‘Round the Web

Jeff Otto on SCI FI Channel

Jeff Otto’s Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Jeff Otto on Bloody-Disgusting.com

I admit it, I’m a bit of a horror fanatic. Luckily, I’ve been able to find a nice little outlet for my blood lust over at Bloody-Disgusting.com. Here’s a selection of some of my favorite articles for BD. Check back for more updates as the blood flows.

Casting the Nightmare on Elm Street Remake – This was one I was looking forward to writing for a long time. I’m an Elm Street fanatic from way back. I love the first, third and seventh and think four and five are interesting on a guilty pleasure level. Two and six are crap. But I digress. As I poured through various cast lists and possibilities, I first went with the obvious choice that had been floating around the web as a rumor, Billy Bob Thornton. While I still think that would have been interesting, my editor challenged me to dig deeper. Who could be creepy enough to play the ultimate boogeyman. Who could be sinister and twisted enough to make you route for a burned up dream-killing child molester. And then it hit me. Jackie Earle Haley. This was before I’d seen Watchmen, which further confirmed my choice. By that time, of course, Earle Haley was actually a rumored casting choice. Turns out my BD article had caught on and created quite a buzz. Platinum Dunes producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form made Earle Haley an offer and the rest is history. When I visited the set in Chicago this summer and saw Earle Haley in his full prosthetic glory, I even got a thank you from the man himself.

Casting the Hellraiser Remake – This one was a bit of a challenge. I enjoyed the first couple Hellraiser movies, but the sequels kind of lost me. When this assignment came up, I had go back and re-watch the originals for a little refresher. All in all, I think the list came out pretty well. While the cast I chose probably won’t come together, it would be a hell of a remake if they did. Maybe we’ll get at least one again.

Interviews with Clive Barker – What started out as a simple short phone interview to discuss the recent Blu-ray release of Midnight Meat Train turned into a two part interview totaling about two hours and a tour of Barker’s office including hundreds of canvas paintings and some rather, ahem, revealing photography. Barker is a very nice guy and we really hit it off. We talked about his writing, his movies and his dogs. Three German Shephards for those interested.