What type of guy has the gall not only to bark back at Mr. Movie
himself, Roger Ebert, but then rebut the Pulitzer Prize winning
critic’s responses? A big guy, a very big guy. David DeFalco takes
a moment to speak to Egregious Gurnow of the Horror Review about
body building, the director’s highly controversial film, Chaos, the
Chicago critic’s feelings about the “the most brutal film ever
made,” and what the director has in store for us next.
Egregious Gurnow: Seeing pictures of
you during the filming of The Back Lot Murders, you have
bulked up quite a bit in the last few years, which becomes a paradox
in that it is reputed that you left wrestling for film. However,
you have an extended history and background in production and
writing even prior to this time. So, which came first, the
wrestling or the film?
David DeFalco: My appearance from
The Back Lot Murders to Chaos changed dramatically,
almost like two different people. A lot of it was inspired by pro
wrestling and certain wrestlers, like Dave Bastista. But, film
definitely came first.
Egregious Gurnow: Your scripts for
Gangland and Point Doom were action-oriented while your
writing for The Back Lot Murders and Chaos is
obviously rooted in horror. Is there a DeFalco musical anywhere in
the future? What other genres are you interested in entering before
everything’s said and done?
David DeFalco: My career started with
action movies but horror is what I was born to do. It has been in
my blood since early childhood. I was making Super 8mm horror films
when I was twelve years old. I have a feeling that is the genre I
will be sticking with for a while, but I never rule anything out.
Egregious Gurnow: It is rumored that
Chaos was initially conceived as a remake of Wes Craven’s
The Last House on the Left. Is this true?
David DeFalco: Chaos was never
conceived as a Last House remake. It was our [DeFalco and
Chaos producer, Steven Jay Bernheim] idea to do a modern horror
film modeled after the ’70’s drive-in horror movies. Of course,
Last House was the main inspiration, but I felt since it was
taken from the Virgin Spring story that I could do my own
modern take on it.
Egregious Gurnow: With express mention
of famed horror icon Freddy in The Back Lot Murders, the
implementation of Craven’s use of red and green lighting as a color
indicator in the film, atop the work’s Scream resonance, you
obviously wear your Craven proudly upon your sleeve. What other
directors do you consider to be an influence?
David DeFalco: I was also influenced
by Tobe Hooper. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was another
’70’s drive-in movie that was a major favorite of mine. Other
directors I like include Sam Raimi, George Romero, and Oliver Stone.
Egregious Gurnow: How long did you
spend writing the script for Chaos? What challenges were
involved that you had to, for lack of a better word, wrestle with?
David DeFalco: It took about eight
months to write the Chaos script. We constantly were going
through it to try and keep it as realistic as possible. Especially
the dialogue. I think if the dialogue is cheesy or corny, it will
lessen the realism of a movie.
Egregious Gurnow: In Chaos, we
don’t wind up with a
Hollywood,
spit-polished happy ending. Come to think about it, you do the same
thing with The Back Lot Murders. What gives Dave? Are you a
glum guy or is this your interpretation of the times?
David DeFalco: I guess due to my deep
involvement with horror and death, it has given me a bleak outlook
on life. After hanging out in the coroner’s office and seeing how
everything ends up, its hard not to let that affect you.
Egregious Gurnow: Speaking of serious,
how come you place such an emphasis on race in Chaos?
David DeFalco: I felt the race issue
in Chaos would make the story more dynamic.
Egregious Gurnow: What are your
opinions concerning Roger Ebert’s treatment of the film and his
subsequent communication with you and the film’s producer, Steven
Jay Bernheim?
David DeFalco: I was grateful that
Roger Ebert just took the time to review the movie at all. I think
he gave the movie a lot of backhanded compliments as well as a lot
of publicity. I think that will only benefit Chaos
ultimately.
Egregious Gurnow: Have you read any
other reviews of the film?
David DeFalco: There are so many
reviews on Chaos and they all vary greatly. In a lot of ways
Chaos is bulletproof to reviews. Because even the critics
that didn’t like it were mostly repulsed by it. And that is the
appropriate reaction for a movie that is supposed to be the most
brutal movie ever made.
Egregious Gurnow: You’ve rubbed elbows
with some pretty heavy hitters in the past with your films, too many
to name really. Barring money, politics, yadda, yadda, yadda, if we
decided to change the name “Planet Earth” to “Sphere DeFalco,” who
would you work with at a drop of a hat?
David DeFalco: There is no one that
comes to mind that I would want to work with at the “drop of a
hat.” My main concern at this time for my next project is to get a
larger budget and studio backing. Once you have achieved that
level, it is a lot easier to work with whomever you want.
Egregious Gurnow: You have made
mention in the past of your next project. Would you mind commenting
upon it, especially its genesis in relation to methamphetamine?
David DeFalco: My next project is an
extension of Chaos entitled The Devil’s Doorway. It
is based on the true life story of L.A. county coroner Michael A.
Cormier. It is the story of a Los Angeles county coroner that
discovers a demonic connection between the city’s most brutal
murders and crystal meth. I discovered in making Chaos what
true evil looks like and the havoc it is capable of. Doorway
will show you how there are different devices or “doorways” that you
can expose yourself to that can cause real evil to enter your life.
Crystal Meth being the number one doorway. I feel that Chaos
was just the beginning and The Devil’s Doorway will be the
next step in understanding real evil. It has definitely had a major
impact on my life.
Roger
Ebert’s review of Chaos
David
DeFalco and Steven Jay Bernheim's Response to Ebert
Ebert’s
Rebuttal to DeFalco and Bernheim
Egregious
Gurnow’s review of Chaos
Horror
Bob's review of Chaos
Official
Chaos website
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