Horror Chronicles has been lucky enough to snag an interview with Jack Messitt, the creative force behind the gruesome slasher feature Midnight Movie. We had some questions for Jack about the new Killer Cut version, soon to be released, as well as some questions about the man himself. So with great pleasure we now present to you an interview with Jack Messitt.

Horror Chronicles: There's excitement surrounding the new cut of Midnight Movie, what are the main differences from the original release?

Jack Messitt: I was really excited when I was asked to create a director¹s cut of Midnight Movie! But I didn't want to make just a bloated version of the original film. I didn't want to put in a bunch of stuff that didn't belong there the first time around. I wanted to make the movie a better, more enhanced experience for the audience and I think that we accomplished that!


Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut is really just a better version of the film. The biggest difference is Radford himself. In The Killer Cut, Radford is a much more menacing villain. He shows off his supernatural powers in a whole new way. A way we just didn't have the budget to do the first time around. We were able to shoot new sequences just for this version of the film. And we went back and added existing footage to extend some of the original scenes, creating brand new sequences that really make a huge difference in the film. But I didn't just add things. There were plenty of things I cut from the original. I tried to streamline the film in a lot of ways that I hope you don't even notice. I hope that it just feels better this time around.

Horror Chronicles: Is it safe to say that The Killer Cut is your definitive director's version of the movie?

Jack Messitt: Without going back and re-shooting with a bigger budget­ like Sam Raimi was able to do with Evil Dead - I'd say yes, this is the definitive version of the film.

Horror Chronicles: How much fun was the process of making Midnight Movie?

Jack Messitt: Midnight Movie has been one hell of a ride. From the original shoot right to this version of the film, every part of the process came with its own kind of fun and unique challenges. With all the challenges we had in production, it is amazing that Midnight Movie even finished shooting. We were shut down by the unions two weeks into the shoot. After writing them a check that ate up 15% of our original budget, we were able to come back. But that was a huge blow because that became money that wouldn't make it to the screen. With that loss, we had to be really creative with how we spent what was left. A million dollar budget seems like a lot, and it is compared to many of the micro-budget horror films out there, but that money goes fast. Quality on-set effects are expensive and comprised about 10% of the budget. The post-production visual effects used up another chunk of money. But this is all good spending ­ because the money makes to to the screen. The audience sees that spending. So many of the reviews I have read have commented on how good the movie has looked. We also shot on film, which most movies on our budget feel like they can't afford. I knew that it would make a real difference to the feel of the movie. It was just one more way that we tried to make every penny of our budget make it to the screen. The best part of the production was working with all the actors. With 17 kills in the movie, it was so much fun to show up on set and ask, which one of you is dying today?

Horror Chronicles: Any interesting/funny stories to tell from the set of the movie?

Jack Messitt: I just recorded a new commentary track for The Killer Cut DVD... I tell a bunch of stories about what happened on set and more, so check it out. And the original Midnight Movie DVD has a commentary track with Rebekah Brandes, Daniel Bonjour, Greg Cirulnick, Mandell Maughan and myself. We had a great time telling stories from the set and it is totally worth listening to...

Horror Chronicles: Midnight Movie was your first movie as director as well as co-writer. What tempted you towards making a horror flick?

Jack Messitt: Who wouldn't want to direct a horror flick? Horror movies have all the fun parts of movie making: stunts, on-set effects, prosthetics, VFX, blood, knives and general mayhem... When you show up on the set of a horror movie, you know that you are making a movie!

Horror Chronicles: The killer in this movie is reminiscent of some of the classical slasher bad guys, how much influence has previous horror movies played on Midnight Movie?

Jack Messitt: It is inevitable that anyone who makes a horror movie today has been influenced by the classic horror movies from the past. Midnight Movie is no exception ­ especially because the characters in our film are literally watching a horror movie. When they comment on the movie they are watching, we are winking at the very film we are making. When I was putting Midnight Movie together, both in the script stage and in production, I tried to play with as many horror conventions as possible. I wanted to play with the expectations of my audience. I try to lead you down a familiar path, then I hope I pull the rug out from underneath you. For example, we set up Sully as the 'know-it-all-about-horror' character.


General horror conventions would say that this character would stay around to help tell us the rules, to help guide us through this new world. SPOILER! But in Midnight Movie, he is one of the first characters to go. The same could be said for Detective Barrons. He is the cop, the protector. You would expect him to stay around. Again, we drop him early to help show that all bets are off. And because I set up the kills in the movie to mirror the history of horror, the film couldn't help but be influenced by a huge number of films. I think that some of them are obvious, but for the real horror buffs out there, there is plenty of more subtle homage to be found.

Horror Chronicles: Any hope for a sequel to Midnight Movie?

Jack Messitt: Honestly, it all depends on how The Killer Cut performs. So if you want a sequel, please help spread the word about this movie.

Horror Chronicles: Which of the characters in the movie is your favorite and why?

Jack Messitt: Between the movie and the movie in the movie, we had a pretty big cast. So its tough to pick a favorite. Really, every character has their moment to shine.

Horror Chronicles:· What else is on the agenda for Jack Messitt, are you involved in any other projects?

Jack Messitt: As a writer/director, I have several projects in the works:

Remote Control ­ A thriller about an insurance underwriter that intentionally gets himself in trouble with the mob in order to launch an elaborate revenge plot against the man responsible for destroying his family. It is sort of The Usual Suspects and The Inside Man meets Eagle Eye.

Friday, Bloody Friday - A police station should be one of the safest places on earth, but when a college football star and his friends are arrested for smoking marijuana, a small town Sheriff's station turns into a night of terror when they are trapped inside with a psycho cop picking them off one by one. Basically Assault on Precinct 13 meets Friday the 13th.

The Body - With a dead body lying in their coffee table trunk, a couple on the edge of a divorce tries to put on a good face for their friends and family during a crowded party; but things start to unravel as it becomes apparent that the body in the trunk is the wife's secret lover - her husbands best friend. Alfred Hitchcock¹s Rope meets Fatal Attraction.

They will all be fun movies, but we'll see which one gets into production first. In the meantime, I am a cameraman on the television show Bones and we just finished up our sixth season. Really, it is the perfect show for someone like me because I get to shoot plenty of gore each and every week.

That's it for our interview with Jack, we have a review of the original cut of Midnight Movie for those interested and hopefully we'll get a review of the new Killer Cut version soon. Amazon are currently doing pre-orders of the Killer Cut, you can find the link below. Lastly, we'd like to thank Jack for his time, on behalf of ourselves and all our readers. Let's all keep up the support and fingers xd we'll get that sequel!

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COMMENTS  

Posted On

2011-04-30 15:00

Posted By

Hildegaard

0 RE: Jack Messitt Interview (2011)
I'm all over this when it's out! Day 1 for sure.

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Posted On

2011-05-01 10:46

Posted By

MogOil

0 RE: Jack Messitt Interview (2011)
Great interview, thank you :) - Grabbing it the day it is out too. Hopefully it'll do great on sales, a sequel - though usually I cuss sequels - would for once be most welcomed :)

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