Over at Timeout has an interview with Neil Marshall, Writer and Director of both Dog Soldiers and The Descent. There are a few insights into his work, and interestingly his lack of offers after Dog Soldiers:
…it seems like horror films are sustaining the British film industry…I think that the problem at the moment is that the market is a little overcrowded with horror. I don’t like the way that the Americans are going with their soft horror, their PG-13 versions. That’s not horror – I’m not quite sure what it is, but it’s not horror. Horror for kids? I want to make adult films, for adults. I want to make horror films for people like me. And that’s what ‘The Descent’ is. It’s an 18 certificate, like it should be…
…There are so many films I want to make here, and I’m not going to help the British film industry by deserting it. The offers didn’t come flooding in after ‘Dog Soldiers’ because, however well received it was over there – and it’s got a healthy internet following, it never actually got a theatrical release so the studios didn’t take it seriously at all…
…I didn’t feel that I’d scared people enough with ‘Dog Soldiers’. I felt that I’d made something that was a lot of fun and had a few scares and plenty of gore. This time I thought I’d make another horror film, but a really, really scary one, and that was the challenge…
…caving encompasses a lot of fundamental fears like claustrophobia, height, dark, drowning, bats, whatever – there are a lot of ways of to die in a cave…You’ve got a bad enough situation, but what if you’re not alone down there? What if there’s something else in the cave with you and it wants you either out or dead?…
…I had said to the director of photography, Sam McCurdy, that I was determined to do it 2:35 ratio, in 35 millimeter widescreen. But I also wanted to utilise the fact that the caves are pitch black until the girls take a light into them. The only light source there could possibly be was the source the girls have with them at the time, whether it be their helmet lights, torches, a lighter, a box of matches, flares…
I totally agree with the soft-horror comment, that’s not horror, it’s a frightening kids tale more than anything. Glad to see Marshall is championing the cause. Not only for that but for British films in general, it’s funny how many movie industry people talk about the state of the British Industry as they tot off to the States to work. The comments on the movie are adding to the hype and trailers I’ve already seen, I think this could be a pretty scary movie. Are you looking forward to this one?
The Descent (watched on dvd the other night)was truly an awesome experience from start to finish. I have a bit of claustrophobia i guess, enough to stop me from going down a cave anyhoo. I am a huge horror fan and have seen a wide range of stuff from the classics to all the banned stuff from the 80’s and the like, this kicks the ass off 99% of them. I was soooo unsure before watching it, I like Dog Soldiers but i aint a HUGE fan.
Truly you must see this for the following reasons – the jump/fright scenes work incredibly well, I defy anyone out there not to flinch and jump at some scenes. One of my mates whilst watching it spilt a glass of red he had in his hand, and I have never seen him jump at ANY horror movie before. The atmosphere is incredible, soundtrack music works just so well. Claustrophobia, plus amazing soundtrack, plus incredible gore and tension makes this one of the best horror films ever for me, up in my top ten list. Only one drawback and that is that initially the girls come accross as something like the spice girls – however.. this soon changes half way through and he gets some really good performances from the female cast.
SO WISH I SAW IT IN THE CINEMA!!!! I will first available opportunity. So Neil Marshall cheers, nice to see British director coming up trumps keeping the horror genre alive and fresh.
hey, i was in england this summer and i saw The Descent in the theatre there. I think its the scariest fucking movie ive ever seen. I was just wondering when its coming out in the U.S. because i would like to see it again. -thank you
dogsoldiors was awsome!!!
I just saw The Descent at the cinema… I think it’s the scariest movie I’ve ever seen. And the end… I don’t want to give anything away. But the end definitely has a lasting effect.
No idea on the US release date. For once the UK release is first with no actual US release dates yet, just the same as Dog Soldiers.
Oh yeah, Dog Soldiers was great fun, I absolutely loved it. Sean Pertwee is superb, and the whole movie had bucket loads of style. Superbly done and funny too.
When this movie is released in US?
I really like DOG SOLDIERS and have been waiting to see what its director would do next. I can’t wait for this film. Is it coming to the U.S. any time soon?