Terrible News: Bob Clark Killed by Drunk Driver

I just read this over at Bloody Disgusting, and I had to do a double take. I cannot believe this has happened.

Bob Clark - a director I rate incredibly highly - and his son were both killed in a car crash in the early hours of this morning. This is horrible. A shocking tragedy, made all the worse by the fact that their death was the result of a drunk driver. Bob’s son was 22, he was 67.

Clark was responsible for Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things, Porky’s, Deathdream, and the magnificent Black Christmas, among other things. His work has inspired generations of film makers, and he will be sadly missed.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

More Pointless Remake News

Bloody Disgusting - which neatly sums up my thoughts on this - are reporting that Poltergeist is to be remade. If that wasn’t bad enough, In the shot for shot style that served Psycho so well. Repeat after me: what…is…the…point?

And good old Fango have an published interview with Bob Clark in which he talks about Black Christmas, in which he mentions the aforementioned Psycho remake. While he’s pleased that the upcoming Black Christmas remake isn’t a direct copy, it does sound like Morgan and Wong have totally missed the point of the original. And I can’t help but get the impression that Clark sounds somewhat disappointed with the result.

(Black) Christmas Is Coming, It’s Time To Double Dip

Better news from Arrow in the Head: A new Black Christmas DVD is coming.

It’ll be all shiny and remastered, and is intended to cash in on the upcoming remake. I have virtually no hope for the remake - the original is one of the finest horror films ever made and, much like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, should not suffer the indignity of being remade. The TCM remake is one of the few films I’ve ever felt compelled to walk out of. I didn’t, but maybe the Black Christmas remake can “succeed” where others failed.

So - if you’ve not got a copy of Black Christmas yet, wait for this one. Or pick one of the other versions up cheap. Any self respecting horror fan should see this film.

And Deathdream.

And worship the majesty of Bob Clark.