Alkytrio666 - Wes Craven is making another low budget slasher. Think of possible casting options for the flick.
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At this point in the game, horror can no longer be played safe; Wes Craven knows this better than anyone. When he helmed Scream he essentially re-molded the idea of the horror movie. By casting a lot of hip, young stars and going for a kind of self-mocking tone, he took a big risk but came up with something huge.
However, by doing so, he also spawned a new definition to the genre which has gotten tired and safe. Countless knock-offs and insulting spoofs have been made, and many people already now look at Scream as something outdated; a lot of its cast never got farther than the 90s, and what was once a very original and surprisingly fresh idea now looks to some noisy.
In casting Wes Anderson’s newest slasher, the aging-process must be recognized and thought about, but the film also mustn’t come across as a gimmick or a re-trend. It is for this reason that the cast needs to be filled with both recognizable names but also contain some strong relatively-unknowns.
I have made the decision to fill these roles in a way many might consider backwards, but I believe will serve the film well: the major parts will be played by newer names while support will be given by more well-known actors.
Let’s face it: Scream may have been more gladly accepted for much longer if it had had some longer-lasting star appeal (someone like De Niro is immortal; David Arquette, not so much). However, in order to have the film pave new paths and begin another wave of originality it needs to utilize new faces for this generation.
The film will take a newer route and include both adult and teen actors. The teen-slasher has worn its welcome, and there are adults who may be interested in a horror film that hits closer to home, too. No one knows this better than Wes Craven, whose film Last House on the Left lay most of its power in the hands of the vengeful parents, not the kiddies.
The plot centers in on a mining town in Colorado, where everyone lives quite close to each other, every face is familiar. Mining is a father-son business there, and the family roots stretch deep. As people in workers start disappearing deep inside the caves, suspects pile up, but it isn’t until the twisty ending that the killer is revealed- an old, religious widow who lives by the church.
Without further ado,
The Cast:
Dusty King (Main Miner Boy) – Paul Dano (
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200452/ )
Already a recognizable face but still developing an acting style he can call his own, this would complete a kind of tri-film series; he will have played in a comedy, a drama and, now, a horror movie. With his believable and relatable (and these are key words) persona he would instantly gain the audiences’ trust and admiration, something which is important to make a horror film effective but rarely done right.
Jim King (Dusty’s Father)- Sam Rockwell (
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005377/ )
Sam Rockwell has slowly but surely edged his way into Hollywood over the last few decades, and now he’s one of those actors with a recognizable face, though nobody really knows him by name yet. He’s subtle and natural, and the horror genre would fit him well; he’s used to darker roles, as he played one of the troubled outlaws in The Assassination of Jesse James in 2007. He would play the father to our protagonist, being both tough and quiet but also helpful and ultimately heroic.
Roxy Swinton (Dusty’s girlfriend) – Ellen Page (
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0467406/ )
Why? Because there is a good actress hiding under that hipster act, and its begging for something different and daring. Not only can she fill the comedic aspects so important to a slasher, but also the real dramatic parts. A significant other side-kick is important for these kinds of movies, and here is the girl to play her.
The Boss – Ed Harris (
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000438/ )
It’s important to have a dislikeable character, one who we all wait patiently to be offed, and cheer when that time comes. Ed Harris has achieved a career status as a man who can sincerely play an asshole well. He’s gruff, sarcastic, and can often become inhumanly barbaric.
Linda Rowe (Old town lady/killer) – Margot Kidder (
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0452288/ )
In an almost self-reflexive role, Margot would play the town eccentric, the seemingly harmless old lady who, as it turns out, just may have a few screws loose. She’s charming, but can also be ruthlessly comedic, poking fun at modern trends and routines. She hasn’t gotten a good role in awhile, but deserves a shot at something risqué yet fun, like this.
Besides these, most of the roles would be given to new talent, found by auditions. Wes has successfully broken in a lot of star power, and it is this talent that should be boosted both by a fresh take on the slasher film and a few willing stars in strong supporting roles.