Richard Griffin is an amazing director that has more than twenty films under his belt. Some of those films he has co-directed while others he directed independently. I first came across Richard and his films a few years ago when I watched the film Necroville while I was in college. Me and a few of my friends were drinking and decided to watch it. My friends did not like it but I loved it. After a night of booze I forgot to look up the director and the movie slipped from my mind. A few years later I ran across Atomic Brain Invasion (review can be seen here) and loved it. After dong some digging I discovered that the amazing Richard Griffin was behind this film and Dr. Frankenstein’s Wax Museum of the Hungry Dead (review can be seen here).
After watching these films I became a fan of Griffin and I have been keeping an eye on his career. His films are fun and filled with the cheese and camp I love with my horror movies. I admire this man and await any movie he releases. I ask Griffin if he would be available for an interview and he agreed so I wanna take time to say thank you Richard for allowing me to interview you for the site.
In my interviews I like to ask questions I want to know the answers to. So my first question is at what age did you become interested in cinema?
I am blessed to have a father and mother who both loved cinema — my dad loved foreign films, and my mother loved more mainstream fare, including horror films. At a very early age my parents would take me to the movies, exposing me to so much of what cinema had to offer. Everything from the classics like Gone with the Wind to John Carpenter’s The Fog!
When I was seven, my parents took me to see Ralph Bakshi’s animated film WIZARDS. That was the one. That was the film that made me go, “I want to do this.” It just blew my mind.
I watched your film Necroville a few years back and loved it, however, I did not watch another one of your films until recently when I grabbed Atomic Brain Invasion and Dr. Frankenstein’s Wax Museum. Your films are extremely cheesy and campy which I love. I’m curious as to what films you watched growing up that helped create your style.
Well, I was the director of photography and co-director on Necroville…. but that film is more Billy Garberina’s than mine. He is the co-director, star and co-writer/producer of it. I am extremely proud of that movie, but it’s Billy’s baby.
As for “Cheesy and Campy” I don’t think of my films that way. I just think of them as fun movies. That’s the kind of horror films I grew up watching on television in the 70s and 80s. Hammer movies, 50s sci-fi films, Vincent Price / Roger Corman movies.
I think horror should be fun. Scary yes, but fun as well. I’m not a fan of the “gritty” horror movies today. Maybe that’s because I’m now a middle-aged man and I’ve seen enough real horror in my life. When I go to the movies, I want to escape!
You have directed numerous films over the years. Have you felt your tastes in films have changed after you started making films of your own? Do you notice things in films now that you never did before?
You know, when I watch a film that’s not mine.. I try to turn my brain off and just enjoy it. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn’t. I think from watching thousands of films over my lifetime, some influences have definitely seeped in. My friend and collaborator turned me onto John Frankenheimer when I was in my mid-20s, and his films just totally floored me. Seconds, for example, is a big influence visually on Exhumed.
But, you know… I still enjoy the same films as when I was younger. If I’m down, I put on a Vincent Price film and all is good with the world.
I really enjoyed every film of yours that I have seen, even though that is very limited, and I am sure I am far from being the only one that likes them. What is it like when you cross paths with your fans?
It’s great! When I have an encounter with a fan, it’s always wonderful. It’s delightful to know there are people out there who “get it”, and that you’re work is somehow affecting people in a positive way. The fans of NUN OF THAT and SPLATTER DISCO are a really interesting and cool bunch, but I enjoy them all.
For the most part, directors have that one film they consider their masterpiece that sets the standard for their future projects. Do you hold one of your films in that high of regard? if so, which one is it?
Well, that’s a tough question. It’s always difficult as a filmmaker to separate the film from the making of the film. I have movies of mine that I loved the end product, but the experience of making it was so stressful, that I cannot even watch the movie. That being said, I have two favorites that I love for very different reasons –
1. EXHUMED. First, it was the easiest, most stress free shoot I’ve ever had. 11 days of filmmaking bliss. The screenplay by Guy Benoit is brilliant and original, and the cast and crew were at the top of their game. Emotionally, I also find this to be my most potent film.
2. MURDER UNIVERSITY. If Exhumed pleased the “adult side” of my brain, Murder University pleases the 15 year old side. The cast is fantastic, it’s action and gore-packed, the soundtrack is amazing, and the script by Lenny Schwartz packs a lot of surprises and wit.
You mentioned earlier some of your films leaved you feeling stressed. What are some of the factors you face when filming that causes that stress and what are the obstacles you face as well? Also, how do you overcome those obstacles?
Most of the time, stress is caused by money. But, that’s the case with even big budget films. You never have enough, and things that you think will cost X amount end up costing double. Mostly though, filmmaking is stressful because as the director you always want to be the nice guy. You want everyone to enjoy their time on the set, and to create a comfortable, creative environment. But, after a location falls through, or it rains for 10 straight days when you need to shoot outside, all you want to do is rage on the set. But you can’t, and sometimes that causes some deeply felt stress.
That being said, I’m blessed to have an amazing crew, cast and producers that keep me from going off the deep end.
What does the future look like for you and Scorpio Film Releasing? Do you have any big plans this year?
Well, we have NORMAL coming out in December, and I’m directing a short sci-fi horror film called CRASH SITE in August. Then, later in September I’m directing a feature-length film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. And that’s our 2013 in a nutshell. We have two features planned for 2014, but those are still all in the planning stages right now.
What is your favorite horror film or films?
Suspiria (1977), Night of the Living Dead (1968), The Thing (1981), Horror of Dracula (1958), Alien (1979), The Texas Chainsaw Masscare (1974), Masque of the Red Death, Repulsion, Phantasm (1979), Return of the Living Dead (1985), The Beyond (1981)
This list changes every week.
