As a longtime fan of Leigh Whannell’s work, it’s fascinating to see his journey from being a key creative force behind the Saw franchise to becoming a successful director in his own right. His reflections on the legacy of Saw and its impact on audiences are truly heartwarming. It’s clear that the shocking ending of the first film left an indelible mark on him, and it’s no wonder why – who wouldn’t get goosebumps thinking about it?
As Halloween draws near, one movie production company made a thrilling appearance at New York Comic Con to leave everyone awestruck. Known for its dedication to original horror productions, Blumhouse has been setting the bar high with its innovative, budget-friendly approach since the massive success of Paranormal Activity. Following this, they’ve played a significant role in bringing us hits like Insidious, Whiplash, Get Out, Sinister, The Purge, and most recently Speak No Evil.
Each new year marks the arrival of another BlumFest, an event where our CEO Jason Blum invites some of the brilliant minds behind Blumhouse’s forthcoming horror movies to offer a sneak preview of what lies ahead. However, before we delve into the future, it’s essential to reconnect with the company’s founding father, who has been crafting these films since the dawn of the 21st century.
Initially, Blum wasn’t well-known in the horror genre; he had to struggle to get one movie produced. He remembers this as “Paranormal Activity,” a project that was ignored for three years. Without any influence, he says, if he now claims a film is good, no one will buy it, but at least they’ll watch it. Back then, when he made Paranormal Activity, people refused to even watch the movie. For three long years, he persisted, pleading with people to watch the film. They stubbornly refused. He had to sell the remake rights just to get people to screen the film for an audience. This experience was so pivotal in his life that it made him dedicated himself exclusively to making horror movies since then.
Blumhouse will learn from disappointments
The supernatural horror film Paranormal Activity earned $194.2 million globally on a miniscule budget of just $15,000, earning praise from critics. Despite garnering critical acclaim with films such as M3GAN and The Black Phone, some productions have fallen short of expectations. This year, the reviews for movies like Night Swim, Imaginary, and Afraid were less favorable. On such occasions, producer Jason Blum is frank about his disappointment when his films don’t meet his desired performance levels.
Blum expressed deep sadness, strong personal investment, and intense emotion regarding the subject. Whenever their projects fail or aren’t well-received by the audience, he feels it deeply. After reflecting, there’s a company meeting where they discuss what went wrong with the project. He doesn’t shy away from admitting failure but instead aims to understand the reasons and learn from them to avoid repeating mistakes in the future. Finally, he encourages himself to move past the sadness, learn from the experience, and regain enthusiasm for new projects. In essence, his process involves acknowledging his feelings, learning, and then pushing forward with renewed energy to prevent a gloomy work environment.
He advises, “You should carefully consider your next move and aim to avoid repeating past errors.” He demonstrates a CEO mindset in this statement. However, he admits that this is one of the challenging aspects of business. When asked about retirement, he replies, “I want to retire when things are not going well. But when everything is thriving, I wish to work endlessly.
Jason Blum addresses AI backlash
Subsequently, Blum expressed his thoughts on Blumhouse’s recent collaboration with Meta Movie Gen, an AI company, as Deadline characterized it: a collection of AI models enabling the creation of custom videos and sounds from text inputs, editing of existing videos, and the transformation of personal images into distinctive videos. This development occurs at a time when AI is increasingly impacting the entertainment sector, sparking diverse responses since some viewers are apprehensive that AI-created art may diminish job prospects for creative experts.
Blum acknowledges that we faced a lot of unfavorable publicity and negative responses regarding this matter. As a company that empowers artists, I believe it’s essential for us to understand the tools they need, including AI. It wouldn’t be right for us to remain ignorant about these tools, so I took the initiative to learn more about them. To gain this knowledge, we collaborated with three filmmakers to create short films. Now, when an artist asks me questions about AI and its capabilities, I want to be able to provide a thoughtful response rather than turning a blind eye. That’s why I undertook this project.
Blum admits he’s neutral about AI in general. He sees both positive and negative aspects equally, with 50% good and 50% bad qualities. However, understanding AI is crucial because it’s not going anywhere. Currently, he doesn’t fully grasp its workings, but he’s making an effort to learn more about it, which is one of his strategies for comprehension.
What to expect from M3GAN 2.0
One method Blum might be employing to grasp AI is by infusing it into his horror movie productions. For instance, the 2023 hit film M3GAN, a story about an AI-driven lethal doll, has been highly praised and grossed $181 million globally on a budget of only $12 million. The film’s success has led to a planned sequel, M3GAN 2.0, as well as a spin-off titled SOULM8TE. Actress Allison Williams, who is recognized for her outstanding roles in Get Out and the initial M3GAN, recently appeared at New York Comic Con to discuss any available details about the forthcoming movie.
In the beginning of the second film, it’s evident that the experiences from the first movie have deeply impacted Gemma. It seems she survived the ordeals depicted in the initial movie and has adapted to life as a result, according to Williams. He expressed optimism about the audience’s reaction to the sequel with eagerness, and also spoke about capturing the distinctive, campy atmosphere that was present in the original film.
In the series, my role requires maintaining a straightforward, authentic approach to ensure viewers can connect with my character’s journey. However, other characters sometimes serve as audience surrogates too. While the performance needs to be sincere, being part of the horror genre demands exaggerated responses and high-stakes situations where everything feels intense. Therefore, it’s about finding a balance between keeping it real and pushing myself to the limit. In my performances, I don’t usually go for the more flamboyant acting style common in these movies. Instead, I aim to maintain a grounded portrayal. So, you could say it’s like dancing along this line.
