Tom Holland

Tom Holland…FOR REAL

The Mondo Film & Video Guide Interview with MASTER OF HORROR, Tom Holland.

Conducted By: Mondo Justin
Mondo Film & Video Guide Editor

Some horror film fanatics worship the director, George A Romero.  Others, the films of Wes Craven.  We here at the Mondo Film & Video Guide, worship the great cinematic work of Tom Holland.  Holland, like his aforementioned contemporaries has created work that can sustain itself across several genre’s.  His films can be looked at with horror or comedy eyes.  Holland has created definitive and unforgettable visions. These are important films that have ingrained themselves into our cinematic consciousness.   Holland’s films are true fright classics.   His work has achieved a level, that most in his game will never obtain. This is the reason why Tom Holland has been dubbed a, MASTER OF HORROR.

Holland was born and raised in New York State.  Growing up, he fell in love with movies, eventually becoming interested in acting as a means to move up the ranks into a director position. As a young man, Holland [acting under the stage name Tom Fielding] landed several small roles in television shows like: COMBAT!, FELONY SQUAD, and THE INCREDIBLE HULK.

Holland transitioned into screenwriting in 1978 with the television movie, THE INITIATION OF SARAH.   From there, Holland penned such genre classics as: CLASS OF 1984, CLOAK AND DAGGER and finally — the often over-looked and forgotten Ronny Cox boy-mutates-into-monster vehicle, THE BEAST WITHIN.

Holland received the ultimate break when in 1982 he was invited to write the sequel to the Hitchcock classic, PSYCHO (1960).  Holland’s follow up remains highly respected as one of the very best film sequel’s ever.   The script to PSYCHO II is filled with welcomed advancement of characterization, sufficient suspense, all while remaining true to form and tone in comparison to Hitchcock’s initial masterpiece.  Holland’s script adds a humane depth to the Norman Bates character that was VERY absent the first time around.  If you haven’t seen PSYCHO II and you’re reading this…STOP...Log into your Netflix, or get to your local video store right away. PSYCHO II will blow you the FUCK away.

Holland would finally take the reigns as writer and director with the release of his immortal teenager vs. vampire classic, 1985′s FRIGHT NIGHT. The film is a major favorite with NOT just horror fanatics but film lovers in general,  With each passing year FRIGHT NIGHT earns more and more devoted fans. It has become a classic due to it’s ground-breaking fun blend of horror/fantasy and comedy.  In 2011, the re-make of Holland’s debut will  see release nationally into theaters.

Over the years, Holland would direct several more films and standout television episodes.  Work like CHILD’S PLAY, THINNER and HBO’S TALES FROM THE CRYPT would cement Holland’s reputation as an important and influential icon in a genre that is quickly becoming overly saturated more and more as each year goes by. In 2009, Holland appeared at the 3rd Franklin, Indiana B Movie Celebration for a rare screening of FRIGHT NIGHT. Currently, 2011 will see something BIG from Holland, perhaps a new film  that will again remind us of just how much we need his work.

Tom Holland is a hero to us here, and without his amazing films, this website would NOT exist.   Mondo Film & Video Guide editor, Mondo Justin, got to sit down with Holland.

Tom, I’ve seen rumors online that claim that your related to Dexter Holland, the leader singer of the 90′s band, The Offspring?

Oh..No, I’m not actually.  I don’t have any idea why that’s out there. I’ve seen that rumor going around as well, it’s been out there for years, but I don’t think it’s true.  Has anyone asked him?

You started out as an actor.  How did you progress from first – acting, to screenwriting, to finally directing?

Well, it really was a progression, you’re right.   I started out as an actor.  But I became a writer, cause I wanted to be a director.  Back then, if you wanted to become a director, it was thought that you had to be a writer or film editor first, or somehow direct television commercials.    So during that time period, it seemed that those professions were really the only way you could progress into being a film director, so that’s why I started out that way.

I’ve seen you mention in other interviews how you “just fell into this or that”.  But as a kid growing up, didn’t you have an interest in film?

I wouldn’t say that I feel into anything really. You have to understand,  there wasn’t anything such as a film school back then.  I became interested just before film schools started popping up.  So I actually went to theater school at Northwestern University.   I started out working in theater when I was sixteen.  And at that time, working in the theater was what I viewed as a way to get into movies. I know it doesn’t make sense, but at the same time it really does.   One thing lead to another, and by the time I was eighteen, as an actor I had one of the last seven year contracts at Warner Brothers.

