Welcome to Commentary Commentary, the place we sit and take heed to filmmakers speak about their work, then share probably the most fascinating elements. In this version, Rob Hunter revisits an under-appreciated werewolf story, an underrated Stephen King adaptation, and a rattling enjoyable movie, Silver Bullet.
Stephen King’s filmography is presently sixty-six options deep (and we’re not even counting the mini-series, restricted sequence, and such), and it’s the combined bag you’re most likely anticipating. There are real classics and utter turds, however there’s additionally a sea of fascinating films floating in between these extremes — films which are removed from good however that ship time impressed by King’s creativeness. One of these center of the street movies is 1985’s Silver Bullet, a film I’ve lengthy been a fan of, warts and all.
The movie was not too long ago launched to 4K UHD from the oldsters at Scream Factory, and whereas that’s sufficient of a motive to rewatch and take a look at the extras, there’s additionally a second, much more somber motivation right here. The on-line movie neighborhood not too long ago misplaced certainly one of our funniest, goofiest, and most beloved members with the passing of Scott Wampler. He had written about films for years, however his most enjoyable and common undertaking was arguably his time spent as one half of the continued podcast, The Kingcast, alongside Eric Vespe. It’s that podcast that led Scream Factory to ask the duo to file a commentary observe for Silver Bullet, and it’s their presence that compelled me to present it a pay attention.
Now hold studying to see what I heard on the commentary for…
Silver Bullet (1985)
Commentators: Eric Vespe & Scott Wampler from The Kingcast podcast
1. The movie is an adaptation of King’s novella, “Cycle of the Werewolf,” one thing that was initially supposed to be a calendar. No joke. A writer had the thought to launch a calendar that includes a brand new werewolf kill every month, they usually had Bernie Wrightson as an instance and King to put in writing the temporary descriptions of slaughter. Of course, hiring King to put in writing one thing temporary is a idiot’s errand, so we ended up with a novella as a substitute. The kills have been initially tied to the primary vacation or occasion every month, and Vespe mentions that “to a person,” everybody he’s spoken to concerning the movie would like to remake it and comply with that episodic method.
2. It’s recommended, in all seriousness, with utter sincerity, that Terry O’Quinn (Lost, 2004-2010) discovered all he wanted to learn about “wheelchair acting” from Corey Haim‘s (Lucas, 1986) performance here. Just one more theory for all you Lost-heads.
3. “The strength of King is in his character work,” says Vespe, when commenting on how the film allows time for Marty (Haim) and his sister, Janie (Megan Follows), to interact in realistic ways. He harasses her with a snake early on, but later he apologizes in a nice, quiet moment, and that relationship feels more authentic than we typically get.
4. Wampler points out a portrait at 11:16 saying it’s H.P. Lovecraft. The lovely factor about Wampler’s supply right here is that I’ve no goddamn clue if he really is aware of this or is simply speaking out his ass. Vespe isn’t fairly as plausible when he means that the smiley face kite splattered with blood was a giant inspiration for the long-lasting picture from Alan Moore’s Watchmen (1986-1987). “Prove me wrong,” he says defiantly, “prove me wrong.”
5. They rank the horniness of varied monsters, and it falls out as follows. Vampires are prime of the checklist, clearly, adopted by werewolves and the Gill-man, with Frankenstein’s monster being method, method down the checklist.
6. Carlo Rambaldi‘s werewolf effects were the subject of much debate and argument during production. Apparently director Daniel Attias hated the look and tried his best to keep the beast off screen, but producer Dino De Laurentiis loved it and insisted we see more, more, more! “I think you’ve really received it backwards,” interjects Wampler, including that “my notes say that it was producer Dino De Laurentiis who was very unhappy and demanded a change, and they fought back.” Appropriately sufficient, Vespe fights again saying that’s not his understanding in any respect. Wampler fires one other salvo with an unsourced quote that additionally mentions Don Coscarelli as director, at which level Vespe delivers a devastating factual uppercut with the truth that Coscarelli by no means shot a single body of the movie and didn’t final previous pre-production.
7. One of Coscarelli’s contributions earlier than leaving the undertaking was to border the movie within the method of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975). His script wasn’t used, however Vespe nonetheless sees loads of Jaws connections remaining from the opening kill the place we by no means see the creature to the demise of a child to the mob heading out to hunt after a grieving father’s “Mrs. Kintner moment.”
8. They initially had a dancer sporting the werewolf go well with, however the powers that be weren’t pleased with the motion, so Everett McGill — who performs the werewolf in Reverend Lowe clothes — was plopped inside as a substitute.
9. Wampler wasn’t at all times a fan of Silver Bullet, however over the course of rewatching it just a few instances in the course of the Kingcast he’s come to understand it much more, including that “they really nailed the Stephen King-ness of it all to such a degree that, even the stuff that’s kind of cheesy about it or makes it a product of its time doesn’t really bother me.”
10. Wampler leaves to go to the toilet on the 38:59 mark, and he returns at 41:19.
11. There’s a long-ass silence on the commentary — over six minutes! — throughout the entire sequence the place Marty goes out to shoot fireworks and first sees the werewolf. They make do point out of it after they do return, so I’m guessing both they by chance muted themselves, have been censored for slandering Dean Koontz, or Wampler was singing copyrighted Nine Inch Nails songs that Scream Factory didn’t wish to must license.
Best in Context-Free Commentary
“If I were Stephen King in 1984, agreeing to write a calendar is exactly the sort of thing I would do if I were not completely sober.”
“It’s a good head.”
“I understand the desire to want an Uncle Red, what I don’t understand is the desire to be an Uncle Red.”
“80s blood was the wrong color, but it looked more convincing than digital blood.”
“That haircut on the organ player is the third or fourth most gruesome thing in the film.”
“It’s not every werewolf that beats its victims to death.”
Final Thoughts
Silver Bullet stays a very entertaining time, a killer Stephen King adaptation, and an underrated werewolf flick. The commentary can be time when Vespe and Wampler are speaking as they present some fascinating King data and an actual consolation of their collaboration as co-hosts. There are some lengthy gaps, although, significantly within the again half together with the close to entirety of the tip credit, and it’s unclear in the event that they’re edits or precise silences from the duo. Either method, it seems like missed alternatives as I’d love to listen to extra from them each. Still, even with these gaps, it’s a enjoyable observe and value a pay attention for followers of the movie and of the Kingcast.
Read extra Commentary Commentary from the archives.
Related Topics: Commentary Commentary, Stephen King
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