Kevin Smith on the release of his first horror film, Red State

Incidentally, reviews are already coming in following the Sundance screening of the Red State.  I've read two of them; the first is equally a smear job on Smith as a filmmaker in general, and a number of insults flung at the film itself.

The second heaps praise upon the film and credits Smith's film as a genuinely frightening, but sometimes funny, horror film with a stand out performances by Michael Parks and John Goodman.

So, judging from the two, Red State's likely going to be one of the "love it or hate it" films. 

Personally, I'm very much looking forward to it.  I appreciate a filmmaker who's not afraid to call people out on their bullshit -- particularly the heavy hitters known as Church and State.

In regards to some of the bad press I have a feeling this is going to be one of those movies that a lot of people are going to make an opinion on before actually watching. Personally I am looking forward to it.

What I find most interesting about the article is that, basically, Smith intends to four wall this film.  It's nothing new; the same tactic was used to distribute cheap B flicks as far back as the thirties, and Charles Pierce four walled almost all of his 70s flicks and met with financial success. 

But I completely agree with Smith when he says these days, it's all about advertising.  It's not bad enough your favorite 1 hour TV show is actually only 2/3 show, 1/3 advertising.  Now you can't even go online to your favorite website without being slammed by advertising banners or "words from our official sponsor."  Fuck, half the time you accidentally roll your mouse over a highlighted word and a MASSIVE ADVERTISEMENT ENVELOPES YOUR SCREEN.

Anyone even remotely interested in the film industry knows it's business first, art second.  If a studio is going to pump millions of dollars into producing and releasing a film they're damn well going to want to make a profit on it.  But it's beyond ridiculous now, the lengths studios will go to to pimp their product, or to "laterally integrate" other sponsored product with their own.

I like filmmakers like Smith who, as he says, just wants to tell a fuckin' story.

Me, I just want to fuckin' watch it -- preferably without having to sit through half an hour of chipper voices and dancing Reese's Pieces telling me to hit the snack bar for a ten dollar cup of Dr. Pepper.

Last edited by LoudLon (2011-01-24 20:05:24)

Honestly, i'm looking forward to seeing this more than any other film I've heard of coming out this year.

I'm a fan of Smith's comedy, it's raunchy and he's not affraid to show his opinions on alot of issues through his films. So I think he is he perfect canidate to make a horror flick, especially on the particular subject matter.

Same here.  I'm interested most because what you're getting is a horror film from a person who's never done one before so you're going to get a different perspective on the genre.

You don't get that a lot in these days of uninspired sequels, remakes and reboots.

^ I think its going to too!

Red State (along with Scream 4) is one of the new horror films I'm most excited about watching. So bring on Kevin Smith's Red State! Really looking forward to see how this one turns out.