Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here. One of the things that excites me most about this season of MASTERS OF HORROR is that there’s an adaptation of a Bentley Little story included. Little is just one of the newer names in horror fiction who deserve to be brought to the bigscreen. In an age where it seems like all we get are remakes of Asian movies or sequels or classics regurgitated even yet once more again, it’s time that we look at some of the great guys working in horror fiction and take advantage of this great untapped resource. Jack Ketchum hasn’t had a lot of his work filmed yet, either, and I’m really curious about this one:
Hey Harry, I attended a test screening of the film adaptation of "Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door" at the Kodak screening room in New York City. When I heard that they were turning this controversial book into a film, I did everything I could to attend a screening. The company behind the film is Modern Cine, a young company headed up by an equally young President (Andrew Van Den Houten) who looked to be in his early 20s. Regardless, the film had a quality that felt as if it had been made by seasoned pros. The film showcases the talents of many recognizeable actors: William Atherton (Die Hard, Real Genius) as Adult David Moran, Blanche Baker (Sixteen Candles) as Mrs. Chandler, Grant Show (Melrose Place) as Mr. Moran, and Catherine Mary Stewart (Night of the Comet, The Last Starfighter) as Mrs. Moran. All provide very strong performances, though this film is held on the shoulders of Blanche Baker and an ensemble of child actors (ranging in age from 10 to 15 years old or thereabouts), while headed up by newcomer Daniel Manche. This kid has star written all over him and gives the talents of the "Stand By Me" cast a run for their money. He reminded me of super young Michael J. Fox. Speaking of "Stand By Me", this film tonally feels much like that classic in their Act 1. Those who know the book are aware that things get dark quickly. Act 2 and 3 are a mix of "Misery" and "Mommy Dearest." Knowing the book as I do, I was curious to see if they would bastardize the story in the name of their low budget and limited running time. While many cuts were made, the essence of Ketchum's work exists and the elements of torture (handled suggestively rather than explicitly) are truly terrifying. As someone in the audience said, 'it's like watching a train wreck...you want to look away, but you can't" They mentioned the film was made on a low budget (they did not say how much). They also mentioned it was shot over 25 days and edited over 8 weeks. The cut we saw was tight (running at just under 90 minutes). It was not mixed but had a temporary score. If my ears served correctly, they used a lot of Michael Kamen and Howard Shore giving the darker moments a brooding and dramatic sensibility that was truly impactful. Ironically, Ryan Shore is credited on IMDB as composer of the film (it says he is Howard Shore's nephew). They have made the strong choice to make the film a dark drama rather than a horror film. Great, bold choice...that works. I am very curious to see what the rating will be for this movie and if it will find a distributor for the big screen. I have no doubt it will have a life on DVD and cable. I think it has the potential to be a classic much like "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer". The torturous moments on screen involving the kids place this movie in a category with the work of Larry Clark and Todd Solondz. The director is a two-time feature filmmaker named Greg Wilson. Again, a very young guy. Seemed very pleasant and well-spoken. Very passionate about the project. Upon looking him up on IMDB, I saw his last feature (and first) "Home Invaders" was executive produced by Spike Lee. I wonder if Spike will get in his corner on this one again? As Ketchum's works are greatly supported by Stephen King, the Producer mentioned that they hope to garner the support of King in the promotion of their film adaptation. An indie like this, with controversial material, could use the support of such a powerhouse. I really thought they did a great job with the film and as a lover of Ketchum I think that other fans of the author are going to really dig their representation of Mrs. Chandler and her boys, along with Meg, Susan, and David. The world of the 1950s the filmmaker's created is both nostalgic and terrifying, supporting the notion that there is a duality to every image and you never know what terror exists beyond the white picket fence of your neighbor. Just wanted to support an indie with bite that is pushing the envelope.... If you post this, call me Mrs. Chandler.
