A well-known writer/director of B-Movie Titles such as Silent Deaf’ning (2007), Bill Huckstabelle: Serial Rapist (2015), and Bronx Bigfoot (2016), as well as starring in similarly themed titles such as The Fappening (2015), Jerry Landi has made a name for himself in modern low-budget filmmaking with his unconventional themes and a gritty, urban aesthetic.
We were lucky enough to get the chance to talk to Jerry about his latest feature, the 2019 documentary Reed Unbound: The Joel M Reed Story, directed by Adrian Esposito and himself, which explores the work and interviews the prominent exploitation director Joel Reed, director of the renowned exploitation horror, Blood Sucking Freaks (1976).
How did The Joel M Reed documentary project come about, Jerry?
I was working with filmmaker Sean Weathers on THE FAPPENING, when halfway through the shoot Sean informs me that Joel Reed is going to play a part in the film. To say the least, I was excited. While we waited for the setups, I put the camera on Joel and started to ask him questions.
At the end of the night I asked Sean how the interview footage looked, and he told me he erased them to save space on the harddrive.
Fortunatly, I struck up a friendship with him, and convinced him to do the interview again, in a documenatry about him
Could you tell us about Joel’s early days?
He was in the Army, and when he was discharged, he wound up working in Hollywood as a go between. He told a story about him and Elizabeth Taylor, where he was assigned to take her to dinner and escort her for the evening. He woud up meeting Joe Sarno, who helped him shape his narrative.
Why did Joel want to make such a controversial film like “Blood Sucking Freaks“?
It started out as a film about The Ballet, and wound up mutating into what it became. Joel saw a live Naked Ballet one night and thought about the concept of live ballet mixed with torture. When a filmmaker is given money and a free pass to do what ever they want, you get Blood Sucking Freaks.
What was the reaction to the film from the audience?
It was a hit when it was first released, then became a staple at The 8th street playhouse, where I first saw it. It’s one of the greatest What The Fuck movies ever made. Still holds up.
Who wrote the film’s screenplay and planned all the outrageous scenes?
It was all Joel.
What was Joel’s reaction to the controversy surrounding the film?
Joel loved it. Having a film that has people running for the exits can’t help but be a hit. Seeing it with a live audience was a real treat. But he wound up losing the rights to the film to Lloyd Kaufman of Troma films, where he pushed the controversy of the graphic nature of the film and raked in the real cash. Joel wound up losing the rights because his partner lost money on a Superbowl game, and sold the rights to Kaufman for $10,000, Real shame
Tell us about Blood Bath, another Reed film.
Its a good movie, an anthology film with a mixed bag of stories, Very tame after Blood Sucking Freaks. It also features P.J. Soles and Doris Roberts of Everyone Loves Raymond. It was rated PG, and had very little blood, and it never achieved the popularity of Blood Sucking Freaks. Night Of The Zombies, his next film, also fell through the cracks.
Did Blood Bath prove to be as popular as Blood Sucking Freaks?
It won a few awards, and people loved the gritty nature of it. Many people heard about Blood Sucking Freaks, but never knew the story about Joel and the film. I recently re edited the film for hopeful distribution.
What has been the reaction to the documentary at film festivals?
It won a few awards, and people loved the gritty nature of it. Many people heard about Blood Sucking Freaks, but never knew the story about Joel and the film. I recently re edited the film for hopeful distribution.
what will your next film be about, Jerry?
I’m currently doing the festival route with my own anthology film BRONX LORE, and my short film JOEY. I’m also working on another film now, but its too soon to talk about it.
Any favorite horror movies?
Jesus, that’s real hard. But I would throw BLACULA up there, along with most of the 70’s classics. I love NIGHT OF THE CREEPS and HALLOWEEN 3 SEASON OF THE WITCH, The best of the series, and probably one of the top ten horror films of all time. But that’s just me.
We thank Jerry for taking the time to chat with us. This interview was provided to Grimoire of Horror by John Wisniewski.
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