Adam Green has credited FrightFest for launching his directing career. Hatchet had not had many screenings before its debut at the event a decade earlier and subsequent sequels have all had their place here. In person, Green is very much at home amongst the fans he makes his films for and on the occasions we have caught up at the festival, he has been welcoming and appreciative. We had the pleasure of talking to him during a break in the screening schedule at FrightFest 2017.
Starburst: Can you see an end to the ‘PG-13’ mentality in the US about horror films?
Adam Green: That’s a good question. I honestly don’t know. The success of Deadpool and Logan has made the studios realise perhaps that the audience has grown up and they are now giving them what they want.
Directing comedy and horror is a fine line. How do you divide it in your scripts?
They’re both equal. The key is to keep the comedy out of the horror. If the villain is a joke, then it won’t work. It’s tricky and can affect even trailers and previews. Some people don’t like comedy in their horror.
How has your relationship with Kane Hodder grown?
When Kane and I started, he was willing to take a chance. He doesn’t give up and he trusted me on Hatchet. That is the sign of a true collaboration.
Will we see a proper Douche Brothers film that isn’t a homage to other classic horror films and takes them to a new horror yarn like Hatchet?
What’s funny is that Neil Marshall says he will do one with us once we have a script. We made Holliston, our series, to prove we could do a sitcom and we do hope to turn that into a movie at some point.
Who have you enjoyed working with the most acting-wise?
Joel David Moore, my co-director on Spiral and Ray Wise, who I worked with on Digging Up The Marrow. Working with Wise was like taking the ultimate master class. He would offer small suggestions and I would often forget it was he.
FrightFest continues to be a great foundation for your movies, but you do travel to several other events. How do they compare?
The biggest difference is that you can still be a fan and not be on the other side. At other events, you have a table. At FrightFest, you can be yourself and you don’t have to play the part.
You were very emotional in your on-stage intro before Victor Crowley about Romero, Craven and how your desire reignited to do Victor Crowley. The character is destined to gain affectionate notoriety like Freddy and Jason. Would you ever give him a love interest like Leatherface and Stretch in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2?
I actually think Victor has a thing for Mary-Beth. At the end of Hatchet 3, they are suffering for the same thing. When Mary-Beth delivers the urn, Victor is crying and it is the only time he does. He doesn’t realise it’s Mary-Beth.
Finally, reflecting on all FrightFest has done, how do you see the festival overall since your debut?
As a fan, it’s my favourite festival and it is less about studio films. As a director, even though Tribeca was the first place to show Hatchet, it wasn’t a horror festival. Fans here are so intelligent and smart and because of that, it is home every time I walk through these doors.
Read our verdict on the FrightFest screening of Victor Crowley right here.
