Cool News
Possibly cool Vampire flick, BURNED TO LIGHT starring Malkovich and Dafoe!!!
Last year the LIONS GATE brought us a film that really made folks like me squeel with
the joy of excellent filmmaking... GODS & MONSTERS. That film... Directed by Bill
Condon and starring a top notch inexpensive cast provided me with one of my top films of
1998.
So it was with a certain amount of interest that I turned my eyes towards their latest
production a film called BURNED TO LIGHT (formerly known as SHADOW OF THE
VAMPIRE). It’s a small $8 million dollar production being shot in Luxembourg and ya
know... To most people’s eyes this film would have gone unnoticed until the film had
finished shooting, but I got curious when I found out that the plotline caused my pulse to
race with interest.
First off, the film is directed by E Elias Merhige, a director I’m not familiar with. And it’s
produced by... Nicholas Cage (yeah, that one)
The basic plot of the film is set around shooting the first vampire film, Nosferatu.
Apparently during this the cast and crew begin to suspect that Murnau (played by John
Malkovich) has cast a real vampire as Nosferatu (played by Willem Dafoe) in
his obsession for detail. They began absolutely believing this when people begin to die on
the set. Apparently whole scenes from the original Nosferatu in addition to recreated
scenes starring the “actors” are intercut with the narrative to provide a juxtaposition to
the fillmmakers' experience.
The set up for the introduction of Max Schreck (if that name is familiar to some of you,
it’s because Tim Burton and crew paid homage to the name by having Christopher Walken
play a character of the same name in BATMAN RETURNS) is mysterious as Gustav (a
lawyer played by cult fave Eddie Izzard) informs the crew that their ‘star’ is an obscure
character actor that studied under the tutelege of Stanislavsky and has been living in
Czechoslovakia to study to become a vampire. In addition, Max Schreck will be seen
already in make-up and only at night to perform his role.
Is Max Schreck really a vampire? I don’t friggin care. All I know is with Willem Dafoe as
Max Schreck and Malkovich as Murnau... You couldn’t beat me away from the theater
with a wrecking ball.
Personally I’m hoping for a great film... but one never knows about the smaller films.
Sometimes they are gems... sometimes they are merely forgettable. But this is one project
that I definitely want to hear everything I can about. What have you heard?
production a film called BURNED TO LIGHT (formerly known as SHADOW OF THE
VAMPIRE). It’s a small $8 million dollar production being shot in Luxembourg and ya
know... To most people’s eyes this film would have gone unnoticed until the film had
finished shooting, but I got curious when I found out that the plotline caused my pulse to
race with interest.
First off, the film is directed by E Elias Merhige, a director I’m not familiar with. And it’s
produced by... Nicholas Cage (yeah, that one)
The basic plot of the film is set around shooting the first vampire film, Nosferatu.
Apparently during this the cast and crew begin to suspect that Murnau (played by John
Malkovich) has cast a real vampire as Nosferatu (played by Willem Dafoe) in
his obsession for detail. They began absolutely believing this when people begin to die on
the set. Apparently whole scenes from the original Nosferatu in addition to recreated
scenes starring the “actors” are intercut with the narrative to provide a juxtaposition to
the fillmmakers' experience.
The set up for the introduction of Max Schreck (if that name is familiar to some of you,
it’s because Tim Burton and crew paid homage to the name by having Christopher Walken
play a character of the same name in BATMAN RETURNS) is mysterious as Gustav (a
lawyer played by cult fave Eddie Izzard) informs the crew that their ‘star’ is an obscure
character actor that studied under the tutelege of Stanislavsky and has been living in
Czechoslovakia to study to become a vampire. In addition, Max Schreck will be seen
already in make-up and only at night to perform his role.
Is Max Schreck really a vampire? I don’t friggin care. All I know is with Willem Dafoe as
Max Schreck and Malkovich as Murnau... You couldn’t beat me away from the theater
with a wrecking ball.
Personally I’m hoping for a great film... but one never knows about the smaller films.
Sometimes they are gems... sometimes they are merely forgettable. But this is one project
that I definitely want to hear everything I can about. What have you heard?
Apparently during this the cast and crew begin to suspect that Murnau (played by John
Malkovich) has cast a real vampire as Nosferatu (played by Willem Dafoe) in
his obsession for detail. They began absolutely believing this when people begin to die on
the set. Apparently whole scenes from the original Nosferatu in addition to recreated
scenes starring the “actors” are intercut with the narrative to provide a juxtaposition to
the fillmmakers' experience.
The set up for the introduction of Max Schreck (if that name is familiar to some of you,
it’s because Tim Burton and crew paid homage to the name by having Christopher Walken
play a character of the same name in BATMAN RETURNS) is mysterious as Gustav (a
lawyer played by cult fave Eddie Izzard) informs the crew that their ‘star’ is an obscure
character actor that studied under the tutelege of Stanislavsky and has been living in
Czechoslovakia to study to become a vampire. In addition, Max Schreck will be seen
already in make-up and only at night to perform his role.
