HDC Idol II 2011-2012

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THE THIRD TEST OF HDC IDOL II - THE GOBLINS

Choose a horror film from the 2000s and turn it into a universal (in both senses of the word) horror classic of the 1940s, complete with casting and a selected director. BUT, bear in mind that it should NOT be a Dracula, Frankenstein or Wolf man film.

The Return's entry -

For this assignment, I’ve chosen to adapt 2001’s Jeepers Creepers. Despite it’s flaws I consider Jeepers Creepers to be one of the most stylish, entertaining horror movies of the decade, and I think I could adapt perfectly well to the style of Universal horror.

For starters, the cast and crew:

Director: Karl Freund

- My first choice would actually be Jacques Tourneur, but due to the “Universal” theme of the challenge I decided to stick with someone from their stables.

Stop-Motion Creature Animation: Willis O’Brien

Cast:

Glenn Strange as The Creeper

Evelyn Ankers as Patricia Jenner

David Manners as Darrell Jenner

Maria Ouspenskaya as Ms. Hartmonov

Dwight Frye as Mr. Felinier (Our version of The Cat Lady)


These are the only characters that would be essential, the rest of the roles could be filled by any of Universal’s stock actors.


A few of the changes that would have to be made:

Rather than returning from college, the siblings would merely be out for an afternoon drive in the country to catch up on each others lives.

While the plot would remain largely the same, I’d like to keep everything very simple, and largely imply the horrors on display. The Creepers lair in particular would mostly feature lab equipment and preserved heads in jars and such, rather than bodies lining the walls.

The Creeper would still remain cloaked for the most part, but when revealed I see a wonderful stop-motion monster.

Jeepers Creepers already has hallmarks of classic horror. Simply adapting the time and removing the gore in favour of horrible implications would not only relocate it perfectly to the time period, but also make things much more terrifying.

Judge #1's verdict -

Good choice of film, good cast and crew. Not sure about the choice of stop-motion for the monster. I guess it could work.

GRADE C

Judge #2's verdict -

I give The Return a B-.

While I enjoy his choice of movie and cast, I feel like I'm missing something, just can't put my finger on what.

Judge #3's verdict -

My grade - D

"I understand you can do better. You understand you can do better, so there's that. Do better next time. Willis O' Brien stop motion for the monster would have been a great genre innovation, but by the same token, nobody in the forties would have thought to have a stop motion monster in a B unit horror film."

OVERALL GRADE - C

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Chronogrl's entry -

I choose the film Crazy Eights (2006)

Why?

Initially I misread the challenge – I looked at the iconic films of the 1940s and thought to myself, “Crap – I need to find a film of the 2000’s that will fit into this sequel-obsessed mess.” I toyed with the idea of painting Let the Right One In as a “Dracula’s Daughter” (until I found out that there actually was a Dracula’s Daughter… and, oh yeah, I had also misinterpreted the challenge).

So – Why Crazy Eights? I wanted to diverge from Monster- and sequel-obsessed trends of Universal in the 1940s and instead look to movies like RKO’s Cat People, which focused more on the psychological aspects of fear instead of the physical aspects of fear as well as Paramount’s The Uninvited, whose focal point of fear is both the unknown and apparitions, as opposed to physical monsters.

Quite frankly, I think that Universal could have benefited from diverging from monster movies into the psychological noir films – They would have become ahead of the curve when noir started to become popular in the 1950s.

The plot of Crazy Eights is simple – Six people are brought together at the funeral of a childhood friend. While settling the estate, they discover a map, which leads them on a search for a long forgotten time capsule, at the request of their dead friend. What they discover reawakens repressed childhood traumas and leads them on a journey through their long abandoned childhood home: a home with a terrible secret and a mysterious dead girl who will lead them to their strange fates. (source: IMDB). What is deliciously simple will unravel quite well on film as our characters start to disappear while the mystery of their childhood is slowly revealed. This is a murder mystery with a juicy secret – The “Crazy Eights” (it is revealed that that’s what they called themselves on the ward) were subject to experiments as children and vowed to escape the hospital – When they finally did escape, they decided to hide the youngest in a chest in an old barn – All with the best intentions – To come back for her – But she died in the chest… And it’s her spirit that is haunting our characters within the house that they find themselves in.

