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Kevin Smith Tells of His Horror Movie - Red State

by Alex Billington
April 7, 2007

One of my favorite filmmakers in Hollywood (although not everyone's) is Kevin Smith, who is a fascinating speaker as well as filmmaker. One of his upcoming projects, a horror movie, has been on the backburner for a while, finally to be made sometime this year (or next). Rotten Tomatoes over in the UK got a chance to speak with him, where he revealed a few more plot details and most importantly, the name - Red State. The title actually corresponds with voting and the conservative red states.

Smith, who I'm confident can almost always create something incredibly unique, just like Quentin Tarantino, said that it isn't exactly a horror movie by definition of today's standards. He said he can't really explain, but when you see it you'll understand but still not call it a horror movie, but to him it is.

"It's weird because for a few months I've been saying 'horror movie' and technically it is, but it's also not a very traditional horror movie in the sense that people have been asking me, 'Is it a slasher movie? Is it like the Japanese horror flicks?' It'd be much easier to just show it to them when I'm done and be like, 'This is what I meant.' At which point I'm sure there'll be people saying, 'This ain't a horror movie!' But to me, it is."

"To me there's all kinds of horror, and killing someone's not the absolute worst thing you could do to another human being," he said, "The death in a horror movie has always been the money shot in a very exploitative manner. Stabbing somebody and splashing blood all over them is the equivalent to some dude exploding over some broad's face."

Smith said the movie would be based somewhat off of the religious leader Fred Phelps:

"That dude has always fascinated me and he's really informed the horror movie that I'm working on," Smith told us, "The movie's called 'Red State' and it's very much about that subject matter, that point of view and that position taken to the absolute extreme. It's certainly not Phelps himself but it's very much inspired by a Phelps figure."

For many more details from the interview, head over to Rotten Tomatoes. I'm looking forward to both of Smith's upcoming projects, including his comedy, and anything the man says or does - just look at his response to Grindhouse, that was enough to make headlines!

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Pop Culture Snob

Guaranteed Bomb. Does the man not realize that a great many Red Staters like(d) him? Why does he continue to dig into them? There just doesn't seem to be anything entertaining in this prospect, but it could curry favor with Tarantino and Rodriguez, which is probably higher on his agenda.
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

You don't even know what it's really about or how it will play out! It's not really against red states entirely, it's more, as Kevin Smith said, about Fred Phelps. So how do you already claim it's a guaranteed bomb?! Kevin Smith is a genious, despite not everyone thinks that, he is, and lots will go see his movies!
Pop Culture Snob

Alex, Appreciate the enthusiam. But this movie is gonna fall hard. You have to understand the majority of the country doesn't loathe conservatives with the same unbridled intensity that KS, QT et al does. It's obvious he's going to try to use some extremist nut to paint all of conservatism as some kind of mental disorder. You just don't call a "horror movie" Red State unless you think conservatives are scary, and that just insults the hell out of us. The South Park crowd will certainly stay away. Not to mention that he barely breaks even while just staying in his wheelhouse of the Clerks Universe stable of characters. Here you have him trying something completely new and challenging. So, difficult source material + politically charged polemic = (of course) Guaranteed BOMB.
Brandon

Kevin Smith will not bomb, kind of simplistic isn't. Kevin Smith has enough fan base to cut even on his productions. "He barely breaks even" ....he does break even though and still makes money. He meets his mark. Everyone will go on with their mindless bitching only to find out.......the more you bitch the better he does. It's the "Howard Stern effect"
Kevin Smith

Its gonna be amazing
Silent Bob

... (frozen, scared face look)