For those of you who watched “The Hills Are Alive” on ChillerTV tonight 10/24/08 — you may have noticed an abrupt ending and no credits — this was not how it was suppose to end.  Due to a technical glitch in the ChillerTV netops the ending was cut off.  Please stay tuned as the full movie in its complete Small and Creepy best will be airing from now on.  Gotta love technology!

Fran finally finds the megalith. This is a cheap movie and so our megalith is just an uncovered eye of one that’s buried. Patty Podesta, a friend of mine, recommended a sculptor who was a student of hers to build it. Sometimes this is all you can afford, but I think it’s pretty great and continues to beg the question from the beginning of the movie. Why are all these images so similar? Was there a cosmic internet over the early centuries that circulated a common theme? Is the eye, sight, the beginning of understanding? Or the beginning of a self-delusional suicide? Nothing lasts except in its rusted, weather-beaten heap. Who knows? What will last of our time on earth?

–STEVE

Peter goes down in the oil pool.  The movie feels to me that it’s bored with itself and racing to the end.  But I have to give it up to the actors.  Each and every one finishes strongly.  And the question starts to whisper to us — has our selfish greed toward the earth doomed us to a sad, hollow end?  It’s amazing to me that cars and clubs and jet travel and fancy restaurants have led us by the nose toward a big tar pit of silly suicide.  He with the most toys doesn’t win; he loses in the stupidest way ever.

– STEVE

Also a favorite part of the movie for me. “Our parents aren’t real, substance is a joke.” Remember when they were talking about Star Trek and a spiritual journey? My how times have changed. And why are bimbos always tragic? At least in their own minds. One of the things I hate about the modern world is that it is so cerebral; few people, certainly kids, get the chance to prove to themselves their own ability through action, be it fixing their car or whatever. Everyone lives in their mind; everyone is a character in someone else’s movie. “I’m a bimbo and therefore I suck.” The flashbacks of those who die start here, and they are so beautiful and sad. As each of the characters die, the flashbacks break my heart. So sweet in childhood, so damaged in just a few years. What happens in this life?

–STEVE

My secrets are my secrets. Hmmm. Another thing about powerful art, it always seems that the artist is letting you in on their secrets. What secrets do you have? It’s one of the things that make the Internet go zoom, I think. With nicknames and anonymous posting you can let loose with your secrets. I think as much as anything that’s why the media is the most powerful drug in the world. What do you think would be the choice if it came down to you can have the TV/internet or alcohol and drugs? I think the subconscious plays out in images and stories, and the subconscious is told to go away and stay away with alcohol and drugs. So what do we want? Logical oblivion or scary confrontation with our fears and dreams? That’s what I think the Internet could become. Get a camera and start shooting what scares the fuck out of you. Forget the ecstasy, the tequila, and the attempted penetration; just kill, baby, kill.

–STEVE

You wet your pants and ran away is one of my earliest memories; I was probably in first grade and this sweet little classmate of mine wet hers, and everyone laughed and she bolted from the class and ran straight home. This was in the days when kids went to school close to their house. And Fran is certifiable here, and sweet Emma is still trying to calm her and make sense of something, anything. Sound familiar? The night exteriors look good, don’t you think? Three lights and here we go. I love digital.

–STEVE

This is my favorite sequence in the movie. The swimming pool, Emma swimming naked and then stepping into Fran’s father’s arms, deeply kissing him. Joe Fries plays Fran’s father, and he still owes us big time. He’s a great guy, a movie producer with a sharp twinkle in his eye, interested in quirky stories who’s got his nuts kicked in trying to make it in stupid Hollywood. And it’s Carrie Frazier playing Fran’s mom, one of the most influential Casting Directors in Hollywood, in charge of talent at HBO at the time. I wrote much of this sequence, and I love when Emma and Fran find each other after the swim and the kiss.

– STEVE

I think Fran is really spooking here, totally insane, completely around the bend. Have any of you witnessed someone like this? She becomes like an animal, only focused on herself and her reality. Maybe this too is what art is all about; the singular vision is the insane vision. But then why do we all love artists? Why are Van Gogh and Cobain and James Dean so idolized? Is it that we all want to go crazy to our dreams, our visions, our instincts…but we don’t have the balls to let go of the rope? Or is it that we know insanity burns like a bright fierce force but always burns out? It’s like taking drugs, let’s flirt with the flame and hope it doesn’t burn us out. Let’s talk the talk but ultimately not walk the walk. Paul Newman just died, and for those of you have never seen Cool Hand Luke, do yourself a favor. It’s one of the great characters in American movies, a smart, sensitive rebel who knows he has a choice — go along to get along, or stay true to your “asshole, fuck you I’m my own man” character and know they’re gonna kill you. Was Luke crazy? I don’t know.

–STEVE

Another prime example of the great sound effects work. Peter falls down a hill and the earth starts whispering “Peter….Peter”. That’s Margie and Sheena giving their seductive best late one night at the ranch editing room. I was gone on Nacho Libre for much of the post, and I’m really sorry I wasn’t around to watch these two work. I did finally return home from Oaxaca on my birthday, as Sheena was going back to London. We had a great, bawdy dinner and Margie flashed me her tits for a birthday present. Unfortunately, I was drunk and missed it. Story of my life. When we shot the cum shot of Peter and the gushing oil I remember thinking this is Dick Cheney’s wet dream. It’s all about oil, hey Dick?

–STEVE

I just love the line about Fran nesting down with the babies and waiting for the handsome ranger to come and rescue them.  She’s out of her freaking tree!  And as she covers up with oak leaves a second pair of hands comes in to help.  Freaky!  To be honest we stole that from The Grudge (original) when the heroine is in the shower washing her hair and a second pair of hands is suddenly there washing hair too.  We laid Kirsty, our props person, on the ground, covered her with leaves, then laid Taryn on top of her, piled leaves all around and turned the camera on.  Great work, Kirsty!

–STEVE