Is Max Schreck really a vampire? I don’t friggin care. All I know is with Willem Dafoe as
Max Schreck and Malkovich as Murnau... You couldn’t beat me away from the theater
with a wrecking ball.
Personally I’m hoping for a great film... but one never knows about the smaller films.
Sometimes they are gems... sometimes they are merely forgettable. But this is one project
that I definitely want to hear everything I can about. What have you heard?
Max Schreck and Malkovich as Murnau... You couldn’t beat me away from the theater
with a wrecking ball.
Personally I’m hoping for a great film... but one never knows about the smaller films.
Sometimes they are gems... sometimes they are merely forgettable. But this is one project
that I definitely want to hear everything I can about. What have you heard?
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+ Expand All
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Dafoe and Malkovich are too cool for me not to be.
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Jun 24, 1999 4:02:30 AM CDT
Forget about the Creature from the Black Lagoon. This is better
by mr_ripley
I had little anticipation for "Gods and Monsters", having read the novel ("The Father of Frankenstein") and having seen that Brendon Frasier was going to be in it. However, Sir Ian and Bill Condon made an incredible film that gracefully sidestepped the faults of the book and amplified its stregnths. It was a film that brought new life to an old masterpiece. I couldn't believe that I was seeing candid footage of the Bride in color (without Sting, thank you very much). Elsa Lanchester sure looked good, considering she's dead. Lion's Gate took a huge risk with that film and I am greatful for it. I have little fear and great anticipation for "Burned In Light". Great cast (Dafoe, Malcovich, and Izzard) playing great, real characters and further blurring that line between movies and life. "Gods and Monsters" was surreal, in the truest sense of the word. A heightened reality, in which past films inform on and influence the present. "Burned In Light" sounds very similar. I am glad that in the least it will bring attention to a little seen film. "Nosforatu" deserves to be reawakened. To me, he is the only scary vampire, not some foppish dandy and not some Jim Morrison-wannabe. I cannot wait to hear more about this film.
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This sounds like a very cool, entertaining movie. I'm a big fan of early German cinema, especially THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI and NOSFERATU EINE SYMPHONIE DES GRAUENS. The actor Max Schreck created one of the most memorable screen vampires ever. His is truly a creature from hell. What makes the character of Count Orlock even more scarier is that we know very little about Schreck today. He could very well have been a vampire (or at least a man who THOUGHT he was a vampire). It sounds crazy, but you never know. While I did enjoy the 1979 remake, NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE, the original 1922 version still is the scarier one for me. Can't wait for this one.
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E Elias Merhige I believe made a strange B/W art/horror flick called BEGOTTEN. I know it was on some newspapers top ten list for the year a few back (NY TIMES) and that those punks at FILM THREAT released it on their video label briefly. I understand it's super surreal and just plain flat out bizzare. It's being bootlegged a lot in the underground trading scene. Supposedly it's pretty damn disturbing. I haven't slept yet so forgive me if none of the above makes sense. I'm looking foward to it too HARRY, it sounds pretty bold. Thanks.
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Jun 24, 1999 6:18:08 AM CDT
Harry, you ninny, it took you THIS LONG to discover this movie's
by ilvenshang
Still, welcome to the club.
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willum defoes rad yet creepy, heesa make a good vampire in my opinion
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just to let you know that there is an on-set report about this very film in the current issue of French 'Premiere' magazine. The piece features some amazing black-and-white photographs of the cast and crew at work. I assume the film is being shot in black-and-white. If it's not then it's a damn shame cos the on-set shots look immaculate. Speaking of immaculate, the same issue of French 'Premiere' has another on-set report from 'SLEEPY HOLLOW' which is accompanied by a clutch of beautiful photographs by Michel Haddi of Burton at work shooting a scene involving Lisa-Marie as Ichabod's mother playing in a garden with a young Ichabod. The child playing Ichabod junior is the spookiest looking munchkin you're ever lilely to see.
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one thing I always hated about "BATMAN Returns" is Walkens Q-Tip headed Max Schreck and his goofy pompus ignorant dorkweasle son. Ugh.(but Michelle Pfieffer's Catwoman more than made up for it!!) --McK
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Just conforming what TALL MAN reported. Yes, the director is Elias Merhige, who directed the incredibly bizarre "Begotten". It's difficult to synopsize this film, but it is absolutely unique. More a filmed myth than a narrative, in brief the film goes as follows: God kills himself, in the process giving birth to a spastic son and his mother -- they wander a ravaged wasteland for a bit, then are slaughtered by the locals, who bury their corpses, which in turn revitalizes the wasteland.
That's about as clearly as I can explain it (or comprehend it myself). Shot in some sort of heavily filtered B/W murky-vision, and containing no dialogue, "Begotten" definitely falls into the category of 'experimental' film making and is a standout example thereof, albeit a rather more disturbing one than most people can bear sitting through -- not because of its' gore, of which there is some, but just because of its' utter . . . alien-ness. It seems like the type of film primitive cavemen would make if you somehow could supply them w/ a movie camera and a troop of actors. Definitely worth checking out. Distributed by World Artists Home Video (not Film Threat Video as previously reported) -
BEGOTTEn is like watching something rot. That's how I can best describe it-- the video box gives the metaphorical plot. The images themselves make your teeth sore. The director spent something like 4 years hand scratching each frame of film. Visually it is one of the most disturbing films I've ever seen. Shadow and objects fold into each other. Creatures give birth to mud. From mud children form to be chased by...who knows what the fuck they are and what they are doing. Filth blending and folding into itself. Ambient noises. Everything turns frail. So if it is the same director...I don't know what to say. These are the types of indies that should be made. Harry. Thank You for the coolest news I've heard in a long time.
