Mick Garris has a lot on his plate nowadays. With MASTERS OF HORROR moving under a new roof at NBC with the new name, FEAR ITSELF, and a screen adaptation of Stephen King’s BAG OF BONES while also producing Tobe Hooper’s vision of FROM A BUICK 8, it would seem as if the man couldn’t possibly take on any more projects. Well to prove that he’s a film making superman, Garris leaked a bit of information on a remake that he’s intent on making.
THIRST is an Australian vampire flick from the last 70’s that most people didn’t see, but that doesn’t stop Garris from wanting to breath new life into the old story.
“I’m not going to give anything away about it, but it’s a really different take,” he says. The original, produced in 1979 and directed by Rod Hardy, featured Amanda Muggleton and Chantal Contouri in a plot about a woman with blood ties to Elizabeth Bathory. She is drawn into a vampiric plot that leads her to the discovery of a blood harvesting facility. John Pinkney penned the script – it was his only feature.
“Not many people know the film. I love the take on it – the blood farm of acolytes, the sycophants who are willing to give blood to the regal, but setting it in something contemporary and American.”
I haven’t seen the Aussie film, so it’ll be fresh for me. I personally don’t think Garris is the best horror director out there, but I’ve enjoyed what he’s done. MASTERS was my favorite show and it’s truly unfortunate that it’s going to be watered down for network TV, but I suppose we have BAG and THIRST to look forward to. More on this will come soon, so keep your eyes peeled.