Stuart Gordon: Interviews

Stuart Gordon is a renowned filmmaker known for his bold and subversive horror films, such as Re-Animator, From Beyond, and Dolls. This collection of interviews spans fifty years and covers his career, including his youth, founding of the Organic Theatre, and filmmaking methods. It also reveals his love for horror stories and how they can be used as sociopolitical commentaries.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 04 February 2022
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi

Stuart Gordon, a visionary filmmaker with a singularly subversive spirit, left an indelible mark on the horror genre with his fiendishly intelligent works. Born in 1947 and passing away in 2020, Gordon's films are distinguished by their audacious boldness and scab-picking wit. From his early masterpieces like Re-Animator, From Beyond, Dolls, The Pit and the Pendulum, and Dagon, he cemented his reputation as one of the masters of contemporary horror. His films brought an unfamiliar archness, political complexity, and critical respect to a genre often lacking these virtues.

Gordon's versatility as a filmmaker was remarkable. He refused to mellow with age, proving equally adept at crafting pointed science fiction, sweet-tempered fantasy, and nihilistic thrillers. He skillfully blurred the lines between exploitation and arthouse cinema, creating works that were both visually stunning and thought-provoking.

The first collection of interviews ever published on Gordon, Stuart Gordon: Interviews, contains thirty-six articles spanning a period of fifty years. These candid conversations chronicle the trajectory of a fascinating career that courted controversy from its very beginning. Gordon discusses his youth and early influences, his founding of Chicago's legendary Organic Theatre, where he collaborated with luminaries like Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, and David Mamet, and his transition into filmmaking. He reveals details of his working methods, his steadfast relationships with frequent collaborators, his great love for the works of Lovecraft and Poe, and how horror stories can masquerade as sociopolitical commentaries.

Through his interviews, Gordon offers a glimpse into his creative process and the influences that shaped his work. He discusses his admiration for the works of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe, as well as his belief that horror stories can be used as a means of social commentary. His films often explored themes of morality, ethics, and the human condition, making them more than just mere entertainment.

Stuart Gordon's impact on the horror genre cannot be overstated. His films have inspired generations of filmmakers and fans, and his legacy continues to thrive. His boldness, wit, and versatility as a filmmaker have left an indelible mark on the industry, and his works will continue to be celebrated and studied for years to come.

In conclusion, Stuart Gordon's fiendishly intelligent works are distinguished by their audacious boldness and scab-picking wit. His films brought an unfamiliar archness, political complexity, and critical respect to the horror genre, and his versatility as a filmmaker has left an indelible mark on the industry. The first collection of interviews ever published on Gordon, Stuart Gordon: Interviews, offers a glimpse into his creative process and the influences that shaped his work. His boldness, wit, and versatility as a filmmaker have left an indelible mark on the industry, and his works will continue to be celebrated and studied for years to come.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496837738