#thenightwatchmen

Hello fellow horror fiends!

Two years ago I had the privilege of working on a horror film in Annapolis, MD called The Night Watchmen (coming soon!); it was there that I met the executive producer of the 2003 film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Jeffrey Allard! (Click here to visit his IMDB page.) The following is an updated version of my previous interview with Jeffrey Allard about the business of remakes!

(Above: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) right, The Night Watchmen (coming soon) left. Below: Interview with executive producer Jeffrey Allard)

ScreamScores (S): Do you prefer when remakes stay true to the original film or when writers/directors take creative liberties?

Jeffrey Allard (J): I’m inclined to have remakes stay relatively true to the original film.  A franchise horror film (or any franchise film for that matter) has much of its success based on a great story/plot, so I’d be hesitant to deviate too far from one of the key components that made the original film successful. With that said, you can have different spins or takes on a story and still remain true to the original plot (swapping roles and genders, settings, genre shifting, time period, etc.). Some of these different takes can help refresh and contemporize the original story.

S: How do remakes, specifically The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), come to fruition? With so many copyright issues do the films have to originate from the original creators/companies or are the rights usually bought across company lines?

J: With The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I was looking for a concept that had a compelling risk/reward proposition…which today in this business, is hard to come by.   I was introduced to the creators/owners of TCM and pitched them the idea of doing a remake of their film and going back to the original horror and terror that made the film a cult classic.  At the time I pitched this project, horror films were going campy, and I believed going back to raw horror was timely.  This proved to be right and several new horror franchises conceived after the TCM remake (Saw, Hostel) followed this trend.

My deal was unique in that I was able to deal with the original concept owners, where currently many horror franchises are owned by studios or production companies.  The studios are constantly mining their libraries (albeit at a slow pace) and soliciting pitches for their properties.

S: Is the general reaction to remakes apprehensive or enthusiastic when they’re announced? Is there a difference between the fans’ reaction and the creators’ reactions?

J: I think for those who are interested in genre, most would aspire for the opportunity to produce/direct a remake.  Although remakes seem to be in theaters all the time, the number of remakes relative to all films made is tiny, so it’s a rarity to come by (especially outside the studio system).  Remakes have a pre-existing fan base which is what makes them so valuable.  People who lean toward art-house type films, probably aren’t very keen on genre remakes.

S: What’s your favorite horror remake?

J: Well, as executive producer of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, need I say more?

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, and when a film you put your blood, sweat, and tears, the fact that someone else thinks your work is worth bringing back into the public light is the most amazing compliment anyone could ever pay.