DM: Keep it quiet, man! I used a pseudonym on that flick for a reason!
TD: You've yet to wander from the horror movie field of things. Do you think you'll maybe pen or direct, say, a romantic comedy in the future? (a non-doll based one, I mean). Or would you rather carry on like you've been doing, subverting the genre by introducing the traits of other genres?
DM: I'd like to do both, actually. But the script I'm writing now, which I hope to direct, is another horror movie, though one very different in tone from "Chucky." It's neither camp nor a slasher flick; it's more in the tradition of "Poltergeist."
TD: "Childs Play" and "Cellar Dweller" were released in 1988. It's taken until 2004 for you to step up behind the cameras and wear the big baseball-cap and stuff (ie, direct). Why the delay? Was it a case of folks not willing to take chances with a first-time director, or were you just waiting until you felt comfortable? Did you pick up any tricks from the likes of Ronny Yu or John Lafia?
DM: I learned a lot from all the directors I've worked with. I owe a lot to David Kirschner, the producer of all the "Chucky" films. He allowed me to participate in the making of these movies to a degree that not a lot of screenwriters experience. It was a great training ground. I've wanted to direct all my life, but as you suggest, studios don't trust their millions to just anyone; you have to prove yourself, as I did, I guess, with my work on "Bride."
TD: When you settle down in the Mancini home of an evening, what flicks tend to get you all enraptured?
DM: I like a lot of different kinds of movies, though my tastes tend to run toward stuff that's "bigger-than-life" — horror, thrillers, adventure, stylized comedy, animation (I'm a huge "Simpsons" fan). My favorite recent movies are "Kill Bill" (I and II), "The Aviator," "The Incredibles," "The Bourne Supremacy," "Shrek 2," and "The Manchurian Candidate." My favorite directors: De Palma; Spielberg; Fincher; Burton; Jackson; Ridley Scott; Shyamalan (I thought "The Village" was over-maligned).
And with that, barring a question he already answered, he's gone, like in that flick with Kevin Spacey about Gabriel Byrne has killed everyone, but no, wait, it wasn't him after all, or maybe it was, but it doesn't matter cause he turns out to be Satan and then Arnold Schwarzenegger drinks some booze and shoots him fuckless with an Uzi 9-mm.
Article comments
1 - Jim Carruthers
I was so inspired by your interview, I downloaded the movie. Now I just have to watch it.
Brad Dourif is your mark of quality for really bad things happening (even when he is playing a decent guy as the doctor in "Deadwood").
2 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Jim, i'm glad you were inspired, and i wager the flick itself will inspire you just as much, although in the case of the celluloid, i'll have to hand over at least 82% of the credit for said inspiration.
3 - Greg Smyth
Great interview Duke! A damn fine read as ever...
4 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
thanks greg, glad you enjoyed it.
5 - indika
are going to make a another chucky movie although chucky is "dead"? Is he really dead or is he coming back? Whats the next movie going to be called?
6 - honey
Hi my name is honey am 12years old and
my favourite movie is seed of chucky.
My favourite actor of seed of Chucky is Brad Dourif(Chucky),Jennirfer Tilly and Tilly (Tiffeny).
i would like to thank Don Mancini for doing this brillent movie i can wait for the next movie to come Chucky goes psycho.
Also i would like to say hi to Jennirfer Tilly,Brad Dourif and Don Mancini xxx
7 - honey
Hi my name is honey am 12years old and
my favourite movie is seed of chucky.
My favourite actor of seed of Chucky is Brad Dourif(Chucky),Jennirfer Tilly and Tilly (Tiffeny).
i would like to thank Don Mancini for doing this brillent movie i can wait for the next movie to come Chucky goes psycho.
Also i would like to say hi to Jennirfer Tilly,Brad Dourif and Don Mancini xxx
8 - Alexsis (alex) neuman
I loved all the Chucky films. "Seed was kinda like watching another installment of "Scary movie", don't ya think? It was funny though. Ya should see my freakin' room. I have Chucky shit every where!! Plus I wrote a screen play for the next Chucky movie. I'd tell ya'll what I call it, but I need to see if I can get ahold of Mancini before I do. Just incase some one magically decides to take the idea. I am telling you, any Chucky lover is gonna love my Child's Play 6 installment. TELL Mancini about me please!All the Child's play films totally rocked!!! Hey Duke do you think Mancini would ever read my screenplay??? O yeah and KICK ASS SITE!!! ROX BIG TIME!!!
9 - kimberly
i love the all the chucky movies there the best horror movies in the world!!! althooo people are tryin to say that seed of chucky was lame it wasn't i loved it and so did my family and friends..jennifer tilly makes the movie awsome thanks jen... n i would like to thank don mancini for creating this chucky movies. i can't wait to see the next chucky movies.. PEACE OUT YO =]
10 - Rebecca Wilson
Hi my name is Rebecca Wilson Im 12 My favourite movie has got to be the the Bride of Chucky I loved it that much I actually wanted to send Don Mancini a Idea of my own but on every website I check I can never find his Address or where he works now please can anyone tell me where theese places are it is really inportant to me my
11 - DJ
Seed of chucky is cool.
12 - wsdrbj
The next movie should be 'THE CHILDERN OF CHUCKY"