UNIVERSAL to distribute BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLVES and not HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES!!!

Hey folks, Harry here... I've been having the worst email hell known to mankind thanks to the wonderful technical proficiency of TIME WARNER ROAD RUNNER SERVICE, whom I reallllllly recommend... BUT while I'm in this personal hell, I figure I'll comment on an incident that recently made me scratch my noggin.

As you have no doubt been reading in the various film trades, UNIVERSAL PICTURES has recently decided to turn thumbs down to distributing Rob Zombies' HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES. The Studio Super Genius behind this decision, Stacey Snider, has publicly stated that due to Universal's commitment to Artist's rights and the fact that this film will undoubtedly be best suited for release under the scarlet letters of NC-17, that Universal has decided to turn the film free... to set it loose from their hands rather than twist its neck and clip its wings and make it R.

Well... isn't that special?

Now the easy thing to do here is to scream that UNIVERSAL is run by idiots. That they have bent to the iron boot of the MPAA and the social police that would tell you and me what is right and wrong to see and watch. But at the same time that Universal has made this decision, the also decided to pick up BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLVES, the French film you've been reading all about in so many editions of EURO AICN! I've heard they are contemplating a possible dubbing of the film that Gans will approve and take part in and that they plan on giving it a wide release later this year. All of which, you haven't read elsewhere... yet.

Now I have to look at these stories and complement Universal for picking up Gans' period horror action adventure film, and at the same time I am frustrated that a major studio is so frightened at the conception of releasing a NC-17 film, that it would rather just turn it loose.

At a time like this, it becomes quite clear that Universal needs a Specialty Division like Sony Classics, Fine Line, Miramax or the like... A division that can handle the non-mainstream films. A smaller in-house distribution arm that would handle edgier material... but really... that doesn't work does it?

Notice how MIRAMAX has been shying away from any really and truly risky material? The Miramax we have today... would it pick up PULP FICTION or RESERVOIR DOGS? What about KIDS? Is there a home for a balls to the wall Horror film? A place for film like DAWN OF THE DEAD? Where will the next Wes Craven or Tobe Hooper or George Romero come from? And if they make their film, who will distribute it? Miramax? Not so long as Disney pays the bills.

This is a serious issue facing Horror and has been facing the genre for years now. We've been watching the teen-ification of the genre, the CG perfect and smooth monsters... the bloodless features... I hear from time to time that folks like Robert Rodriguez want to make a seriously violent and gory ZOMBIE film... but could that type of film be distributed? If so, by who and in how many theaters?

Rob Zombie has made his horror film. We have heard that it both sucks and rules. That the film was lame and rocking. That it has no-gore and is the personification of gory hell on earth. From Snider's announcement we can guess one of two things. Either the film is intense and violent and gory as all hell... or the movie is just a plain waste of film. I'm hoping for the first.

At the price of $8 million dollars... to some there seems to be little risk in distributing the film... even at NC-17, but looking at the current grosses for REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (roughly $3.7 million) and the overall solid to superb reviews that movie received... well, given you would need to spend at least $5 to $10 million in hyping the film... it is questionable in the minds of little execs if the film could make its money back.

This is why there needs to be a HORROR distributor in this country with BALLS OF STEEL and the ability to hold a horror film's hand. The dream was that DIMENSION would be that label. That Bob Weinstein would find films like HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES and do what no major dared. RELEASE NC17 HORROR the right way. Roadshow the film. Go William Castle on the muther... Have the film tour with Rob Zombie... Set up giant screenings in Rock Coliseums... Have Rob open and close with sets.... Have it be HORROR on a grande WILLIAM CASTLE scale... Zombie security guards manning the stages... Horror Memorabilia at booths for sale... Have Rob DARE CITIES TO ATTEND for 5 Days Only!!!

In every city the film and Rob came to partner with a local TV station and newspaper and radio station... Stage BLOOD DRIVES for local hospitals, have everyone sign a waiver before entering the auditorium... Have the ambulances outside taking the blood flash their lights the entire time the show is going on. Create a carnival atmosphere.

Sell fake chainsaws and axes and butcher knives and blood... Have radio sponsored costume contests with a chance for backstage passes... bring in other horror stars from past films to Special MC the events.

But alas the world of William Castles and Roger Cormans is behind us. There are no creative Horror minds in the distribution world. Noone that will chill the spines of a next generation. All we have are the jellied spines of witless executives scared to offend the fragile little minds of a scared superstitious portion of the population that believes the pretend world of cinema is a reality that affects all in a negative manner. Where are you Samuel Z Arkoff? Perhaps Rob himself can become the next ringmaster of horror... Come on Rob, throw the show yourself!!!