I've spent the last day in Ottawa on the set of the latest film from Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter director Lee Demarbre and while I've got to hold off a bit to comment on what I've seen on this set as part of the visit I was just given a look at several scenes from Demarbre's Smash Cut, the director's tribute to Herschell Gordon Lewis starring horror icons David Hess (Last House on the Left) and Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes) along with *ahem* adult star Sacha Grey. Lewis has not only given his blessings to the film but appears in a small role while Hess takes the lead as a struggling film maker who resorts to extreme measures to add realism to his films.
So, what did I think? The second film shot on the Red camera here in Canada the thing looks great. Cinematography is very strong and the production designers have obviously had a blast with the color schemes and set design. Hess looks very strong in a rare lead role, delivering a bizarrely compelling off-kilter performance. The balance of humor and gore is very strong, there are some very strong kill shots and all involved are obviously having a blast. It's early days yet, but from what I saw today this looks like the real thing. We've got a few stills to share already along with a conceptual teaser that includes no actual footage from the film, and have been promised more images along with a first look at the proper trailer once it's cut together. You can check that teaser below the break and hit the link below for the images.
Damn! Berryman with a wig creeps me out.
Lee Demabre's a filmmaker that's only gotten better as time's rolled on. I hope he tones down his self indulgent style that made some parts of Vampire Hunter and Harry Knuckles painful to sit through and really knocks this one out of the park!