Corrado Farina only made two films, both using horror in an interesting way.
He tells us a little about his approach…
Myths do not die, they just get transformed…
This is perhaps the most significant line in Corrado Farinas little-seen masterpieceThey Have Changed Their Face(1971).
The film wholly inverts the usual metaphor of the vampire who offers seductive decadence and freedom from conventional society.
It was produced in co-operative, explains Farina to me, when I ask how it disappeared so quickly.
This meant giving the main participants shares in the profits which, unfortunately, we never managed to gain.
The more he discovers about Engineer Nosferatu, the weirder things get.
They Have Changed Their Faceis a bold and strange film, one thats still a sobering experience.
I ask what drew him to horror.
It can be told through horror, but also with use of grotesque metaphor, dreams, dystopian fantasy…
I chose the vampire because Ive always been fascinated by the myth and its symbolic connotations.
Shooting in the Piedmont Valleys allowed Farina and crew to capture a suitably vampiric mood.
No artificial smoke could have created the sense of alienation that the fog gives us.
I was interested to hear any memories of Geraldine Hooper.
Its true, Farina concurs, Geraldine is possibly the most interesting character.
The amusing thing is that away from the set she was a very quiet shy girl, very friendly.
I tried to get back in touch with her but wasnt able to shame.
Finally, I ask whether or not he feels things have moved on over the last 40 years.
I havent changed my point of view.
If anything, its even more negative.
As Erich Fromm might put it, it creates a focus on having, rather than being.
You dont have to watch TV or select many websites to see that he still has a point.
If youre interested in the period or counterculture in general, this is essential viewing.
