 
|
|||||||||
 |
_VIDEO/DVD | ||||||||
|
The
Directors-Wes Craven review by Terry Wickham
Wes Craven is without question, an icon in the horror genre. I have to admit I've always liked his films, ever since I saw The Hills Have Eyes. But truthfully, it's only been recently that I've come to understand the brilliant choices he's made as a director in terms of visuals and editing. I saw A Nightmare On Elm Street, the opening day back in 1984. I had to brave 80 below temperature to sit in the theater (alone, I guess nobody else wanted to see the movie that bad) and be pleasantly scared. I also liked Serpent and the Rainbow, People Under the Stairs and I'm a big fan of Scream. I never really knew much more about the man who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, grew up not making films and became a teacher after attending John Hopkins University. Through this exceptional DVD and a biography I'm currently reading, what I've come to learn is Wes Craven makes deep psychological choices as a writer and that he is technically creative with his style of shooting and editing. On the surface many wannabe filmmakers and scholars may see Craven's work, especially his early films, as rather simple and crude. But upon closer inspection, you will see Craven's visual choices were made for impact and economic limitation. His editing work is not as surprising, when you learn that he basically got his start working with Sean Cunningham (Friday The 13th) cutting trailers and soft core sex films in the early 70's. This DVD, which has both outstanding picture and sound, is very engaging. You have a detailed interview with Wes Craven, where he speaks candidly about making each one of his films. A clip from each film is played before we hear Craven's thoughts. The only theatrical (well, it probably only played on video – for good reason) film missing is The Hills Have Eyes II, which Craven admits he did purely for the money. He explains that he tried to get A Nightmare On Elm Street made for three years and when nobody saw it's potential, he went broke. He had to borrow money to pay his taxes and The Hill Have Eyes II was a result. I think another thing I learned from this DVD was that Craven had studio interference on Deadly Blessing, Swamp Thing and Deadly Friend. When you hear of the bureaucratic pressure Craven had to endure, it's kind of amazing that those films turned out as good as they did. Neve Campbell tells of how she had a great audition for Craven, even though she was hesitant about doing Scream, because she had just came off doing The Craft. Bill Pullman reveals that Craven develops such a good relationship with his cast and crew, that the entire team from Serpent and the Rainbow got together seven years after doing the film. He said that was the only time that's ever happened in his career. Robert Englund explains that Craven really was the only one who truly understood the Nightmare On Elm Street world. When other filmmakers came in, they didn't know where the humor line was that should or shouldn't be crossed. As a result, those other films lacked the potency of the two films directed by Craven. Adrienne Barbeau and Ray Wise both recall how treacherous it was making Swamp Thing in the woods of South Carolina. Even Craven mentions that there were stinging caterpillars and how the swamp literally ate the rubber Swamp Thing costume. Kristy Swanson smiles when she says her favorite scene to do in Deadly Friend was there scene where she had to throw the basketball at Anne Ramsey's character, making her head explode. Mitch Pileggi says Craven kept asking him to go "further out there" with his character Horace Pinker in Shocker. Pileggi was concerned that they were already too far out there already, but Craven wanted more. Craven says that he felt it was finally time to iron out the differences he had with Robert Shaye at New Line, to make A New Nightmare. He says much of what they had between them was created through the media. Part of the deal was that he got the opportunity to make a non-horror film, which became Music of the Heart. This is a great DVD for any fan of filmmaking, the cinema or Wes Craven. To actually hear the profound information Craven gives; like the genesis of Freddy Krueger or turbulent environment surrounding Serpent and the Rainbow, it's easily worth the price of this DVD. It's really a 1-hour class on the reality of filmmaking.
Official
Website:
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
