Interview Excerpt

Here's a little sneak preview of an upcoming interview we'll be featuring with none other than Edward Douglas, founder of the famous gothic Halloween-music band Midnight Syndicate, and director of their first feature film: 'The Dead Matter.' Many thanks go out to Mr. Douglas for taking the time out of his busy schedule to talk with us - it was truly an honor!

DIOTD: As a director, you have your own unique vision you bring to the production. But with that being said, are there any directors out there that inspired you to become a director? Or contemporary directors that knock you out visually today?


ED: George Romero is probably my single greatest influence. Not only as a director but as an independent filmmaker who proved that you could make a brilliant horror film in the midwest, outside of the Hollywood system, with limited resources. "Night of the Living Dead" and "Creepshow" had a huge influence on me and inspired me to do "The Dead Matter." Sam Raimi is another one from the midwest who started way outside the system and made it happen through perseverence. As an indie filmmaker, you look up to those icons. Growing up it was Stephen Spielberg and Alfred Hitchcock movies that first got me to pick up a camera and shoot. As far as contemporary directors, I really enjoy so many of the horror films coming out today it's hard to single some out without missing a bunch. I appreciate films like "Let the Right One In", "Dead Girl," and "Human Centipede" for pushing the boundaries of horror cinema. I really enjoy a well-shot ghost story like "The Orphanage," "Reincarnation," "Ghost Ship," and "The Abandoned" just to name a very few.