So it seems the good folks over at STYD have recently chattered with NINJA ASSASSIN director James McTeigue (who also helmed V FOR VENDETTA, as well as un-credited direction on THE INVASION), and some intriguing tidbits regarding the man’s follow up project, THE RAVEN, have slid through.
While it’s become clear this isn’t a literal adaptation of the classic Edgar Allen Poe short, McTeigue is definitely keeping some of the story points intact, namely the time and setting. From the man himself, he notes:
“There’s basically a serial killer loose in 1850’s Baltimore and he’s using Poe’s stories as his methodology, so then he leaves clues at each murder and says it’s up to Poe to find him before he kills (again).”
Coolness!
When discussing location scouting and the authenticity that could be achieved by shooting abroad, McTeigue adds: “There’s a European sensibility that could be cool. You could totally get into world creation where I can say, ‘This is my version of 1850’s Baltimore,’ because the Poe film is a fictionalized account, his last five days. It’s not real.”
Double coolness! There’s really nothing better than, when done well, period piece horror. Look no further than Herzog’s NOSFERATU: PHANTOM DER NACHT (1979) or Antonia Bird’s RAVENOUS (1999) for two quick examples (if the former isn’t set in the past, it sure looks like it).
As far as THE RAVEN goes, we’ll keep you abreast!