TMS: I’ve stated numerous times that the original I
Spit on Your Grave is my favorite horror movie of all time and is definitely
one of the most influential genre movies ever. It crosses the line between
horror and vengeance film while featuring a strong message about female
empowerment. What about that original story inspired you to remake the film and
how were you influenced by that movie as a film maker?
SM: It was one of the films when I was young and wanting to become a
director someday that showed me that I was definitely drawn to films that push
buttons and make you think. It’s easy to make films where you tell people what
to think and feel. I grew up with the films of the 70’s as my teachers and that
was a time when films got made more for creative and dramatic reasons where as
today pretty much every single film made is for financial reasons. The original
pushed a lot of buttons, if you offend it’s because you have forced people to
think outside of their comfort zone. Meir Zarchi’s film left a weight on me for
days after I first saw it. That to me is a good thing.
TMS: Your 2010 remake was awesome. I’ve watched that
movie numerous times in the past couple years. The kills are creative and it
was exactly what I would consider a perfect remake to be. Was it hard trying to
recapture the essence of the original while modernizing it?
SM: I’m glad you feel that way about it. It’s a very polarizing film,
either people get it, or they literally hate it with a passion. Nothing in
between. Yes, it was a difficult task but if it was easy there would not have
been any point in doing it for me. The most difficulty was trying to walk the
line of making the fans of the original happy and still trying to make a film
that a new audience could be happy with also. Very fine line.
TMS: The sequel was just released this week. I have to
say that it was a hard watch based on the amount of brutality. You truly pushed
the envelope with this one. The kills were nastier and the brutality
amplified. But, that’s what makes it such a realistic viewing experience.
Everything that happens in that movie could happen in real life. There’s no
pissed off hockey mask killers and there’s no returning from the dead.
So, was it hard to come up with the premise for your sequel and is it even
harder to keep the tension and horror realistic?
SM: Yes the premise was very hard to come
up with. The producers had a layout of what they wanted to do when I came on
board but there was still a long way to go. There were many, very long creative
round table meetings before we had a production draft, and there was another
concept that we scrapped earlier on that just was not going anywhere and to me
felt totally unrealistic. It’s funny that you mention it feeling real, it goes
back to what I said about it being very polarized in that if people like the
film they think it felt real, believable, etc.. And those that hate the film
call the characters Stereotypes and the situations totally ridicules… I work
very hard to keep the “bad guys” believable and no matter what anyone thinks it
is very, very important to me. Just ask any actor I have worked with.
TMS: What draws you to making these types of films and
who would you say is your biggest influence as a film maker? On that same note,
what is your favorite horror movie of all time?
SM: What draws me is not the actual type
of film, I have done pretty much every genre and format even a lot of TV
movies. With feature films it’s the actual project and what I feel I could
bring to it. My biggest influence hands down is Kubrick, since about 7 years
old. To me the greatest horror film of all time was and is The Exorcist.
TMS: Is it hard to put an actress through the
hell of one of these movies? I can’t imagine it’s a simple task getting such an
emotionally draining performance from anyone while they’re being dragged
through the ringer of fictional rape and torture?
SM: It is very, very hard and difficult
professionally and personally. Actors are generally very much ready to go and
dive in, but for me im very protective of my actors so it is very difficult. It
was with Sarah Butler and with Jemma. It was with the guys during these scenes
too, its not like its easy for them to be this horrible to another person.
TMS: What’s next? Are you going to continue the legacy
of I Spit on Your Grave or are you going to move on to new things? Personally,
I like what you’re doing with this franchise. It’s like you’re reinventing the
genre in a way. It’s not torture porn and it’s not the typical stuff the
studios put out these days. What can we expect in the near future?
SM: Depending on how the response is to
this sequel, Cinetel and Anchor Bay will decide on a number 3. For me I won’t
be directing that one. The process this time around was quite excruciating and
it’s time for someone else to bring something to it. I have a project with
producer Stan Spry at The Cartel called THE TORMENTED with some of the cast of
the I Spit series. It’s a very edgy paranormal horror film that I am really
excited about. We plan to shoot this late fall.
I would say the response is going to be overwhelmingly positive. We thank Steven for taking time to do this interview with us.
I Spit On Your Grave 2 is now available on iTunes, Amazon Streaming, and on blu ray.
-Chris George
related articles:
Review: I Spit On Your Grave 2
Article: I Spit On Your Grave
Trailers: I Spit On Your Grave 2
related articles:
Review: I Spit On Your Grave 2
Article: I Spit On Your Grave
Trailers: I Spit On Your Grave 2