For horror fans the name Frank Henenlotter is not only synonymous with horror but also the strange and unusual and comedy as well…just all within the same film. Henenlotter first success was the original Basket Case but it would be with its sequel Basket Case 2 that he would set the horror world on fire with his offbeat sense of humor, characters, and gore.
After the apparent death of separated Siamese brothers Duane (Kevin Van Hentenryck) and Belial Bradley, the two are whisk away to a hospital where they are on their death bed and held captive for murder. They are rescued by Granny Ruth and her granddaughter Susan (Annie Ross and Heather Rattray, respectfully) who run a half way house for mutants and freaks like them. As Duane and Belial recover from their injuries Duane begins to feel that in a house of freaks he is the one who’s the real freak and starts to ponder a life outside in the normal world where he will no longer be looked upon as a freak. Trouble starts to arise when a nosy reporter starts snooping around and threatens everyone at Granny Ruth’s forcing Duane to choose between his brother and his old life and that of the life he wants to have.
The thing that makes Henenlotter’s films such great horror entertainment is that his films are not just about the outcasts of society (i.e. Frankenhooker and Brain Damage) but they also are the heroes of his films whereas the “normal” people are usually the villains despite the horrific nature of his films. Although Belial is a killer he never kills unless provoked or is protecting someone.
I’m a huge fan of films in which the “freaks” are the main characters of the film as some of my favorite films are Freaks (1932) and Clive Barker’s Nightbreed and my favorite stories are The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera. I must add though that Henenlotter’s films are an acquired taste as the gore and humor are very tongue in cheek. It’s takes a special type of horror fan to appreciate Henenlotter’s contribution to the horror genre.
CITY GARDEN - "The Old Woman & The Park"
On the set of the short film "A Gift"
Showing posts with label freaks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freaks. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Rewriting "The Nocturnal"
Last time in this blog I promised I'd mention the rewriting process I had to go through on my latest script "The Nocturnal." Rewriting this script has actually been one of the easier rewriting experiences I've ever had since the rough draft is pretty much exactly what I wanted to say on the page. I spent and entire day to sit down and reread the script and make subtle changes to the story and dialogue to make it all gel together...at least in my head.
The hardest rewriting experience I've ever had was on my script "Detour" which still isn't done. That script was too much like a David Lynch type of film that crossed back and forth between time and places and visualizing that whole story and concept was an experience I will not soon go back to.
"The Nocturnal" is a character film that starts off as being an unsettling "torture-porn" type of captive film without the "torture" elements that plays more on the psychological elements of the story while also playing with the idea that we live in a world inhabited by extra-ordinary beings with strange proclivities. It's an unusual film that I wrote as part of my "Tribe(s)" series of films in which I explore the lives of real life creatures, monsters, and odities living in our world among us. This series of films would also include several other stories I'm working on including "Freaks" even though I explore different time periods and characters.
Rewriting "The Nocturnal" was actually really fun and a treat in that I ended up enjoying much of what I had originally written without needed to change much (like what happened on "Detour" or even "I, Jack". Many people who read it may not pick up the parallels between the two main characters but I've learned through most of my writings that I like to present stories with two main characters that either complete opposites or exact similarities. This film the two main characters are very much in the same character just from different walks of life which ultimately lies in their intwined fate.
Upon finishing the rewrites I wanted to return to finishing "Freaks" which was a favorite story of mine for which I got a third of the way through a first rough draft. "Freaks" may have to wait though as I am about to complete a "shooting script" for "Shiver" before finishing up "Contagium" and "The Poet" both of which I'd like to finish before the end of the summer. I'm also working on a Spec script in the vein of "Law & Order" for resume reasons and to possibly write for the new local production Atlanta Homicide: HD. Although I'd love the opportunity to write for the show, I realize the competition is stiff and my ideas are a tad radical specially since my Spec script would require controversial subject material in the way of being about teenage suicide. Regardless this Spec script will be written as a feature length script to be sold, so, I hope something comes of that.
In the mean time I'm sending "The Nocturnal" to several people whose opinions I trust and can get me some feedback on the script. A friend of mine suggested that I do a reading of the script to hammer out the details that I might have and to answer any questions in this regards. I've decided to take this into consideration and to actually do this to help fix any problems that I might have in the script. I'll keep you informed on more of this as soon as I know.
The hardest rewriting experience I've ever had was on my script "Detour" which still isn't done. That script was too much like a David Lynch type of film that crossed back and forth between time and places and visualizing that whole story and concept was an experience I will not soon go back to.
"The Nocturnal" is a character film that starts off as being an unsettling "torture-porn" type of captive film without the "torture" elements that plays more on the psychological elements of the story while also playing with the idea that we live in a world inhabited by extra-ordinary beings with strange proclivities. It's an unusual film that I wrote as part of my "Tribe(s)" series of films in which I explore the lives of real life creatures, monsters, and odities living in our world among us. This series of films would also include several other stories I'm working on including "Freaks" even though I explore different time periods and characters.
Rewriting "The Nocturnal" was actually really fun and a treat in that I ended up enjoying much of what I had originally written without needed to change much (like what happened on "Detour" or even "I, Jack". Many people who read it may not pick up the parallels between the two main characters but I've learned through most of my writings that I like to present stories with two main characters that either complete opposites or exact similarities. This film the two main characters are very much in the same character just from different walks of life which ultimately lies in their intwined fate.
Upon finishing the rewrites I wanted to return to finishing "Freaks" which was a favorite story of mine for which I got a third of the way through a first rough draft. "Freaks" may have to wait though as I am about to complete a "shooting script" for "Shiver" before finishing up "Contagium" and "The Poet" both of which I'd like to finish before the end of the summer. I'm also working on a Spec script in the vein of "Law & Order" for resume reasons and to possibly write for the new local production Atlanta Homicide: HD. Although I'd love the opportunity to write for the show, I realize the competition is stiff and my ideas are a tad radical specially since my Spec script would require controversial subject material in the way of being about teenage suicide. Regardless this Spec script will be written as a feature length script to be sold, so, I hope something comes of that.
In the mean time I'm sending "The Nocturnal" to several people whose opinions I trust and can get me some feedback on the script. A friend of mine suggested that I do a reading of the script to hammer out the details that I might have and to answer any questions in this regards. I've decided to take this into consideration and to actually do this to help fix any problems that I might have in the script. I'll keep you informed on more of this as soon as I know.
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