In the past week or so, the great Mike Catalano told you a little bit about a movie that is in the works as we speak that involves a few leading ladies of horror. PRANK offers up the directorial debut of such scream queens as Heather Langenkamp, Danielle Harris and Ellie Cornell, and as Mike said, if you don’t know those three names, what the hell are you doing on this site. The film is a horror anthology with each of these lovely ladies bringing a little slice of horror heaven your way. And I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a little time on the set as Danielle Harris was working her magic on “Madison”, one segment of the film.
I sat down with the writers/producers Anthony Masi and Thommy Hutson about the project as Danielle shot her final sequence. When I asked them what to expect from PRANK, they offered that it would be, “Three stories with a wrap around. They’re all thrilling, there are some that are scary, there are some that are rollercoaster rides. Suspenseful, cerebral, interesting, it’s really exciting.” Not only are the queens of scream behind the camera, but a few very recognizable faces will be featured in the film as well, including PJ Soles, JC Brandy, the other Jamie Lloyd in HALLOWEEN 6, Jennifer Blanc from “Dark Angel” and Kathleen Kinmont from HALLOWEEN 4.
Also on board is the lovely Dana Daurey, who is quite new to the genre. She is very funny so it is no surprise that she is rooted in comedy/drama with a strong theatrical background. When I talked to her about her trek into terror, she offered, “I never watch [horror], I’m too scared. I’m that person in the theatre that always goes, ‘Oh my God! [covering her eyes]’” But I have a firm belief in the idea of an actress being terrified of horror really making it scary and fun for the audience. Need I mention Jamie Lee Curtis, who admittedly has a hard time watching horror films. And someone as charming as Dana is, she will surely make for a heroine we can root for.
As for Ms. Harris, she has such a high regard for the genre. The fact is, she grew up in it and became a major part of it with her work in the HALLOWEEN franchise. When we talked about her career and how it prepared her for her role as director, she made it clear why this is the job for her, “Horror movies have always been the one thing in my career that I know better than anything else. I love watching them, I love reading them, I love making them, and I love making them on the other side.” Her confidence and her faith in the project is exciting, even though “Madison” is basically her “training wheels” to help in regards to another project that she is working on with Anthony. Yet according to both Thommy, Anthony and the entire crew, she didn’t need training wheels. The girl seems to be a natural.
Ms. Harris and “Madison” tells the tale of a woman waiting for her boyfriend to come home. As she waits, strange things start to happen, including phone calls and other creepy things which go bump in the night when you are all alone. It sounds like a tale of terror, not unlike the classic horror films of the past where the story is simple yet terrifying. And if all you guys are worried that you won’t get to see Danielle because she is busy being behind the camera, don’t worry, she makes a cameo in the film ala Alfred Hitchcock.
The other tales include “Cassidy”, directed by Ellie Cornell, about a girl who is a huge mystery buff, whose friends throw a surprise “murder mystery” birthday party for her. But once she figures it out, the partygoers begin to drop dead for real. And Heather Langenkamp will help bring “Jessica” to life, which revolves around group of friends making prank phone calls (a really dangerous thing to do nowadays), and it soon turns deadly when a strange man answers the phone and decides to have a little fun of his own.
From what I have seen and heard, PRANK looks to be a horror lovers dream. With three scream queens getting behind the camera and stories that feel like the classic horror films that I grew up on, this looks to be a scary movie with a whole lot of heart and soul. There is much more to come in the next few weeks and Arrow In The Head will be there to tell you all about it, including the full interviews with the all those involved. As Mr. Hutson told me, “It’s never been done before in horror, where three scream queens have jumped behind the camera.” And from where I was sitting, this is much more than just a clever marketing idea. This is a horror film that looks like it may satisfy all those hungry for a great genre flick with believable characters and spooky tales that will make you want to sleep with the lights on.
Let me know what you think. Send questions and/or comments to
JimmyO@joblo.com
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed