LUCKY McKEE

The maniac behind the horror hits MAY, THE WOODS and THE WOMAN actually looks like a pretty friendly dude, and you know what...he is. We had a chance to catch up with the writer/director and pick at his brain a while...but don’t worry, we left some intact for him.

JOSE: What or who inspired you to make films?

LUCKY: When I realized I'd never be able to draw comics as good as my favorite artists, I moved into movies. It was around the same time I got into horror movies (around 11-12 years old). Being from a small town in Northern California, George Lucas was also a huge inspiration. I went to film school at USC because that's where he went. I went in to college wanting to make fantasy stuff like Star Wars and came out of college wanting to make stuff like Taxi Driver.

JOSE: If you had to pick a favorite genre filmmaker, who would it be?

LUCKY: I think Tarantino is the top filmmaker on the planet.

JOSE: Do you have a favorite all time horror film?

LUCKY: Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the greatest horror film of all time.

JOSE: I'm assuming you're a big fan of the Halloween season. What is your favorite memory of it?

LUCKY: Candy. I didn't get to eat candy much when I was a kid, so when Halloween came around it was heaven.

JOSE: Candy was huge for me too. So let’s talk about your recent work. What attracted you to THE WOMAN?

LUCKY: The opportunity to work with producer Andrew van den Houten, actress Pollyana McIntosh, and to write a story from the ground up with Jack Ketchum. I thought we could do something unique.

JOSE: Pollyana turns in an Oscar-caliber performance, and I was lucky (pun intended) to tell her so in person. How do you prepare with your actors?

LUCKY: Depends on the actor. In the indie world you never get enough time to rehearse, so mostly it's just conversations; one-on-one stuff, to get to the bottom of what we're doing and how we want to play it. Some actors need a lot of information, others very little. It's my job to figure out what gets them comfortable enough to give me the desired results.

JOSE: Speaking of Oscar-caliber, as the awards season reaches fever pitch, I'm curious what your favorite film was in 2011? Mine was HUGO, where do you stand?

LUCKY: DRIVE was the best new film I saw last year. I don't watch a lot of the new stuff though. I'm pretty universally hated for loving SUCKER PUNCH. What can you do? Girls kicking ass always wins with me.

JOSE: Sucker Punch? Ouch...really? Anyway, back to YOUR movies. Your use of music is wonderful in THE WOMAN! Where do those choices stem from, and how important is music for you?

LUCKY: Thanks. This specific film found me very tired of traditional movie scores. But I never get tired of rock and roll and Sean Spillane is one of the best rock guys I've had the pleasure of meeting over the years. I'm really proud of this, his first solo album. I love the way the music is in dialogue with the imagery on screen.

JOSE: From your films, I can tell you don't shy away from the red stuff. Would you consider splatter to be a huge component to your work? Does it help you decide what films to tackle? Where does the importance lie in terms of blood?

LUCKY: Gore and stuff is just a part of my films in the same way it's a part of fairy tales. If there's not a reason for it, it's pretty boring.

JOSE: How do you keep yourself excited and interested in such a frustrating field like filmmaking?

LUCKY: I work with really great artists who inspire me. I love to spark an artist's mind and see where they go with the seeds I give them. It's a very rewarding experience, the collaborative process.

JOSE: I’m sure you get offered tons of material. So what's the craziest script you've ever turned down as a director?

LUCKY: Not the craziest, but I just couldn't get myself to direct The Girl Next Door (Ketchum's masterpiece). It was too much for me. I had a good approach to it, but just didn't see how to do it and be able to function afterwards.

JOSE: That’s completely understandable, after watching that film. That being said, what would be your dream project?

LUCKY: Workin' on it right now.

JOSE: Great, so that's what’s on the horizon for Lucky?

LUCKY: Scribblin' away at the moment, trying to come up with new ways to fuck with people. In light and dark ways.

Interview conducted by:
-Jose Prendes