As an actor, didn’t you work with Ingrid Bergman?

Yeah..I did.  I worked with her and Anthony Quinn on a film called, A WALK IN THE SPRING RAIN (1970).

Did you get to spend a lot of time with her?  Did she share any stories with you about making CASABLANCA?

Oh god yeah!  She talked about how they couldn’t  find an ending for CASABLANCA when they were shooting the film. Also, she told me that none of them at the time had any expectations that what they were making would of course, become an important film.   She also shared stories about her and Gary Cooper sitting in the back of a limousine singing bawdy songs while they were filming, FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS together.   One thing that you may find interesting, was that the stunt coordinator on the film was, Bruce Lee.   He choreographed my fights in the film.

How did you come about getting the chance to write the script for the film,  THE BEAST WITHIN?

God…It was my first movie that was ever produced.   Harvey Bernhard [producer of the Omen series] bought a book cause he liked the title, called THE BEAST WITHIN.  But the writer never wrote the book, cause he was getting an divorce.  The book was released after I had written the screenplay.  So the book has little to no resemblance to the screenplay.   That’s why in the film it says, Screen Story and Screenplay by, Tom Holland.

Prior to FRIGHT NIGHT, you had written films like CLOAK AND DAGGER, and PSYCHO II.   So being on the sets of those films, you’re watching “your babies” in process.  Was it difficult for you to be involved in those projects as the writer, and NOT being able to input how the films were being made from a directing standpoint?

Yes..Yes…laughing….sure.  I wanted to direct in the first place of course. I was more involved in PSYCHO II than the other.  In that situation, you have to just bite your tongue.  Being a director is a tough job.  So the last thing any director needs is a jealous writer in the background.  So any arguments you’re gonna have you need to get outta of the way before starting the film.  Cause once that ship has sailed it’s all for one.  You need to support the director, cause it should be everyone’s goal to make the best movie possible.

When you were casting FRIGHT NIGHT (1985), Roddy McDowell wasn’t your first choice for Peter Vincent was he?

Maybe. I can’t really remember now.  Roddy and I had a mutual friend.  So I had known him for years.  He was in CLASS OF 1984. He was great in that. So if he was being suggested to me, I certainly was not fighting it..as in..at all.  Roddy came in and read for FRIGHT NIGHT, and he was so wonderful.  He knew a good part when he saw one…laughing

How many drafts of the script for FRIGHT NIGHT did you do, prior to filming?

I had the idea for a good year prior, but I couldn’t get it to work.   I loved the idea, and the whole situation  just tickled me pink.  But I really didn’t have a story until I came up with the Peter Vincent character.  When I answered what Charlie would do when he met Peter Vincent, the whole story just presented itself in my head.  The first draft was done in three weeks.  Then I realized that I had left out the girl.  So I said ‘you can’t have a vampire movie without the girl!’ So then I went back and did a major re-write and put in ‘Amy,’  the Amanda Bearse character.

So in those early drafts, are there any radical ideas or changes from what we see in the finished film?

No. FRIGHT NIGHT was a joy to write, and the whole time I was writing it, I was doubled up with laughter.  There is a sense of delight, and fond amusement in the movie. What you see was always the intent.  There is an under-current in the film.  It’s a classic concept, a parable on jealously and revenge.   You’ve got an older guy trying to take a girl away from a younger guy, and they both want to impregnate her.  It’s just a classic story put into a vampire movie.

Having control over the casting for FRIGHT NIGHT (1985), how did you decide on Chris Sarandon and William Ragsdale?

I had seen Chris in DOG DAY AFTERNOON, and loved him in that.   Such an amazing performance.   Bill Ragsdale, I looked for forever. I was looking for the kid next door.  I turned down Charlie Sheen for the film.   I thought he was too good looking.  He really wanted to do the film, and he hasn’t forgiven me for it all these years later.

Why haven’t you ever done any DVD commentaries for any of your films?

I don’t know.  I never been asked actually.   I did a couple of home-made ones a while back for FRIGHT NIGHT and CHILD’S PLAY, you can download them off the internet and listen.

FRIGHT NIGHT (1985) is one of the most easily downloadable films on the web.  I was curious to see how you felt about internet film piracy?

I think since I’m not getting any money from the majors on them anyway, I think it’s wonderful cause it gives the film more visibility. FRIGHT NIGHT and CHILD’S PLAY are in the popular culture now. People are gonna be looking at them 100 years from now, and that is fucking amazing.

FRIGHT NIGHT (1985) was a huge box-office success. It had a budget of 9 million, and it grossed domestically in it’s first two months, 25 million.  Didn’t you get offered as a follow-up to direct ROBOCOP?

Yes I did.   Columbia offered me the script.   I turned it down.

In retrospect are you upset you did that?

YES!!!…laughing.   But, in between FRIGHT NIGHT and CHILD’S PLAY I made a film that everyone seems to have forgotten called, FATAL BEAUTY.  It’s an cop action movie with Whoopi Goldberg.  It’s a great movie, and people should see it.

On CHILD’S PLAY (1988), Don Mancini came up with the first draft of the script.  But didn’t you take a few cracks at re-writing it?  Isn’t your version of the script what’s actually on-screen?

Yes, I tried a couple times.   I couldn’t come up with a strong enough re-write on it.  This was BEFORE I did FATAL BEAUTY.   So I went and did the film with Whoopi, and after I was done, United Artists offered CHILD’S PLAY to me again.  So I took another crack at writing the script, and for some reason it just came easy for me.   I’ll never understand how these things work, and success has many fathers.

On a side note, did you know that when CHILD’S PLAY came out, in Britain they protested it, and I received boxes of letters from school children in Britain asking me how I could do that to their toys or dolls.

Didn’t you also try to write the script for FRIGHT NIGHT 2 (1988)?

No..I was too busy working on something else.  I really didn’t have anything to do with the film, except I gave Tommy Lee Wallace my blessing to go forward.  Tommy is a great guy, and he did a great job on the film.

Weren’t you offered the chance to direct the sequel though?

Yes, but again,  I was busy doing something else.  And also, as with all sequels in Hollywood the producer got cheap.  They wanted to make it for cheap.  They didn’t put Chris Sarandon in it cause of money issues, and they wanted to pay me less.   In those days, anything with a number after the title was looked down upon as well.  In retrospect, I wish I would’ve done it though, just cause I love those characters so much.  But again, Tommy did an amazing job on the film, so it worked out. But I wish Chris could have been in it.

How did you get involved in directing THE TEMP (1993)?

I was a director for hire.  And it was the one train-wreck of my life.  The studio and producer changed the ending on me.  The film is a disaster.   The ending is in-coherent, and when they changed the ending, it wrecked the whole movie.  I will say that there are some good acting pieces throughout. The studio thought they could change the ending to make more money on it.  They did the same thing prior on FATAL ATTRACTION, and saw success.  While we were making the film, the producer did the exact same thing on that Sharon Stone movie, SLIVER. That was being made at the same time we were making THE TEMP.  But that movie wasn’t hurt as bad. THE TEMP for me, is every horror story you’ve ever heard about studio interference.

How did you get involved in your succession of Stephen King projects?

THE LANGOLIERS I wanted to do. I loved the novella.  Then, THINNER I liked cause it seemed liked a challenge.  The ending of THINNER isn’t my ending. It’s just a tag, that they changed, they weakened.  The story has a very bitter ending. And the ending in the film was changed to be less bitter.

I’m a huge fan of Robert Burke.  Casting him, did you see him in the films he did with indie filmmaker, Hal Hartley?

He’s great. He’s a very under-rated actor.  Yes, I did see his stuff with Hal Hartley, and I loved them.  He’s a brilliant actor.

What kind of advice can you give to young screenwriters?

Two ways to learn how.  One. Read.  Two. Watch movies.  It’s all very bad right now. The doors are not open to original screenplays.  When I was coming up it was different.   Over the years Hollywood has started to take less and less risks.  All you can do is write and write, and get it out there.  The internet can help.  You can make something cheaply these days, and put it up on Youtube. for $1.95. You have to figure out how to make a scene play, how to get it up on it’s feet.  For example, my wife and I and Adam Green we just did this zombie Christmas video. I believe it’s up on the internet on Youtube.  It’s a parody of the Katie Perry video.  It’s part of the comedy horror genre. That’s the stuff that I’d be writing now if I was just starting out.  Did you know I’m in HATCHET 2, Adam Green’s new movie, did you see it yet?

Being a ‘MASTER OF HORROR’, what scares Tom Holland?

Making a bad movie…laughing.

What are you working on next?

Well…I can’t say.  Something BIG though.  I can’t say right now, but you’ll see an announcement very soon.