Genres – This movie will appeal to the 1940s audience because not only is it a simple haunted house film ripe with suspense, but this guise is also a vehicle to allow the characters to psychologically unravel. We also have a wonderful mystery on our hands, which will appeal to the fans of noir and whodunits. Not to mention, it’s different enough to be distinguished from the Universal Monster films, yet can be molded to be suspenseful, yet tasteful (changes will have to be made to make the film less bloody – Characters will disappear instead of being mangled).

Director: Jacques Tourneur (Cat People), for his ability to create a successful psychological thriller

Cast (I looked for 1940s film stars who would have been around their 30s in the 40s – they need to be all the same age):

• Jennifer Jones: Simone Simon (Cat People)
  Gina Conte: Anne Nagel (Black Friday, Man Made Monster)
  Beth Patterson: Ellen Drew (Isle of the Dead, The Monster and the Girl)
  Father Lyle Day: Robert Paige (Son of Dracula, The Monster and the Girl)
  Wayne Morrison: John Carradine (House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula)
  Brent Sykes: Dick Foran (The Mummy’s Hand, The Mummy’s Tomb)

Judge #1's verdict -

I like the creative aspect of making a thriller. Would have liked more details.

GRADE C

Judge #2's verdict -

I give ChronoGrl an A.

Crazy Eights works very well for a Universal movie. And, of course, she shows that she gave it quite a bit of thought. And I love her choices for the cast and director.

Judge #3's verdict -

Grade C

The work is there, as usual. The premise of the movie is reasonably interesting and it does go pretty well with the 40s. I'm not excited by this, though. Push yourself creatively. Next time, show me something really imaginative. Ingenuity is as important as effort.

OVERALL GRADE - B-

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ANNOUNCEMENT


The Merger -

Here's the complete Group for Round 2 of HDC Idol at the end of the Preliminary Rounds, along with their overall Grades -

• Despare - B-
  Roshiq - B-
  Zombieness - C-
  The Return - C
  The Villain - C
  Chronogrl - B

The Winner of the Preliminary Rounds is - CHRONOGRL.


Ogres - Leezuki & Horrorzack have been eliminated for missing the first three Tests continuously.

Goblins - Nightmare of Death & Ferretchucker have been eliminated for missing the first three Tests continuously.


The first Test for Round 2 will be up within the next 24 hours.

[newb]

these judges be tough

[Despare]

I'm very sporadic and to be honest I just don't have the time I wish I did to take part in this awesome contest you've put together V. To be honest, anytime I see an outline I tend to cringe anyway as I hate them so not having the time to do one and at least help with participation is a double tap to me because I'd love to push myself through one but just can't make it. I'll do what I can, when I can, and my lack of participation in no way reflects on the game itself. :)

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ANNOUNCEMENT


All qualifying participants will start again, afresh, with a wiped clean board. Be prepared for Round 2.

The first Test of Round 2 will be up within the next 24 hours.

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THE FOURTH TEST OF HDC IDOL II - ROUND 2

For this task, the common theme I have chosen is - REMAKES.

Here is your task, contestants -

Choose a suitable horror film from the past to be remade into a contemporary horror film, interjected with your own unique changes in the storyline, complete with a script outline, casting, a chosen director and a suitable Hollywood studio. Also, give the reason why you chose that particular film.

Contestants - Despare, Roshiq, Zombieness, The Return, The Villain and Chronogrl - put your thinking caps on and get to work.

You may do any amount of research on your chosen film, and on the films of that period. But remember, you cannot copy an entire script/storyline from your chosen horror film. (you have to add your own touches to the original story)

Once you are finished, please PM your entry to me, or send it via email to [email protected]. Do NOT post your entry directly in this thread.

You all have 120 hours at your disposal, starting from NOW! All the best!

[hammerfan]

Bumping this since no one replied. Want to make sure the contestants see it.

[ChronoGrl]

I saw it. Was going to ask if the deadline could be over the weekend since free time during the week is scant... However, I know what movie I want to remake and the whatnot, so I think I should be able to get it down for Friday.

[hammerfan]

I'll mention now that I won't be around on Saturday - my nephew is getting married that day. I will be around on Sunday, so I'll be able to review submissions then.