Episode 056 - Simon Rumley Focus: 2011's Red, White, and Blue

In 2006, English director/screenwriter Simon Rumley became a sensation on the genre festival circuits with his film The Living and the Dead. Oddly folks weren’t quite sure where to categorize this amazing film. Having dramatic and literary elements yet dark and kinetic components, indy fans embraced the film and discovered a new and amazing talent within genre and horror circles.

Simon Rumley is a director that seems to stand on the frontier between the dark dramas of Paul Schrader, Cormac McCarthy, and Martin Scorsese while relishing in the intensity of the films of Jee-woon Kim, Chan-wook Park, and Xavier Gens. In 2010, he released the film Red, White, and Blue, a story of three people who’s lives collide head on when their dark secrets come crashing down upon them. Horrific, disheartening, and violent, Red, White, and Blue remarks on issues ranging as wide as social disenfranchisement while presenting commentary on human nature and maybe even the Western world.

Having run the festival circuits in 2010, Red, White, and Blue was released to a wide audience in 2011 and was named by many, including cohost Philip, as one of the top 10 best genre horror films of that year. Your hosts Eric and Philip discuss the film and then interview writer/director Simon Rumley about a movie that will remain with the viewer even days after viewing.

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Two articles by Johnny Andrews: The Evil Dead and Me; Zombies: An Untapped Market.

Episode 055 - Jack Ketchum's Red

When one hears the name Jack Ketchum they think of splatter punk, extreme horror, and outrageous violence. With such a reputation his books have never been found on best sellers lists. An avid cult following however has arisen that has made his novels and short stories hugely popular. Five feature length films have been made out of his works and his writings have brought such prestigious honors as multiple Bram Stoker Awards and the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award.

In 1995, Jack Ketchum released a novel that would seem more apt to have been written by someone other than a speculative fiction author. The novel Red, with elements that seem out of a Cormac McCarthy novel, twists a tale that should lead to vengeance into a story filled with forgiveness and love. Avery Ludlow, a widower and senior citizen from Maine, lives a quiet life with his dog Red. His daily routine includes such hobbies as fishing and managing his general store. One fateful fishing trip down by the local creek, a shocking event turns his world upside down. Seeking understanding, asking only for impartiality, offering total absolution, Ave does his best to remain human in a world that offers nothing but melancholy and unfairness.

In 2008, a film of the novel starring Brian Cox with an important cameo by Robert Englund was highly regarded by critics while being a very faithful adaption to the story. Dark Discussions discusses this fantastic novel, the wonderful movie, and how the character of Avery Ludlow, flaws and all, is the model of how every human being with nothing more than a big heart can overcome whatever is wrong in the world.

Episode 054 - The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Produced by Joss Whedon and directed by Drew Goddard, Cabin in the Woods has a strong pedigree behind it which zeroed it in for critical if not financial success. Originally filmed in 2009, the movie got caught up in the MGM financial crisis which caused it to be shelved until 2012. Since then, actor Chris Hemsworth has become a successful star and supporting actor Richard Jenkins has been nominated for an Academy Award. The long journey of a troubled trip has finally ended.

When a group of five college friends head out to a tranquil cabin in the woods, what should be a typical weekend of fun, relaxation, and love in the sun turns out to be anything but. As their worst nightmares become real, their survival, unbeknownst to them, may have nothing to do with their own choices. What appears to be a typical horror antagonist may actually be part of something much larger and sinister.

The screenplay presents the film as a satire and commentary on horror tropes, comedies, and Hollywood while staying true to its genre roots. Dark Discussions discusses Joss Whedon, the cult of personality behind him as well as those that he satires, and whether being part of the Hollywood system is inconsequential to authoring such a screenplay. We take a look into the homages the film pays tribute to while chatting about both the positive and pessimistic items the script presents to its fanbase. Grab your movie tickets and get ready for our commentary on a film that is, well, itself commentary.