Michael Smiley: After working on Down Terrace with Ben, I knew that we’d be shooting Kill List at a great speed, and I knew to trust him – I knew that I’d be part of a process, rather than being a soft prop.
Sometimes acting can feel like you’re a guy in the corner; you’re moved into the mark, you say the lines, then they move you away again. They don’t give you any room to manoeuvre, for you to bring anything to it.
But on Kill List, it was a bigger crew, a bigger cast and a broader canvas than on Down Terrace, but we didn’t lose that feeling of spontaneity.
We shot really intensely. And when you weren’t shooting, you were standing behind the camera, looking at the monitor waiting to go back on again, itching to go back on again, you didn’t want to be behind the camera, you wanted to be in front of it. And that’s a rare feeling.
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Comments
writerdave87
Jan 10th 2012, 8:43
Great feature, thanks. Saw this the other night and it shook me up-definitely the best film I've seen for ages.
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ChrisWootton
Jan 10th 2012, 11:05
I saw it a while back and to be honest didn't really get what all the fuss was about.. After, there was a Q & A with the director.. someone in the crowd asked a genuine question (in a genuine way) that seemed to contradict certain elements of the film and the director just put him down harshly.. kind of annoyed to be honest as it wasn't about him having to defend the film.. doubt i'll make an effort to see his other stuff just out of principal
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sashurst
Jan 10th 2012, 12:37
@writerdave87 Thanks for the kind words - Kill List has stayed with me for a long time, I still find myself thinking about it during quiet moments. That's the mark of a great horror film. That's a massive shame @ChrisWootton, I hate that kind of thing too. But Ben was absolutely lovely when I met up with him. Really hope you don't stick to that viewpoint, he's got some really exciting stuff coming up.
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narmour1
Jan 10th 2012, 13:10
Am I the only one who is confused as to why a film script set in the Philippines was to be called "Get Jakarta"? I know Hollywood geography is a little bizarre at times but this is just lazy.
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ChrisWootton
Jan 10th 2012, 14:12
Hey Sam, yeah I guess it was pretty late by the time he came on. . maybe I'll check it out again on DVD as it seems I've missed something.
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SiMan
Jan 10th 2012, 14:16
I have to say i agree with ChrisWootton on this one......I just don't think i got it to be honest. I just thought the narrative was too slow to build up and i still don't think i understood fully what was happening at the end. THink this was one of the most over-hyped films in a long time. On a side note, are these types of gritty, grounded films the only real way that British film-makers can make themselves known? I can't remember the last film that was released from a British new talent that was a little bit more 'fun' and just a good movie-going romp that wasn't based on an existing property. As someone who wants to get into this line of work, maybe TF could do a feature on what the industry is looking for.
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Murphy0806
Jan 10th 2012, 16:11
Definitely my film of last year. Though I will admit when it finished I was completely flummoxed, annoyed and thought Wheatley was having us on a little. Then I spent about an hour wandering around the house with a beer trying to work out what the f**k just happened. Slowly things started to piece together and make (a little bit of) sense. I still have many questions, but that's what I love about it. Honestly, a film hasn't had that affect on me in quite some time. Brought back memories of leaving the cinema after Mulholland Drive.
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Murphy0806
Jan 10th 2012, 16:22
Also Mr Ashurst. When will your House of Horror feature be returning? We were told autumn I believe... Unless I'm being an idiot and just missed it.
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GarthMarenghi
Jan 12th 2012, 0:23
Absolutely loathed this film. I'm baffled that so many people are praising such a ramshackle movie populated by truly odious characters. It was like spending 90 minutes stuck in a lift with Danny Dyer.
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