Kevin Smith became the poster boy of indie filmmaking back in the 90s when he released his first comedy film Clerks to the praise of movie watchers and critics alike. From then on, Smith cemented himself as one of the raunchiest and innovative comedy directors of his era, and many of his films are great contributions to the genre.
But in 2011, everything changed, and Smith proved his ability as a capable filmmaker, able to delve in other territories. With Red State, his career took a different direction and started to explore the horror genre. Fans of Smith’s horror films may not know these 10 facts.
Quentin Tarantino Likes Them
When Kevin Smith was coming up as a filmmaker in the 90s, another director was establishing his name, as well. Quentin Tarantino and Smith were part of the indie movement of the 90s. Smith with Clerks and Mallrats, and Tarantino with Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. So it’s no wonder these two eventually became friends.
Tarantino has even praised Smith’s work on several occasions, and in 2011 he put Smith’s first horror movie, Red State, in his best films of the year list. For the movie Tusk, Smith asked Tarantino to play a role, to which the Kill Bill director declined, but expressed great interest in watching the movie.
Red State Was Edited While Filming
The screenplay for Smith’s first horror movie was already written in 2007 and ready to shoot, but Kevin Smith wasn’t allowed to do it before finishing Zack And Miri Make A Porno. The production of the movie was delayed since Smith wanted it to be perfect (and because he had a weird superstition about dying after his 10th film).
The energy he had when he started production was such that he was able to edit the movie as he was filming. He himself was the editor of the project and, after just two days of finishing production, was able to show cast and crew a proper cut of the movie.
Red State Controversies
Like deja vu from his days of Dogma, Kevin Smith was embroiled in a bunch of controversy with the release of Red State. First was his polemic marketing ploy when he presented the movie at Sundance that year. After saying he was going to auction the distribution rights of the film, he ended buying them from himself, angering a segment of the industry.
On top of this, since the film portrayed a fanatic religious cult, reminiscent of the Westboro Baptist Church, the movie was protested by this church, similar to how some catholic groups protested Dogma in 1999.
The Idea Of Tusk Came From Talking On A Podcast
Tusk was Kevin Smith’s second horror movie, and it stars Justin Long and Micahel Parks. The film took place in Canada and it marks the first of the “True North Trilogy,” a series of horror movies that take place in the northern country, and from which only two movies have been released.
The idea for Tusk came to Smith on his podcast SModcast while discussing an ad from a Craiglist-type site of someone offering living accommodations in exchange for, not money, but the guest dressing as a walrus. In the podcast, Smith developed the idea that eventually would become the film.
The Body Count Of Tusk: One
Many have described Tusk as one of Kevin Smith’s weirdest movie. The plot deals with an insane old-man who kidnaps the protagonist and starts gruesomely transforming him into a walrus that once saved his life. With elements of torture porn and body horror, the terror in Tusk is experienced through its graphic nature.
But interestingly, despite being a movie with a disturbing topic and belonging to the horror genre, not much killing happens. Actually, the only one who dies is Michael Parks’ villainous character at the end, revealing Tusk as a mash-up of tropes from other genres and movies.
The “True North Trilogy” Is A Spinoff Of The View Askewniverse
The majority of films directed by Kevin Smith belong to the in-shared universe known by fans as the View Askewnivers. Like the Marvel or DC films, these movies share the same world, mostly recognized by the appearance of its two most famous characters, Jay And Silent Bob.
These movies tend to fall into the comedy genre, while the movies that form the “True North Trilogy” are horror. Tusk, Yoga Hosers, and the upcoming Moose Jaws, despite their genre, also are part of Askewniverse.
Kevin Smith Played The Bratzis In Yoga Hosers
Yoga Hosers is the film that Smith directed right after Tusk and is a spin-off. Starting his daughter Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp, the film is a mix of comedy and horror in which a bunch of terrifying little creatures appear called “Bratzis” (little Nazi clones made out of bratwurst).
Long-time collaborator Jason Mewes was meant to portray the creatures but couldn’t because of his claustrophobia and inability to wear the heavy make-up. After failing to convince Haley Joel Osment to take the role, Kevin Smith himself assumed the identity of the little critters.
The Yoga Hosers Are Real Friends
Yoga Hosers could be described as a family and friends affair. Not only does Smith’s daughter star in the film, but his wife, Jennifer Smith, plays her mother. The other star of the movie, Lily-Rose Depp, is the daughter of actor Johnny Depp, who also appears in the film.
Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith have been friends since they were little kids, which is one of the reasons why Depp accepted appearing in the film and in Tusk. Vanessa Paradis, the mother of Lily, also appears as a character, as well as his son and Lily’s little brother, Jack Depp.
Kilroy Was Here
Besides the “True Noth Trilogy”, Smith has plans for other horror movies. He already contributed to the horror anthology Holidays, with a short film called Halloween. Another anthology, but this time of his authorship, is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2020, called Kilroy Was Here. This project is written with Andrew McElfresh.
Smith said: “The film is a comedy horror anthology centered around the phenomenon of the “Kilroy was here” graffiti” The Kilroy phenomenon is arguably one of the first memes in history and was a doodle made by American soldiers during WWII.
The Last Of The “True North Trilogy”
Until 2020, only two of the three movies that make up the “True North Trilogy” have been released: Tusk and Yoga Hosers. The third movie, titled Moose Jaws, has been described by Smith as “Jaws with a moose,” and has internet star Harley Morenstein of Epic Meal Time as its protagonist.
The movie will also feature Jason Mewes and Smith himself as Jay and Silent Bob, placing this next film and the whole trilogy into the Askewniverse.
