Anyone who has seen The Island of Dr. Moreau knows what a screaming WTF-fest that movie is. Started by director Richard Stanley and ended by John Frankenheimer, Moreau features Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer playing God onscreen.
What most didn't know at the time of this 1996 release is that they essentially played God off-screen, too, and had a hand in getting Stanley fired from the film; particularly Kilmer. Nearly 20 years have passed since that film's release, and now we're getting the lurid and downright bizarre tales of behind-the-scenes shenanigans from those who worked on the movie. Sadly, Brando isn't around to tell his version of the tale, and Kilmer was reportedly either MIA or flatly refused (by way of silence) to be interviewed for Gregory's doc.
Personally, I caught this film at Fantastic Fest and the audience erupted several times in laughter at the sheer absurdity of the insiders' recollections onscreen. Programmers take note: a double bill of these films would be a fantastic way to spend an evening. So what can you look forward to? Tales of black magic, drug abuse, threats, Hollywood backstabbing and subterfuge, potential gun play, a limo ride across Australia, and Stanley slipping into the dog man's costume to observe the set from which he was fired. You can read James Marsh's review here.
(Disclosure: Gregory is a friend of mine. However, this doesn't change the fact that this doc is awesome.)
The official synopsis: The filming of the ill-fated 1996 version of H. G. Welles' THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU is the stuff of legend. For the first time since he was unceremoniously escorted off his longtime dream project, Richard (HARDWARE, DUST DEVIL) Stanley reveals in detail his spectacular original vision and how it was all ripped apart at the seams. Cast members including Fairuza Balk, Marco Hofschneider and Rob Morrow, executives and producers Robert Shaye, Edward R. Pressman and Tim Zinnemann, concept artist Graham Humphreys, members of the Stan Winston Makeup Effects team as well as a host of cast and crew members recall the stories first hand of colossal egos run amok, a production way out of control, and how the original filmmaker was banished from the set but wouldn't let go. Directed by David Gregory (PLAGUE TOWN, THEATRE BIZARRE, THE GODFATHERS OF MONDO), this is the sensational story of what could have been a science fiction masterpiece which became a huge creative and financial disaster; the story of the outsider artist versus Hollywood machine.
Stanley and Gregory will both be making appearances for Q&As in select cities. Here's where you can find Lost Soul as of right now:
2/7 and 2/11 San Francisco, CA, Roxie (SF Indie Fest) Richard Stanley and David Gregory Q&A (2/7 only) Tickets available here
2/13 Philadelphia, PA, PhilaMOCA Tickets available here
2/25 Austin, TX, Alamo Drafthouse Ritz
2/27 - 3/5 Los Angeles, CA, Cinefamily, Richard Stanley and David Gregory Q&A
2/27 and 2/28 Brooklyn, NY, Nitehawk Cinema Tickets available here
3/1 Winchester, VA, Alamo Drafthouse Winchester
3/6 and 3/7 Boston, MA, Coolidge Corner Tickets available here
3/6 - 3/8 Portland, OR, Hollywood Theater Tickets available here
3/6 - 3/12 Houston, TX, Alamo Drafthouse Vintage Park
3/6 - 3/12 Lubbock, TX, Alamo Drafthouse
3/8 Yonkers, NY, Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers
3/9 and 3/10 Minneapolis, MN, Trylon Microcinema
3/18 Ashburn, TX Alamo Drafthouse Loudon
3/26 and 3/28 Gainesville, FL, The Wooly
3/29 Austin, TX, Austin Film Society at The Marchesa
3/30 Phoenix, AZ, Harkins 101 Scottsdale, Richard Stanley and David Gregory Q&A
Intrigued? Watch the trailer below.