Mel House talks Witchcraft 13 in this Exclusive Interview

You may not of known this, but the "Witchcraft" films is one of the longest running US horror franchises and they will be soon going into production with their 13th installment - "Witchcraft 13: Blood of the Chosen" and Horror-Movies.ca was lucky enough to get a chance to talke to director - Mel House.

So take it away Moviemaven... thanks deadman and welcome to Horror-Movies.ca, Mr. House. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us.

Please call me Mel. Or Milhouse. For some reason people think that’s my real name.

Q.  The film that brings us here is Witchcraft 13: Blood of the Chosen. Witchcraft is one of the longest running horror franchises around, having first appeared in 1988. What do you think has given this series such longevity?

Well, there’s definitely the sexual aspect of it, to be sure. Around part 5 or so, I think they really grew into the "erotic horror" subgenre that they sport on the boxes…sometimes even skirting the edges of softcore. And if you take a look at the comments made about the latter era ‘Witchcraft’ movies – either in print, or on the ‘net – the satisfaction of the viewer seems directly related to the quality/quantity of the nudity in the film.

Also, I think there’s a morbid curiosity factor to speak of as well. I mean…if I was in a video store on a Friday night, and I saw a movie with a high sequel number, and box art that most definitely appealed to the prurient interest, I think that would seal a rental for me.

It’s the same with Leprechaun, The Brotherhood, any of those long running DTV horror series, I think. Even the entries that I don’t care for as much still manage to entertain me in some way – and usually more than some big-budget bloated pabulum like Boogeyman ever could. I’d watch Leprechaun in The Hood or Witchcraft 7 over Boogeyman any day.

Q.  What will be different about this installment?

With all the above said, we are actually trying not to take as much of an "exploitative" take on the material. I told all of my actors and actresses to stay far, far away from camp with their roles. The sex scenes won’t be so "porno" (but hopefully still erotic and interesting to watch), and I also want to really deliver on the gore.

There’s definitely more of a "gory horror" angle in this installment, and I want to make sure that’s done properly. I’m a huge gorehound, so that’s the type of stuff that gets me off.

We are also trying to not make the movie look too "cheap" as well. We’re using moody lighting schemes, some complicated camera moves, and some neat locations, so hopefully the production value will shine through.

Q.  Fans of this franchise will be expecting a sexy horror film. Will your turn at the helm wield any different?

I think it will still be sexy, maybe less graphic and overt than some of the others, but still sensual. And like I said, the horror angle will definitely be played up a bit more.

Q.  When can we expect Witchcraft 13 to be released?

I’m hearing 2006 sometime from the distributors and producers. If I had to guess, I would say late spring/early summer.

Q.  Do you consider yourself superstitious? Are you at all afraid that this being number 13 will prove to be unlucky?

I don’t consider myself superstitious, and I actually think this being the 13^th entry is a good thing. Honestly, some turns of bad luck have hit us during shooting so far ( for example: a family evacuating from New Orleans – complete with dog and boisterous children - ended up having to stay at our first location during the last two days of shooting), but it’s nothing that I haven’t encountered on the 15 or so sets I’ve been on in one form or another.

Actually, the day we began principal photography I had lunch at Taco Bell, and my meal total was $6.66. I thought that was pretty cool.

Q.  I have seen no data yet on the cast. Do you have anyone already lined up or have anyone particular in mind?

We are fully cast for all of the roles, and the info should be going up on the IMDb shortly. But, you can beat them to the punch:

Q.  I have seen many of the Witchcraft films and found them quite entertaining. What drew you to direct this film?

Actually, it kind of fell in my lap. I had worked with the Brothers Wolinski (aka "The Polish Hughes Brothers") on "Drawing Blood", and together with their producer Shaun Fox, they secured this deal and offered the picture to me. What’s funny is that last year when I was up in Chicago for ‘Drawing Blood’, Mike Wolinski and I had a pretty long conversation about the ‘Witchcraft’ series – not at all knowing that we were going to be doing the next one.

Q.  I see that the Wolinskis (Jeffrey and Michael) wrote W13 and that this is not your first time working with them. You worked with them on the film "Drawing Blood" in 2005. Should we expect to see more collaboration with them?

Absolutely. I freaking love those guys. I had a blast working on ‘Drawing Blood’ last year, and I actually wish they could be around more for the shooting of W13. We share a lot of the same sensibilities, and smart-ass sense of humor. And if you can have an intelligent conversation with someone about Knight Rider, Manimal, and Sledge Hammer, they are truly a friend for life.

Q.  What do you think will be the most challenging aspect about directing this film?

Before we began to shoot, I would have said the sex scenes. Now that we are shooting, I would say DEFINITELY the sex scenes. Fortunately, I have people that are cool with it (for the most part).

Actually shooting a love scene is probably the most un-sexual thing you could ever experience – but you have to make sure it plays as sexual. Also, you have to cheat a lot of things – unless of course you’re doing porno. But that’s another interview.

Q.  What do you anticipate will be the most exciting?

The magical battles, definitely. And the gory kills. The preferred method of death in this movie is ripping the heart out and consuming it. We have a bad-ass makeup person in Ashley Frazier, and those scenes are hopefully going to be a smorgasbord of blood and gore. I also get to cameo as a decomposing corpse, so I’m looking forward to that.

Q.  Do you feel confident that you will be able to get the look and feel that you are hoping for?

I think so. The one thing that any filmmaker must learn (and independent ones especially) is that the filmmaking process is all about compromise. What you see in your head or on your storyboards is probably not going to happen exactly as you want it to. You can get pretty close, but you have a lot of mitigating factors to deal with – lighting, location limitations, actor peccadilloes, et cetera.

