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Kevin Smith's Political Horror Film 'Red State' Shooting in July

by Alex Billington
March 23, 2010
Source: Twitter

We thought we would never hear about this again, because it sounded like it was never going to happen. And we thought the $18.2 million opening of Cop Out wasn't a good thing. But apparently we were wrong. Kevin Smith has announced, via his Twitter, that his political horror film Red State will start shooting this July. "Took nearly three years, but we're finally gonna roll on Red," Smith wrote earlier today. "I talk about lots of stuff I wanna do that either happens years later or never happens at all. Happy to report Red State is not the latter." In a Twitter reply to another user, Smith also mentions: "Happily, Cop Out helped on lots of levels."

Smith has previously called Red State very bleak and very dark, saying that it will be a tough sell, which is why at one point we thought he had almost given up on trying to get funding for it, even as an indie. The film is partially inspired by the infamous preacher Fred Phelps. Smith explained the idea years ago: "[It'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. And to me, too, the notion of using a Phelps-like character as a villain, as horrifying and scary as that guy can be, there's even something more insidious than him that lurks out there." But that's all we really know about it.

Back in late 2008, Smith explained why he wanted to make this. For those of you that are wondering about that hockey movie Hit Somebody that Smith is working on as well, he as said that it'll be shooting after Red State. "Writing Hit now; shooting Hit on heels of Red State." It looks like this will be his line-up for the next few years. From political horror to hockey comedy. Sounds like a plan! Looking forward to this movie?

Related categories: Indies, Movie News, Opinions

DarkRaven18599

I've been a fan of Smith's work for years now. While I don't know if I'd ever place him in the seat of a blockbuster action effects driven movie, the concept of him writing an intellectual thriller where dialogue and suspense could be used in lieu of gory effects is something that quite appeals to me. Smith can write for his characters, and he can showcase that writing in terms we can understand. I will look forward to future news of this production and hope to hear more about it on this site. Thank you for the update.
Guy

How is he still allowed to make movies?
Dave

Silent Bob rules! I hope he makes an appearance in Red Skate.
Voice of Reason

Smith seems to be on a sinking ship, and its not because of his weight....but I still like the dude and I want him to keep on making movies. Maybe he needs to find a way to go super small and channel his inner-Woody Allen to make these movies he has in mind. I dunno, the guys current career is confusing with not the best movies as of late....he's gotta find a way out of this rut or go into producing/obscurity.
Dave

How can you say that, 'Voice of Reason'? There's nothing confusing about the genius of Kevin Smith! My top five Kevin Smith movies are as follows: 1. Clerks 2. Dogma 3. um... did he direct 'Dude, Where's My Car?'
Cody w

Sorry Kevin lost faith and my money when I saw Cop out, go produce because you cant direct worth a shit anymore.
Craig

Is this the movie where he's going to have a priest as a serial killer? There was a scene described a while back: the guy finishes up strangling a woman to death in a back room, and then walks directly out on stage to give a sermon. I think that sounds fantastic.
JEff

@comment 6: Can't direct "anymore"? Dude Never could Direct! He's a writer and he DIDN'T write Cop Out. He took Cop Out so he could get Red State made. I knew it from the moment I read that he was directing someone elses feature script. Forget Cop Out. Who cares? It actually became Smith's highest grossing movie, PLUS it made WB a profit. That's all a director like Smith can ask for. @comment 2: Why is he allowed to keep making movies? Look above. Dude KNOWS how to stay ON BUDGET, shoot for less and MAKE MONEY for the studios. His movies ALWAYS make a studio profit, (yes, even Mallrats). Even though Mallrats made no money in theaters, it has made butt loads on the home video market. NO matter how you slice it, Kevin Smith makes studios money...
Xerxex

JEff is 100% right, Smith knows how to work the studio's and get them what they want, Cop Out was a kiss ass project, Red State is gonna be his baby. Like JEff said he's a writer, and he didn't write Cop Out. But he did let a lot of people down and it will take a lot to repair the damage he's done to his fans.
Jack Package

Saying that Kevin Smith is a writer but not a director is ridiculous, he's directed all of the movies he wrote, no one else could have directed any of his movies. As for cop out the directing really wasn't the issue with the film.
Xerxex

#10 he didn't write Cop Out.
Al

I hope the films heroes are extreme examples of "blue state" people. In other words when the villain comes after them and tries to kill them, they just let him do it and dont fight back......because violence is never the answer.
carlos

Good luck. I hope this movie is as good as he makes it sound.
carlos

#2 Because they make money?
whomever

Good luck to Kevin Smith. I thought A Couple of Dicks would bomb out, and thankfully it didn't. As long as Kevin Smith movies continue to turn the most marginal of profits, they will continue to be made.
sickdoghats

cop out was great. and i cant wait to see hit somebody and red state sounds weird but interesting. kevin smith seems to be an odd soul that makes the movies he wants to make. i think people who judge him never liked his films in the first place.
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2408/blackbabyjesus.gif Crapola

I think Kevin Smith is a clever guy who makes films about idiots incredibly well. I'll watch a whole load more of his films too.
People's Champ

I dug his movies since day one, Sorry hes not Orson Wells!!
Judasbarronx1

Zack and Miri was an AWESOME movie! So was Clerks 1 and 2, Mall Rats, Chasing Amy. Dogma has it's moments but he's made more good than bad for me. I liked Cop Out. He didn't write it but I still liked it. I still look forward to his movies
Dante Hicks

You never go ass to mouth!
Vold

Kevin Smith is awesome. looking forward to Red State
SlashBeast

Smith was never much of a director. His camerawork is amateurish but nobody watches his movies expecting high art. His writing is much better. Hopefully he'll learn and get better with this film.
http://www.wherethebuffaloroam.org Dreher Bear (...Where The Buffalo Roam)

I'm personally looking forward to Red State. Seems like an interesting concept.
http://iconocritic.com peloquin

I've been waiting for this film for awhile as it'll finally be Smith's evolution away from the "dick and fart" jokes. When he was pondering giving up film making, Smith said the success of Red State would either lead to his renaissance or his retirement.
roke

Kevin Smith is the man
Luke

I can't wait until this bombs in the theater. It will do much much worse than Cop Out.
Kevinsmithsucks

Kevin Smith is a douchebag.