Mike Gencarelli, the creator and director behind the new Jaws 4 documentary, The Shark That Roared, has a new project on the horizon. This time he is bringing the focus to an actor whose unexpectant recent passing overwhelmed audiences who grew up with his films; Sam Neill.
Neill was best known for his role in the Jurassic Park franchise as Dr. Alan Grant. However, the actor had many notable roles both before and after his portrayal of the beloved paleontologist. Blockbusters, indies, as well as television work highlighted Neill’s career. Some of these projects include; The Hunt for Red October, Merlin, Dead Calm, and The Piano.
Treading on the Dark Side
Some of Neill’s fans are less aware of his accomplishments in the horror genre. He carved out a piece of the horror industry with classics such as; The Mouth of Madness, Event Horizon, and The Omen III: The Final Conflict. Other movies include Daybreakers and Possession. Many of these have aged better with time, finding cult status years after their initial theatrical release.
Director Mike Gencarelli has now made it his mission to enlighten audiences worldwide of Neill’s darker work in his new documentary; Beyond the Horizon of Madness: The Horrors of Sam Neill. He will be speaking with those in the industry who worked with the veteran actor in regards to their time on set together. Furthermore, fans will speak out on the impact the star had on their movie going experiences throughout his career.
Diving Deeper into Neill’s Madness with Gencarelli
It took a bit of madness to get the ball rolling with this project. The prompting force behind this idea actually was stirred up during a sleepless night for the director, and the initial image for the poster in his mind’s eye. When pushed a little further, Gencarelli told us at iHorror the motivation behind his newest project is;
“…to showcase the films that didn’t get enough love during their theatrical release, but have since developed a cult following.”
The most notorious examples of these films include Event Horizon and In the Mouth of Madness. The two movies vie for the director’s favorite among the long list of work the actor accomplished in his lifetime. However, he admits Neill’s performance in The Omen III also holds a special place in his horror loving heart.
“It (the documentary) has become more about celebrating his work and his career overall now.”
When we asked Gencarelli if the actor was aware of his intentions in making the documentary, he explained to iHorror he believed Neill was. He and his crew had reached out to Neill’s team on multiple occasions before the actor passed. They also tagged Neill in all of their social posts regarding the documentary, hoping the actor would catch wind of the project.
Gencarelli continued on, saying the tone of the documentary certainly shifted after the actor’s passing. Production had already begun, and some interviews were even already in the can.
While Sam Neill was the obvious choice for the director’s white whale of a catch to be featured in the documentary, it is also Gencarelli’s hope Michael De Luca, the writer of In the Mouth of Madness, will contribute his experience with the star studded actor.
Horror legend John Carpenter and actress Julie Carmen have already been interviewed for their segments in the documentary. Both speak about their individual experiences with Neill. John Carpenter directed him in Memoirs of an Invisible Man, while Carmen co-starred with Neill on the set of In the Mouth of Madness.
Others who have shown interest in participating in the doc include Event Horizon stars Jack Noseworthy, Richard T. Jones and Sean Pertwee.
Fans Propel the Madness Forward
Gencarelli told iHorror the outpouring of support from fans has been monumental. As his project moves forward, he has found a huge cult following supporting Neill’s films in the horror community, with an overwhelming love for Event Horizon and In the Mouth of Madness in particular. It is these fans who are pushing the documentary forward, and you can help!
The director has launched an indiegogo campaign with one week left on the timeline to help fund the project.
Rewards for pledges range from blu-rays, posters, and autographs to being included as an interviewee in the film, and even producer credits! Be sure to check out the campaign as time is winding down! This documentary is not just a celebration of Sam Neill’s work, but has now become a memorial to one of the greatest actors of our time. You can now be a part of that.
iHorror will keep you updated with developments on this documentary. In the meantime, tell us what your favorite Sam Neill movies are!