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I produced Burned To Light (also known as Shadow of the Vampire)with Nicolas Cage, and yes - it's cool. We're just cutting it now in London so it won't be out for a while, but I hope you like it...
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Wilem Dafoe could pull it off! As for the deceased Klaus Kinski, strange-cat! I worked with him on a film called "Creature" years ago and he hated talking about the Spaghetti Westerns that he was in. Then I asked him if he wanted to play more leading man roles. He replied, "With a face like mine, why should I be a leading man?" Yikes! Uh, thanks, Klaus, I'll be, uh, leaving!
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This BURNED TO LIGHT news was very exciting when I first heard about it, but now thanks to Harry and the Talk back folk I realize that the brilliant E. Elias Merhige is directing. Man I've been waiting with baited breath since I first witnessed BEGOTTEN to see what this guy would do next. Film Threat had an interview with him years ago 1992 0r1991 in which he said his next film was gonna be about Gnomes going on a quest through a magical underground kingdom and that it would be filmed
in something akin to old-school TECHNICOLOR. That it would be the polar opposite in many ways to the dark, brooding and nightmarish BEGOTTEN. He said it would be quite expensive -- of course I figured the guy was dreaming since BEGOTTEN didn't exactly rake in the cash. I hoped maybe CIBY 2000 or someone would fork over the dollars. I guess no one did cause almost ten years later the guy's finally making his next film and it's BURNED TO LIGHT (I'm impressed by Nic Cage and others for having faith in this guys talent). BEGOTTEN makes ERASERHEAD look like MARY POPPINS and the example isn't frivolous because BURNED TO LIGHT could be to Merhige what THE ELEPHANT MAN was to Lynch. Expect to see a lot more amazing and wierd stuff from this guy in the future -- maybe it'll be his long dreamed of " Technicolor gnome film". And in case it wasn't already
obvious enough, check out BEGOTTEN, it truly is a singulary unique film. -
I can confirm that, whatever the pictures in French Premiere look like, the film is not in black and white. I spoke with Udo Kier, who plays the producer of Nosferatu, two weeks ago, the day after the film wrapped and he told me it was definitely shot in colour.
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Harry said:"...Max Schreck(if that name is familiar to some of you, it
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It's Nicolas Cage, not Nicholas
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One of the most overrated over-actors of our time (doubt it? see Rounders). I have yet to see a Malkovich movie in which he seems like a realistic human, much less a realistically portrayed character.
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No, its actually Nick Coppolla, Talia Shire's nephew and Luke Cage : Hero For Hire combined!
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Hey, JohnGradyCole, have you seen "The Object of Beauty"? I always thought Malkovich did a pretty good job in a movie that is, basically, "an indictment of the entire capatalist system/romanitc comedy"
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This plot sounds like it may have a lot in common with the Maggie Cheung's recent "Irma Vep". I'm sure it won't be as surreal, concentrating on the horror tip.
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it sounds like a straight to video crapfest...the title that is. The movie itself sounds really cool. But why saddle it with such a snooze of a title? "Nosferatu 2" would even be better. "Max Shreck" would even sound more interesting. "Pointey Ears; Pale Face" would probably bring in the wrong crowd though...
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Sounds like the film will kick much ass!!! I hope it will show here in NH. One thing, though. Shouldn't Malkovich play the vampire? After all, he IS a vampire, isn't he?
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I LOVE the 1922 Nosferatu. It is one of the best movies ever made, and has the scariest vampire HANDS DOWN ever commited to film... In high school, a friend and I got a tape of this from Video Yesteryear and spent ages putting a contemporary soundtrack on it, to provide a scary audio component to the visuals. (curiously, just as we were finishing, Metropolis was rereleased with the contemporary Moroder soundtrack on it. We had no knowledge of that project- although we really liked it) When Schreck looks up from his jugular feast, and the creepy old film stock is doing its creepy old film stock things, I feel like I'm looking straight into hell...I CANNOT WAIT to see Burned To Light. Every film fan should see the 1922 Nosferatu. Bring a sweater- your blood will run cold as ice water.
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As my friend told me about this really good vampire film he was working on (he's probably an extra in the creatures of the night scene) I thought I'd check it out, and then ...
some fool changed the name !
As that person up there said, its a daft name.
Still I am rather looking forward to this because
1) I like vampire films
2) I liked Gods and Monsters
3) it sounds bloody good
now, where can I find more ? -
I appreciate the mention, but just so you and your readers know, SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE is absolutely the title of the picture. Burned To Light was a momentary lapse of reason.
Tom Ortenberg
Lions Gate Films
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