INT: Joe Harris

Last Updated on July 28, 2021

The Arrow
interviews Joe Harris

Comic
book writer, screenwriter and director Joe Harris broke into the “big
boys” scene
via his short film “Tooth Fairy” which, tagged along with a pitch to
Revolution Studios, jumpstarted what would become the moderately
successful feature film “Darkness Falls”. Arrow had few things to ask the “lad”
and here’s what he spat back in return.

1- What’s your favorite horror movie?

“The Omen”. But that was a later-in-life kind of thing for me, so it’s
probably not fair to call it my favorite. I grew up on
“Halloween” and “Friday the 13th” sequels (loved those, saw the
third in 3-D and all that). I also dig “Phantasm” and even have a
place in my heart for the B-ones like “My Bloody Valentine”. I’ll go with “The Omen”.

2-
Which writers/directors have you
looked up to throughout your own evolution as a writer/director?

Oh God… from a pure writing
standpoint, not talking screenplays or movies or anything like that, I
worship at the church of Richard Matheson (I Am Legend,
Incredible Shrinking Man, etc.).  I’m a novelist/screenwriter Richard
Price fan. Comics, the usual suspects including
Alan Moore and Frank Miller. But you want the movie guys, right? I’m a Scorsese freak. Phillip Kauffman (The Right Stuff, Invasion of
the Body Snatchers, etc) is one of my favorite filmmakers.  I love
Richard Donner’s earlier movies (including The Omen, obviously) and
the early John Carpenter films. 

3- “Darkness Falls” was based on your
short film “The Tooth Fairy”. Who first noticed the short and how did
it finally get to the studio that made it all happen as a feature?

I was at the San Diego Comic Con
(where I go every year, at times as a guest comic creator) two years
ago.  I had written a five-page script for a twisted and disturbing
short and pitched it to John Fasano who was there representing DistantCorners.com. He thought it was a great idea and urged me to
consider developing it as a feature. Distantcorners
ended up financing the short film which I would direct and
would use it to later help exploit the feature script I was hired to
write. From there, producers Fasano and John Hegeman pitched the project to
Revolution who loved it and asked if William Sherak and Jason
Shuman could come on board. From there, a director was hired and I
was flown out to Los Angeles to complete a new draft of the
screenplay. From there, things, as they say,
rolled.

4-
Will we ever get to see “The Tooth Fairy” short on which the feature film was based?
If so where? I heard maybe the DVD.

Hmmmm… could be.

5-
You share writing credits on “Darkness Falls” with John Fasano and James
Vanderbilt. Can you tell us in laymen terms…who wrote what?

Specifically? Not really… but I can try and give you a
breakdown on how my writing translated. I created the
Tooth Fairy, obviously, dating back to the short. I first
introduced Kyle, Caitlin, Larry, etc. Kyle was stalked by the
monster, was falsely accused of killing his sister (I believe)
in my drafts and returned to town (then called Stoney Point)
where a vengeful Tooth Fairy resumed killing those whose path Kyle
crossed. I first wrote scenes like the police station
slaughter of the cops, the lighthouse finale and the
preceding
car chase to get there though everything’s been embellished since and
it’s all sort of presented via a blender at this point. My ending was
cooler though. Check
out the commentary track by Fasano and I on the upcoming DVD release
for the details. And I’ll stick by that conclusion
until the day I die.

6-
I know that during the “Darkness Falls” shoot you were
somewhat kept in the background. Did you have any
kind of creative input on set in regards to the direction that the film was taking?

None whatsoever. Welcome
to the gloriously powerful world of screenwriting, Joe!

7- Seeing the final
cut of the film now, how do you feel about it and what would you have
done differently
narrative, or aesthetic, wise?

I want to be diplomatic and won’t
comment on the movie’s final cut. I think, like a lot of movies,
Darkness Falls suffered from too many
hands trying to steer the ship. It was sold and written, initially,
with one type of movie in mind. Then changed in hopes of being
something else… but when that didn’t pay off, the studio wanted
something closer in line with what was originally intended. That being said, I think everyone did a very good job at
getting this thing in shape and out there. It did really well at the
box office and should do very, very well on video and DVD… so
more than a little something went right.
I would have preferred the original
Tooth Fairy design, myself (who wouldn’t?). 

8- You have a new short in the works
called “Grandma’s House”. Where are you at with the film? Any
intentions of getting that one to transcend into a feature too?

I’ll be shooting Grandma’s House in
the spring, most likely… although I may be directing my first
feature and that would take precedent. And yes, of course, I have
plans to adapt GH to a feature!

9-
I’m assuming Darkness
Falls’ success has opened up
some heavy doors for you. So what’s next on your plate in the feature
film domain?

I don’t want to go into it yet,
honestly… we’re waiting for the right time to announce. But I have
signed a deal with a studio to take on a famous 80’s franchise that
needs some horror and love. Yes, doors have opened.

10- You’re also very involved in the
comic book world as a writer, having contributed to X-Men, Wolverine,
Spider-Man and The Tooth Fairy prequel comic.  What are your upcoming projects in “comic
land”?

I’m currently writing a Hellboy/BPRD special for Dark Horse which
my friend and creative partner Adam Pollina is going to draw.  It’s a
fun, twisted story focusing on Abe Sapien and some monsters that live
under children’s beds.

11- Be honest; how many figurines of
the McFarlane “Tooth Fairy” toy do you own?

I think I’ve got four or so kicking
around the apartment right now. Goddamn, they’re great toys. I don’t
think I was ever prouder than when I arrived at the San Diego Con this
past summer and saw the sculpts at Todd’s booth. The Steve
Wang-designed Tooth Fairy is the most original movie monster in some
time. What I meant to say was… I’ve
got four left.  Everyone got one for Christmas, from me. I
live to give, man.

12- You live in New York City; a
jumpin’ city at that with an awesome night life. What would you say
are your three favorite goodies that your fair city has to offer?

In no particular order of importance: Peter Luger Steak House (the absolute best steak in North America,
according to the NY Times), The New York Yankees (the greatest sports
franchise in history) and the finest, finest women the world has to
offer.

I’d like to thank Joe for kicking it on the site. Hopefully Grandma’s
House’s eventual feature film adaptation will come out a tad more badass
than “Darkness Falls”. Kick that bootie on that one Joe and all of your
upcoming films (I hear “Children of the Corn 8” might be one of them)!