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Alamo Drafthouse's Zack Carlson and TROLL 2/BEST WORST MOVIE's Michael Stephenson To Make Sweet Sweet Movie Together!

Published at: Feb. 16, 2011, 4:43 p.m. CST

 

Nordling here.
 
Everyone who's frequented the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin knows Zach Carlson, who does his Terror Tuesday every, well, Tuesday, is a co-editor of DESTROY ALL MOVIES with Bryan Connolly, and probably most well known of all, was featured in the documentary BEST WORST MOVIE.  That doc was about the cult following and making of one of the legitimately worst films ever made, TROLL 2.  Michael Stephenson, who was the child actor of TROLL 2, also directed BEST WORST MOVIE, and apparently he and Zack got along well enough to co-write a script together called DESTROY.
 
DESTROY is a black comedy about a vampire hunter who haunts Bavaria, except the "vampires" he kills are really just innocent old people.  Sounds perfect for Zack and Michael, and it's gotten the attention of BLACK SWAN producer Jennifer Roth, who is co-producing the film with Michael and his wife Lindsay, according to Hollywood Reporter.  Michael Stephenson will also direct.  To quote him, "I was embarrassed by (TROLL 2) my whole life.  But now, a lot of good has come from being in one of the worst movies ever made."
 
I don't know Zack personally, just in the few run-ins I've had with him at Terror Tuesday and Cinemapocalypse.  But he's a very funny guy and I'm very happy to see this project happen.. Congratulations to him and Michael Stephenson.  Can't wait to see it.
 
Nordling, out.

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  • Feb. 16, 2011, 4:46 p.m. CST

    First!

    by toxictodd

    Best Worst Rocked...Can't wait for this!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb. 16, 2011, 4:54 p.m. CST

    "Best Worst Movie" is indeed awesome

    by WriteForTheEdit

    And "Troll 2" does look like a contender for the greatest horror movie fail of all time, based on what's seen in the doc. "Destroy" does sound pretty funny, in a very dark way.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb. 16, 2011, 7:35 p.m. CST

    oh my gawdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

    by ORIONgods

    ddddddddddddddddddddddd

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb. 16, 2011, 8:06 p.m. CST

    Direct to youtube release.

    by claxdog

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb. 17, 2011, 8:48 a.m. CST

    Is "Troll 2" better that "The Room"?

    by Beaverduck

    Never saw it. Find it really hard to believe it could be as bad but consistently as entertaining as "The Room". There are other good-bad movies such as Dolph Lundgren's "Blackjack", but it has big dead spots between its moments of awful genius. I guess I'm asking if "Troll 2" is consistent?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb. 17, 2011, 9:38 a.m. CST

    @Beaverduck - It depends what appeals to you i guess

    by Tommy Fang

    The Room & Troll 2 are definitely terrible movies but different beasts. Personally, I found the Room more entertaining throughout. Troll 2 has its awesome wtf moments, but there are boring periods in between the awesome. It would definitely fit the classic mockworthy bad movie, and would probably appeal more to a Horror/SF crowd than the Room because of its schlocky practical make-up and special fx. But The Room for me was such an insane anomoly of a movie, and for some reason Tommy Wiseau as an on screen presence automatically made me laugh when ever he opened his mouth and spoke.

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  • Feb. 17, 2011, 9:58 a.m. CST

    @Drivehappy - Thanks

    by Beaverduck

    That thoroughly answered my question. And I agree, The Room is an anomaly. I always argue that the number one crime a filmmaker can commit is to bore their audience. But I'm not bored watching The Room. It's bad, but I won't sit out one scene to make a sandwich or use the bathroom. It's too good. In fact, it's hypnotic.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb. 17, 2011, 11:18 a.m. CST

    This couldn't happen to a better dude. Zach Carlson is the real deal.

    by The Reluctant Austinite

    He talks the talk and walks the walk. He's a true film fan who lives and breathes for this stuff. Even though we aren't friends, I've run into him enough times at Alamo events to have a great respect for him. I was at a documentary screening and in one scene some magazines covers revealed an obscure stop motion creature that I had wondered about since seeing pictures of it in Famous Monsters as a kid. At the Q & A I asked the director about it and he kind of acted like I was crazy. He didn't know what the Hell I was talking about. I was kind of embarassed for having asked the question. Then after the screening, Zach comes running up to me and says, "Stay right here for a minute. I want to show you something." He runs up to his office and immediately comes back with a couple of magazines about the character I had asked about. The character is named GROG and the guy who created him is John Dods. There are likely two or maybe three people in the world that would know this crap! Zach is one of them. It almost feels like we're brothers of worthless cult film knowledge in some alternate universe. We both got our start working in crappy movie theaters and video stores. We both sacrificed a geniune chance at a normal life for our love of movies. I'm happy he's getting a chance to work in the biz on a project that won't be a sell out. I look forward to it.

    Reply to Talkback