexual
male, will I be able to enjoy The Brotherhood series?

The Brotherhood series of films are for
everybody who likes a good thrill. It was not intentionally
aimed at gay audiences but the film was discovered by gay men
and straight women who seem to have really taken a liking to
them. Since I am an openly gay man, I made a film that was in
line with my thinking. I think “The Brotherhood” is unusual because
it is a horror “DATE” movie. All straight guys should
watch it with their girlfriends.

6-
“Final Stab” (a film that I’m personally looking forward to
seeing) is your
more recent slasher. I’ve heard good things about it. Are you happy with
how the film turned out? Any regrets?

I’m happy but I’m never content. I always
want to do better. “Final Stab” is my valentine to the slasher
horror genre of the late 70s and early 80s. The response so
far has been great. The film screened at the Cannes Film Festival
twice and was quite the hot pick. It is different than The Brotherhood
films – much more graphic and in your face.

7- What mold would you say “Final Stab” fits into? Is it a trendy
slasher, an old fashioned slasher? A mix of both?

Really both. New and hip with an old
school mentality. The cast is gorgeous and very talented.

8- What’s next on your plate? What can we expect from David
DeCoteau in the near future?

Voodoo Academy 2: The Nocturnalizers
is up next. Plus two more before the end of the year. Check out
the Rapid Heart Pictures web site at
www.rapidheart.com
for updates.

9- Which one of your films would you qualify as “DeCoteau”
at his best?

I really don’t know. “Skeletons” has been
the most important picture for me career-wise. It had the biggest
budget and major stars. But I can’t live down “Sorority
Babes”…

10- Is there an actor you haven’t worked with yet who you’d
love to do a film with?

Christopher Lee…the last great horror
star!

I’d like to thank David for
dropping by The Arrow’s pad. If you don’t know David or if you dig
his work, you can check out his site at:

www.rapidheart.com