Here’s some much welcome news for a late Friday afternoon. Joe Dante, who recently turned 77, will be directing his first film in over 10 years.
Deadline is reporting that Roger Corman is teaming up with Dante to produce a reboot of Corman’s 1960 classic “The Little Shop of Horrors” called “Little Shop of Halloween Horrors”. And, yes, Dante will be directing this one.
Corman – who turns 98 on April 5th – has directed more than 70 films and produced more than 300 over the course of his seven-decade career.
“Matinee” writer Charles S. Haas has written the screenplay for “Little Shop of Halloween Horrors”, but plot details have not been revealed. The source material was already turned into a 1986 musical, starring Steve Martin. Dante’s film will likely not bear much resemblance to that one and lean more towards genre territory, much like Corman’s film.
Dante, an underrated, and very gifted, genre filmmaker has such credits as “Piranha,” “The Howling,” “Gremlins”, “The ‘Burbs,” and “Matinee” — the latter, his best film, and a lyrical love letter to William Castle and 50s monster movies.
Dante deserves more recognition than he’s gotten. He infuses his films with unique and creative charm, his style is that of these wonderfully made B-movies that are filled with humor, sincerity and, of course, horror. His best films might have been commercial failures, but they’ve stood the test of time.
I also love how 1989’s “The ‘Burbs” has attained cult status in recent years. If there’s one film from Dante that I’d start with, it’s that one, featuring one of Tom Hanks’ most undervalued and subversive performances.