FILM 1966: VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED

FILM 1966: VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED

TRIVIA: This was the final feature film completed by Christopher Reeve before a horse riding accident on May 27, 1995 which left him paralyzed.

The film was shot in western Marin County, California. Director John Carpenter had a house in Inverness for several years, so the location was essentially his second home at that time (as the director puts it, "his own backyard"). However, the locals were not happy to see the film crew in the area so they made the shoot very difficult by harassment and vandalism. Carpenter tells that while they were filming, for example, a sound take, a neighbor would start mowing his lawn or start up a chainsaw until he was paid to stop. Some of the people even tried to break into the equipment trucks. The whole experience essentially soured Carpenter on living in the area, where several scenes of his earlier film The Fog (1980) were also filmed.

John Carpenter had planned to work again with Universal on their long-gestating remake of Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), but the film's box office failure killed those plans. As of 2017, the remake remains unmade, although speculation began again with the announcement of Universal's "Dark Universe" brand.

Based on the novel The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham, published through Penguin Books.

DIRECTOR CAMEO: John Carpenter: Man at gas station pay phone.

FILM 1851: THE VILLAGE

FILM 1851: THE VILLAGE

TRIVIA: Joaquin Phoenix made a wooden walking stick for Bryce Dallas Howard during the 19th-century preparation the actors participated in before the film. He engraved the name of her character, Ivy, on the walking stick.

Director M. Night Shyamalan put the entire cast through a 19th century "boot camp" in order for them to get a good feel for the time period.

The director cast Bryce Dallas Howard without an audition after seeing her perform on stage.

Bryce Dallas Howard and Judy Greer, who played sisters Ivy and Kitty, would later play sisters again in Jurassic World (2015).

The role of Lucius Hunt was written for Joaquin Phoenix.

Kirsten Dunst was replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard after dropping out to star in Elizabethtown (2005). Dunst and Howard later appeared together in Spider-Man 3 (2007).

The film is included on the film critic Roger Ebert's "Most Hated" list.

Second collaboration between Joaquin Phoenix, Cherry Jones, and M. Night Shyamalan after previously working together on Signs (2002).