You have to sometimes let some things slide so that you can "get the shot". Overall, I think we’re preserving my initial ideas pretty well. So far, some things have even turned out better than when I initially envisioned them.

Q.  You directed a film titled "Fade to Black" in 2001. But you also wrote it, produced it, filmed it, and edited it. Tell us a little about this film.

Basically, it’s a Hitchcockian mindfuck movie. The story was actually very personal to me, and there’s a lot of semi-autobiographical stuff imbued into the lead male character – the antagonist. What complicated things even more (or made them more interesting, depending on how you look at it) is that the female lead was my real-life girlfriend at the time.

So a lot of the tension between her character, which was the protagonist, and the antagonist was deeply steeped in reality. Interestingly enough, when I saw the Gael Garcia Bernal movie "Dot The I" earlier this year, I realized about halfway through that I was basically watching a big-budget version of "Fade To Black". Pretty crazy, actually. It’s almost exactly the same storyline, right up to the big reveal/twist. Although, in true Hollywood fashion, I think they punked out on the ending, whereas I kept it pretty ruthless throughout.

By the way, my band scored the movie, too, so that’s another hat that I wore on that one.

Q.  If you had to pick one of those jobs to do for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Director, for sure. I’m definitely a control freak, and I like the singularity of vision that comes with the position. I do enjoy writing, though. I could see myself being happy with having someone else direct a script of mine. Like maybe the "Nightmare On Elm Street" prequel, or something. Yes, I’m talking to you, Bob Shaye.

Q.  What would you say was most influential in causing you to choose a career in film?

"A Nightmare on Elm Street". I remember seeing that movie at 8 years old, and not really being scared by it initially (at least not until that night, when I was alone in bed – more on that later), but thinking "You know what, I want to do that! I want to make blood gush out of a bed too!"

Q.  Do you feel that horror filmmakers get less respect in the industry?

Most definitely. People look down their noses at the whole genre. And when someone makes a really good horror film, like a REALLY good one – let’s say "28 Days Later", you immediately have people both inside and outside the horror community saying that "It’s not a horror film!" with the "…it’s better than that!" being implied at the end of the sentence.

Are these people for real? I think a lot of the general public needs to look back…past the ‘80s (which gave us some classics, but I think ruined the reputation of horror with the whole slasher craze), and realize hey, "Rosemary’s Baby" is a horror film, and there’s nearly none of the trappings that define "horror" to a modern day audience. Same goes for Don’t Look Now, Carnival Of Souls, Nosferatu, and more recently The Sixth Sense, Stir Of Echoes, etc. And those are classic films, man!

A lot of fault also has to fall on the filmmaker’s laps as well. I can’t tell you how sick I am of reading some director’s claim - in Fangoria, of all places - that his new movie "is more than a horror film – it’s a character-driven psychological thriller." Well, okay…your movie can be all those other things, but what’s so wrong with being a horror film as well? Have you heard of a little movie called "The Shining"? Or "The Exorcist"? The stigma is self-imposed at times – so when a director comes out and unabashedly says, "I am making a horror movie", he gets a hell of a lot of respect from me.

Q.  Who is your favorite director?

Tough one – I greatly respect quite a few. Hitchcock, Peter Jackson, Sam Raimi, Darren Aronofsky, Takashi Miike, Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, Wes Craven, Chan-wook Park, Danny Boyle, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, M. Night Shyamalan, Robert Rodruiguez, Dave Cronenberg and Bryan Singer are at the top of my list.

Q.  If you could work with any actor of your choice, who would it be?

Robert Englund, definitely. Freddy made me the man I am today.

Q.  What do you think is the scariest movie of all time?

For the general public, I would say ‘The Exorcist’. Or ‘Jaws’. That movie still freaks people out to this day, and it’s become such a cultural phenomenon. Someone goes into the ocean, you repeat two notes over and over, and in 30 seconds they’re back on the beach.

Those are second and third on my list, though. I think the movie that really turned me into a little bitch was ‘A Nightmare On Elm Street’. It started to get under my skin later that day. That night, when I was lying in bed alone, I kept crying every time my eyelids got heavy. I did not want to fall asleep ever again.

Q.  What is the one thing that you wish everyone knew about Mel House?

That he hates people that give horror movies a raw deal.

Q.  Do you have any other projects on the way that we should be on the lookout for?

After WC13, it looks like I’ll be collaborating with the Wolinskis again on their next project. Then I have two options: one is a cabin-based gateway to hell type horror flick, and the other is my revisionist zombie opus that was supposed to be my follow up to "Fade To Black".

The zombie thing is so overdone now, though…so we’ll see. I still want to do that script someday – maybe I’ll wait until Hollywood is on the "killer doll" revival craze or something.

Q.  Are you a reader of Horror-Movies.ca?

Definitely. I check out you guys, plus several other sites on a regular basis (regular means everyday when I should be working).

Q.  Okay, here comes the last one. :) If you found yourself facing the end of civilization, what are three things you would like to have with you? And whom would you want by your side?

Solar-powered Chainsaw with 12 hour battery storage

Shotgun

That armored truck Goliath that Michael Knight’s evil brother had in Knight Rider. (African paramilitary unity optional).

By my side….Ash from ‘Evil Dead’ of course. Either him or Leon Kennedy from Resident Evil 4.

Thank you again, Mr. House. I'm sure our readers will be looking forward to this just as much as I am. I wish you great success and loads of fun.

Thanks. Appreciate the interview.