No better time, then, to sit down for a long chat about films and fairytales…
I sawThe Hallowa few months ago and loved it its really scary, and its got brilliant monsters.
Tell me a bit about how you came up with the mythology?
I looked at fairytales and fairytale mythology, and tried to bring that into reality.
I didnt want to do Gothic fairy movie, although Im a big fan of them.
But I thought that we hadnt really seen a reality-based, intense survival movie with fairies in.
So you started with the monster.
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Yeah, I was thinking, well, what would a fairy look like?
That, as a core idea, drove the narrative.
The scriptwriting was a case of balancing the mythology into a grounded reality.
So some of my ideas didnt make it in.
How much of the creature effects were done practically?
So wed tried to do the creatures as practically as we could.
Because fairies have a humanoid quality, I thought wed try and work out ways of off-setting the human.
So it was based on practical effects, and thats something I always loved as a kid.
I wanted to be a monster maker.
Its been good to see the audiences reactions.
Are they just terrified?
Its just been a real nice balance.
You get this energy with a horror movie, dont you?
Im part of that audience, so I was hoping that Id get people going!
Especially with horror movies, having other people around you reacting is what makes it fun.
Yeah, I think its really sad.
To me, the cinema is still a special trip.
What were the films that kickstarted your love of movies, then?
I got put to bed and I remember turning the TV on and not knowing what it was.
You just never knew what films were back then.
That was followed by Ray Harryhausen monster movies.
Theres something about seeing a live action movie with a creature thats rendered in such a way.
But specifically, what they have in common is theyre pre-CGI.
Theres a lot more of them, too, I mean,American Werewolf In Londonas well.
Thats probably my favourite film of all time.
Yeah, mine too.
That transformation sequence has never been bettered.
And its in broad daylight, in a room!
It was really difficult but I loved it all.
You thanked Kevin Lehane in the credits.
I lovedGrabbers, so I was curious what was his involvement?
Kevins a very talented writer, and we geek out about horror a lot.
He was at an early screening of the film, and he gave us some good advice.
Obviously you are a horror fan, how do you feel about the genre at the moment?
Horrors in a good place.
Im always looking for something fresh, and I also love seeing things on a big scale and creatures.
Theres no-one doing what he does.
I love that he doesnt do irony, its always completely sincere.
Yeah, theres definitely a place for that.
Im more into that heartfelt kind of horror.
Horror has this stigma of being cheap and it makes money, but thats never been my way in.
This was when I was 17, 18.
I grew up on Spider-man and the Hulk, but the Crow was the one I connected most with.
So its a dream come true to be making it.
Where are you with it now?
I appreciate you probably cant say too much, but are you going back to the graphic novel?
How are you approaching it?
Yeah, I mean, I probably wouldnt get involved if it was about remaking the movie.
I dont like the idea of remaking movies.
So Ive gone back to that and found a lot more depth and details.
My version is authentically replicating that.
Finally, then, we ask everybody this, but whats your favourite Jason Statham movie?
Whoa, thats a curveball.
Maybe he can become some kind of a monster?
Im trying to think what Ive seen!
Probably itd have to beCrank.
you’ve got the option to go withCrank.
But what kind of monster do you think Jason Statham should be?
Hed be a monster that kicks peoples arse in a gravelly voice.
Corin Hardy, thank you very much!
The Hallowopens in select UK cinemas on 13 November.
