Black Christmas Director Sophia Takal on Her Gutsy Remake of the Horror Classic
53Black Christmas Director Sophia Takal on Her Gutsy Remake of the Horror Classic
Blumhouse Productions is hoping that the public's desire for more horror fare and alternative programming to films like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker or Jumanji: The Next Level will translate into box office success for their Black Christmas remake which launches this Friday. Directed by Sophia Takal, who also cowrote the script with April Wolfe, this second remake of the classic 1974 Canadian horror film stars Imogen Poots (The Art of Self-Defense) in the title role. Like the original, the film is set during the winter break at a university and centers on a group of young sorority sisters being stalked by a mysterious killer. However, in this 2019 version these ladies aren't just waiting around to be killed. They're fighting back with any and all weapons at their disposal. The updates don't end there with the film including a powerful #MeToo storyline, a pull no punches approach to subjects like date rape, the white male patriarchy and the brainwashing of young men to view the growing independence of women as a threat to their societal standing.
Before the film's release, I sat down with Takal to discuss how she came on to the project as a director and what the process was like for her remaking this horror classic for Blumhouse. We talked about her gutsy approach to the material and how important it was for her to show in her version what it was like to be a young woman in 2019. Takal also discussed working with Wolfe to construct a script that stayed true to the vibe of the original yet resonated powerfully for horror loving audiences in 2019. Read the questions that I asked down below and watch the video above to see Takal's answers. Black Christmas also stars Cary Elwes, Brittany O’Grady (Star), Aleyse Shannon (Charmed), Lily Donoghue (Grey’s Anatomy), Ben Black (Roman Empire), and Caleb Eberhart (The Post).
Sophia Takal:
What was the process like creating this remake with such a topical approach to current social issues with Blumhouse?
How did you come onto the project?
Image via Universal Pictures
How much did the script change from conception to when you started shooting?
How did you assemble this talented young cast?
Were there any alternate endings that you considered? And what was the meaning in the last scene of Riley's look?
How important was it to you to have multiple point of views presented in this movie and what message did you want the film to send to women?
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