With Halloween just around the bend, what better way to get in the mood than to learn of a cool upcoming horror anthology? Oh come on, whether it’s older fare like TALES FROM THE CRYPT (yes, there is a movie from 1972) or CREEPSHOW, to fresher fodder like TRICK R’ TREAT…when done well, anthological horror episodes are all kinds of fun. The newest title to hit the format? THE THEATER BIZARRE!
THE THEATER BIZARRE is a project that will cull together works from 6 international filmmakers, each given free rein to make the film they want without creative hindrance. The only caveat, each director must pay tribute to the over-the-top shocks of Paris’ early 20th century ‘Theatre du Grand Guignol. Here’s a statement from an official press release:
The project’s six filmmakers have all made at least one modestly budgeted and internationally acclaimed movie in the horror field.
The films of Douglas Buck include the 2003 Sitges sensation FAMILY PORTRAITS: A TRILOGY OF AMERICA and the recent remake of Brian DePalma’s SISTERS.
Buddy Giovinazzo exploded onto the genre scene with 1986’s COMBAT SHOCK and went on to write and direct such features as the Tim Roth-starrer NO WAY HOME and last year’s acclaimed ensemble drama LIFE IS HOT IN CRACKTOWN (adapted from his novel), as well as numerous works for German television.
UK native David Gregory is the industry’s foremost documentarian of horror films on DVD, and his 2008 feature debut PLAGUE TOWN was hailed as “a nightmare captured on celluloid” by Fangoria.
In addition to writing and directing SUBCONSCIOUS CRUELTY and LA BELLE BÊTE, Karim Hussain is also an accomplished cinematographer whose features include the upcoming HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN.
Arguably horror’s best-known special effects wizard for his landmark work on classics that include the original FRIDAY THE 13TH and DAWN OF THE DEAD – as well as a popular actor in such films as FROM DUSK TIL DAWN and MACHETE – Tom Savini directed the 1990 remake of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.
South African born Richard Stanley is one of the genre’s most distinctive talents, whose visionary cult classics include HARDWARE and DUST DEVIL. THE THEATRE BIZARRE marks his triumphant return to horror for the first time in 18 years.
All sounds pretty damn appealing, no? If you had to choose, which one filmmaker listed above are you looking forward to seeing contribute to THE THEATER BIZARRE? I’m all about seeing what Savini has to offer!
Stay up for more as it develops.