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Open Fan Letter From An Open Fanboy

I’ve never been the person to write fan letters. I can’t remember a time when I’ve ever written a celebrity, although I did write a programmer at SNK about 16 years ago about a game called Ikari Warriors (old school gamers will know that one). Strangely, he wrote me a six page letter in return (along with a yet to be published copy of Ikari Warriors 2, go figure). Then, there was the time that I got a letter from a guy who was cast as the "engineer of the week" for the 1st season of Star Trek" TNG. I remember him asking me to write Paramount and tell them that I loved his character. He didn’t make it long (I guess my, "That guy ain’t bad, but he sure isn’t Scotty" letter didn’t help). I’m rambling again aren’t I? Okay, to the point… I don’t write fan letters, and yet now I am compelled to.

Dear Sam,

I’ve been watching and following your career for almost two decades now. I remember walking the isles of my local video rental store and always being spooked by the cover to Evil Dead. Something about it just creeped me out. Finally, when I was allowed to rent horror, I choose your movie as one of my first rentals. I scared the bejezus out of me, it also set the foundation for my love of the horror genre. Then I watched Evil Dead 2. First it confused me. Didn’t the same damn plot happen in the first movie? I watched it again and saw it for the cinematic genius that it was. I was hooked! I would become a movie maker. I would make horror. I would make people laugh and scream all at the same time.

Over the years I watched all your films. I studied your camera work. I read about your style of directing. I was impressed (and a little jealous) of how you were able to keep and use your childhood friends in your films. It looked like you were staying true to your roots. You weren’t going to sell out. It had seemed that you were living the pipe dream of all film geeks. I remember when For the Love of the Game came out. Many of my friends were annoyed. They felt like you had given into the Hollywood machine. I didn’t. I knew how the game worked by then. I understood that nobody wanted to be pinned down as a one trick pony. So I defended the film. I defended your choice to make a non horror film. My argument was validated when you made films like A Simple Plan and The Gift.

I saw your love for the comic book genre in films like Darkman, Spiderman, and Spiderman 2 (arguably one of the greatest "superhero" films EVER made). I found myself giddy when I read about the forming of Ghost House Pictures. The thought that one day you would be producing a film that I had wrote, well it was almost too much for this Geek the bear. The Grudge is a fine horror film (remake or not). 30 Days of Nights should be great (comics and horror, that’s a little slice of heaven). Then I heard the news. The terrible, awful, heinous news… You were giving your blessing for an Evil Dead remake! Not a sequel, not even a prequel…no…a REMAKE!

It shook me to my little Fanboy core. Together, Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2 are some of the most inspirational films ever made. I’ve heard other well known filmmakers quoting both films as inspiration. Spin magazine named Evil Dead 2 as the greatest movie of the 20th century (granted, it’s Spin, but still). I just don’t understand the need for a remake. It’s not like you want to make a film more true to the original source. If there was things you couldn’t do in the past, fine… Do them now. The fans love the idea of an older even out of shape Ash going back to the cabin and screwing around all over again. We don’t need a clean cut and chiseled Ash. In fact, we prefer him as a loudmouthed beer swilling ass. Does Bruce not want to strap on the chainsaw anymore? Fine, us fans can accept that. Don’t make anymore, or maybe film Evil Dead 4: Daughter of Ash. Sure it’s cheese, but it’s that perfect kind of cheese that ages well. Please Sam, don’t go ahead with the remake. Either make something fresh, or let the movies go away.

First Metallica betrayed us… Then it was the Galaxy far, far, away… Please Sam, I don’t want to lose you the same was I lost George.

Stay groovy,
Aaron Duran

PS - Anyone know where I can mail this thing to? No? I didn’t think so, oh well…