Despite having acted in two well-known horror films, Williams finds it necessary to have the right circumstances when watching horror movies alone. “It drains me. I need to mentally prepare myself for it. It needs to be during the day; it needs to be on a plane,” she explains. Speaking of her career aspirations beyond horror, Williams expressed her desire for roles such as riding a horse while wearing a corset and carrying a candle. “I’ve always wanted to go back in time on horseback, all dressed up with a candle – that’s the dream,” she says.
Drop reunites Christopher Landon & Blumhouse
Additionally, next year’s lineup from Blumhouse also includes Drop, a chilling horror movie starring Meghann Fahy. In this film, Fahy’s character goes on a date only to receive terrifying memes via AirDrop. It turns out her family is being held captive by a murderer who pushes her into a perilous game of life and death, where every move could mean their survival. Christopher Landon, known for directing Happy Death Day and Freaky for Blumhouse, as well as writing many Paranormal Activity films, is at the helm of this project.
As a passionate fan, I’d express it this way: “This story seems to belong to the timeless thriller genre, and let me tell you, it’s a rollercoaster ride! It keeps you on the edge of your seat, leaving you guessing what’s coming next.
Landon describes the film as “intense and fast-paced.” He explains that its atmosphere is a blend of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic suspense with the excitement of ’90s thrillers, combined with contemporary technology. The movie’s fear factor comes from showing how everyday technology can be dangerously misused. In terms of tone, he considers it a departure, drawing parallels to his earlier work “Disturbia,” while still maintaining room for humor.
Landon further spoke about the potential third installment of Happy Death Day that’s been on the table, but hasn’t been officially approved yet. When asked if he had any updates, he playfully replied, “I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong person to ask.” He continued, “I’m a guy with no authority or control over anything in my life or beyond it. I’d jump at the chance to make another one, but it’s up to Jason Blum and Universal Pictures – the ones holding the purse strings.
Wolf Man hopes to scare audiences
Perhaps one of the biggest debuts at BlumFest was the new trailer for Wolf Man, an upcoming Universal Monsters movie directed by Leigh Whannell, who previously directed films like Insidious: Chapter 3, Upgrade, and The Invisible Man. This upcoming movie has had a long development period, with Whannell being attached at first and then leaving the project. At one point, the film was going to be a joint venture between Ryan Gosling and Derek Cianfrance, who had previously collaborated on Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines. However, they left the project, and Whannell returned as co-writer and director.
In his own words, Whannell recounts that his original Wolf Man concept remained consistent throughout the process. He remembers brainstorming about it in his backyard, and a sudden insight struck him: “ah, this is it.” He shared this idea with his wife, Corbett, who also enjoys horror movies and usually offers constructive criticism. However, for this project, she was particularly excited about the concept. After collaborating on the script, it went through several other writers, but Whannell eventually returned to his initial backyard idea. Despite some changes along the way, he stayed true to that original vision.
Whannell expresses his desire for audiences to engage deeply with the film, stating, “I hope they love it; I hope they’re scared; I hope it moves them emotionally. In essence, I want it to be a tragic and emotional piece that also terrifies them. My goal is for people to watch it in theaters. Frankly, figuring out how to get audiences into theaters has become quite the challenge these days. The question is, how can we create something that becomes a phenomenon like Top Gun or Barbie? It’s becoming increasingly difficult. So, I truly hope Wolf Man resonates on that level.
As the Wolf Man following my stint as The Invisible Man in 2020, I’ve been pondering whether there will be more Universal Monster films for me. Here’s the truth: At this moment, I can’t say for sure. You see, a film has to capture my imagination before I commit. It’s not that I’m disinterested; it’s simply about letting the perfect idea come along. After all, I pen my own films, so getting into that creative zone takes time and dedication. If the idea doesn’t excite me, I can’t fake it – neither as a writer nor as a gamer eagerly waiting to see what’s next on the big screen.
Whannel reflects on Saw’s legacy
As a diehard fan, I’m thrilled to announce that October 29, 2024, will be a significant date for me and Saw enthusiasts worldwide. It marks the 20-year anniversary since the chilling release of the iconic 2004 horror movie, Saw. Incredibly, I had the privilege of contributing to the script of the first three Saw movies and stepping into the shoes of Adam, the original film’s protagonist. Reflecting on this journey, I can’t help but marvel at the lasting impact of the film’s groundbreaking finale.
Reflecting on when we created the first “Saw” film alongside James Wan in Australia, I remember feeling that we had something extraordinary between us. We didn’t anticipate it would become a massive box office hit, but we knew it would provoke a response from viewers. There is no greater sensation than realizing you’re sitting on top of something significant and holding a secret close to your heart. As I penned the movie’s ending, it seemed as if the words were pouring out of me effortlessly because I just knew it would resonate. Witnessing that finale evoke reactions from people was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, particularly in a movie theater setting. Among all the films I’ve been part of, watching the ending of Saw with an audience remains the wildest thing I’ve ever encountered. Just thinking about it now gives me goosebumps.
After his role as the primary creative force in the “Saw” series ended with the third film, Whannell only maintained an executive producer credit for the following sequels. He voiced his thoughts on the franchise, stating, “Personally, I’m not a big fan of the later Saw movies. They’re not bad films, it’s just that I’ve distanced myself from that. I think the series should have concluded with the third installment, but in Hollywood, when someone owns the intellectual property, they can continue making films. That’s just how it works. I also encounter fans who love Saw V, VI, or VII. So, I don’t want to diminish their enjoyment of the franchise. It’s still going strong, and I’m content with that. Now, I have a separate life where I direct my own movies. Fans often approach me and talk about films like ‘Upgrade’ or ‘The Invisible Man.’ It’s wonderful to hear that. My career has taken on a second life as a director, which makes me very happy.
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2024-10-22 00:41