Zombos' Closet of Horror

Brian Corder Talks About Carnies

Director Brian Corder was kind enough to chat about his  film Carnies, which follows the denizens of the Knuckles Brothers Show and their travails as a sinister force stalks the midway, leaving a bloody trail of "crumpled, torn, soulless bodies in its wake." With a talented cast that includes Reggie Bannister, Doug Jones, and Denise Gossett in a setting that automatically screams 'creepy'.

Carnies is shaping up to be a notable entry in the grand tradition of carnival-stylized horror films, such as Freaks, The Funhouse, and Vampire Circus.

Carnies is set in the 1930s. What challenges have you experienced in directing the action and characters for a film set in this time period?

Thanks to my wonderfully talented cast, I don't recall a problem with direction when it came to it being a period piece. There is certain Carny terminology, like the words Rangy and Grouch Bag that had to be worked out in prior to the shooting, but it really wasn't any problem.

ZC Note: A grouch bag (circa 1908) was a hidden purse used by a performer to carry money, and was usually strung around the performer's neck. It is reputed that Julius 'Groucho' Marx got his nickname from using one to carry his poker money. BC Note: Rangy or wrangy (rhymes with "tangy") — Worked up, usually in a vulgar sense (possibly a variant of 'randy'). A show could be rangy ( a really 'strong' kootch show), or the patrons might be in a rangy mood (a very hot Saturdaynight, or being able to afford too much beer 'cause it's payday) or a patron may be rangy or ranged up (drunken, disorderly, disruptive, spoiling for a fight). "He's wrangin' the joint" would mean the customer is giving the jointee a very hard time. May also apply to an aggressive animal. From what I understand, the word 'rangy' is derived from the word 'orangutang'.

Freaks (1932)

Zombos was gloomier than usual. The ageless Grandpa Munster had finally passed the veil. I must admit that I was also saddened by the passing of Al Lewis. Nothing reminds us more of our own looming mortality than the death of those traveling along with us through life’s journey.

“The man had history,” said Zombos, sipping his claret. “So few performers today have history.”

I nodded in agreement. The fireplace crackled in agreement. The Promoli fantasy clock on the mantle chimed in agreement.

I felt a spell of reminiscence coming on.

“You know,” said Zombos, “I remember when he had his Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village, back in the eighties. It was late one night, and we were just walking along, and there he was, sitting in front of his restaurant—I believe it was called Grampa’s—chomping on a huge cigar. As we stopped to take a look, he jumped up, opened the door, and said 'Are you hungry?' Well, of course we could not pass up the invitation. Such a wonderful personality; earthy, yet vastly talented and resourceful, with a true zest for life.” Zombos fell silent.

Our peaceful mood was soon broken by the arrival of Uncle LaVey, the blackest of the black sheep in Zimba’s family tree. Dressed in his black shirt and pants, and with his black widow’s peaked hairline and black goatee, he presented quite the look of the Satanist about town.

“Zombos!” he said, “I thought you might like to see this again.” He tossed over my copy of Freaks, directed by Tod Browning.

“Well, it’s about time you returned it,” I said. He smiled.

A peal of thunder echoed outside, followed by a flash of lightning. Rivulets of water started sliding down the narrow windowpanes of the library; a perfect setting in which to view one of cinema’s more outré films. Zombos passed the bottle of claret over to Uncle LaVey, and I inserted the DVD into the player.

The Funhouse (1981) The Shudderites Attack Part 5

Part 4

Finally deciding that Zombos must be held by the dark power in the tower on the right, our valiant rescuers wait patiently for nightfall before making their rescue attempt.

"That's funny," said Steve Brown.

“What's funny,” I asked.

“I was thinking about the first time we met.”

“How odd; I was thinking about that too. Why, it seems like only yesterday--I remember it quite clearly,” I said, cupping my hands behind my head as I reminisced.

“Now what?” I said.

“Don’t leave me,” moaned Zombos. He had just returned from taking junior to see Curious George, at Zimba’s insistence of course. She can be so cruel at times.

“Here, just hold this compress to the back of your neck—and keep your head lower. Take deep breadths, too. I will return.” I handed him the cold compress.

The doorbell rang again. “Oh, bother!” I hopped down the staircase a few steps at a time.

When I opened the front door, I was quite startled. A UPS truck was parked in the driveway, and a deliveryman was standing on the front steps, two boxes piled at his feet and a smile on his face. He shoved his electronic signing gadget in my face with glee.