Frank Henenlotter
Encyclopedia
Frank Henenlotter, is an American
screenwriter
, director
and film historian. He is known primarily for his horror comedies, though he would prefer to be classified as an "exploitation" filmmaker (rather than horror). "I never felt that I made ‘horror films’, he has said. "I always felt that I made exploitation films. Exploitation films have an attitude more than anything – an attitude that you don’t find with mainstream Hollywood productions. They’re a little ruder, a little raunchier, they deal with material people don’t usually touch on, whether it’s sex or drugs or rock and roll."
and sexploitation
films he loved, the kind which played on 42nd Street
in New York City
in the 1960s and 1970s. His films are low-budget and filled with gore and special-effects. They are considered by many to be B-movies, but they also turned the conventions of these films upon themselves. Although many of his films are somewhat obscure, his most well-known are Basket Case
, Brain Damage
and Frankenhooker
.
, Henenlotter became deeply involved in the release slate of the specialty video releasing outfit, Something Weird Video
; he has also been instrumental in rescuing many low-budget sexploitation and exploitation films from being destroyed, including the camp
classic The Curious Dr. Humpp (1971). Many of these works have been released under Something Weird's specialty logo, "Frank Henenlotter's Sexy Shockers."
During the 16 years following BC 3, a number of Henenlotter feature projects came close to production, including "Sick in the Head," Henenlotter's first script collaboration with R.A. the Rugged Man
, at one point scheduled to be produced under the aegis of Fangoria
Magazine, but, coincidental with the general economic downturn, financing evaporated. Henenlotter has also noted the conflicts he had with producers over the film, who forced the filmmaker to walk after urging him to reedit his script so it would be "more like Saw." "R.A. subsequently was able to find a new deal and very modest financing through his music industry contacts, so Bad Biology
was conceived to be shot for an extremely low budget, for extremely limited, unrated theatrical play, and subsequent video release. Though only attendees at film festivals and special film events have had the opportunity to see the film (shot in traditional 35mm at Henenlotter's insistence) projected in a theater, Henenlotter claims the low budget, independent financing and the decision to forgo the ratings process allowed him a level of freedom he has been missing since his earliest films. Bad Biology is scheduled for video release in January of 2010 by Media Blasters. Henenlotter appeared as himself in the documentary film Herschell Gordon Lewis – The Godfather of Gore and narrated the film on the 2010 FanTasia. In issue #304 Frank and comic artist Joshua Emerick started the BasketCase comic strip for Fangoria. The three panel strip runs in each issue.
He will be making a special appearance at the Cinema Wasteland B-movie convention in October 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and film historian. He is known primarily for his horror comedies, though he would prefer to be classified as an "exploitation" filmmaker (rather than horror). "I never felt that I made ‘horror films’, he has said. "I always felt that I made exploitation films. Exploitation films have an attitude more than anything – an attitude that you don’t find with mainstream Hollywood productions. They’re a little ruder, a little raunchier, they deal with material people don’t usually touch on, whether it’s sex or drugs or rock and roll."
Biography
Henelotter's films were inspired by the exploitationExploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
and sexploitation
Sexploitation
Sexploitation, or "sex-exploitation", describes a class of independently produced, low-budget feature films generally associated with the 1960s and serving largely as a vehicle for the exhibition of non-explicit sexual situations and gratuitous nudity. The genre is a subgenre of exploitation films...
films he loved, the kind which played on 42nd Street
42nd Street (Manhattan)
42nd Street is a major crosstown street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, known for its theaters, especially near the intersection with Broadway at Times Square. It is also the name of the region of the theater district near that intersection...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in the 1960s and 1970s. His films are low-budget and filled with gore and special-effects. They are considered by many to be B-movies, but they also turned the conventions of these films upon themselves. Although many of his films are somewhat obscure, his most well-known are Basket Case
Basket Case (film)
Basket Case is an American horror film, written and directed by Frank Henenlotter, that was released in 1982. It has two sequels, Basket Case 2 and Basket Case 3: The Progeny by the same director. It is notable for its low budget and over-the-top violence...
, Brain Damage
Brain Damage (film)
Brain Damage is an American comedy horror film that was released in 1988, and directed by Frank Henenlotter .-Plot:...
and Frankenhooker
Frankenhooker
Frankenhooker is an American black comedy horror film that was released in 1990. Very loosely inspired by Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, the film was directed by Frank Henenlotter and stars James Lorinz as medical school drop-out Jeffrey Franken and former Penthouse Pet Patty Mullen as the...
.
Hiatus and return
Following Basket Case 3: The ProgenyBasket Case 3: The Progeny
Basket Case 3: The Progeny is a 1991 American comedy horror film written and directed by Frank Henenlotter. The third installment of the Basket Case series the film follows Times Square Freak Twins Duane and Belial Bradley and several fellow freaks as they help Belial's girlfriend give birth and...
, Henenlotter became deeply involved in the release slate of the specialty video releasing outfit, Something Weird Video
Something Weird Video
Something Weird Video is an American publisher of video tapes and DVDs, based in Seattle, Washington. They specialize in exploitation film, particularly the works of Harry Novak, Doris Wishman, David F. Friedman, and Herschell Gordon Lewis. SWV videos are available on demand to Comcast subscribers...
; he has also been instrumental in rescuing many low-budget sexploitation and exploitation films from being destroyed, including the camp
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
classic The Curious Dr. Humpp (1971). Many of these works have been released under Something Weird's specialty logo, "Frank Henenlotter's Sexy Shockers."
During the 16 years following BC 3, a number of Henenlotter feature projects came close to production, including "Sick in the Head," Henenlotter's first script collaboration with R.A. the Rugged Man
R.A. The Rugged Man
R. A. Thorburn, better known as R.A. the Rugged Man, is an emcee from Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.-Career:At 18, R.A. signed with Jive Records and then in the mid-1990s signed with Priority Records/EMI. His contract was later absorbed by Capitol Records but he began recording...
, at one point scheduled to be produced under the aegis of Fangoria
Fangoria
Fangoria is an American magazine devoted to horror and exploitation films, which has a number of associated brands:* Fangoria Comics* Fangoria Films* Fangoria RadioFangoria may also refer to:* Fangoria , a Spanish electro pop band...
Magazine, but, coincidental with the general economic downturn, financing evaporated. Henenlotter has also noted the conflicts he had with producers over the film, who forced the filmmaker to walk after urging him to reedit his script so it would be "more like Saw." "R.A. subsequently was able to find a new deal and very modest financing through his music industry contacts, so Bad Biology
Bad Biology
Bad Biology is a dark horror comedy film directed and produced by Frank Henenlotter and rapper R.A. the Rugged Man.-Plot:Driven by biological excess, a young man and woman search for sexual fulfillment, unaware of each others existence. Unfortunately, they eventually meet, and the bonding of these...
was conceived to be shot for an extremely low budget, for extremely limited, unrated theatrical play, and subsequent video release. Though only attendees at film festivals and special film events have had the opportunity to see the film (shot in traditional 35mm at Henenlotter's insistence) projected in a theater, Henenlotter claims the low budget, independent financing and the decision to forgo the ratings process allowed him a level of freedom he has been missing since his earliest films. Bad Biology is scheduled for video release in January of 2010 by Media Blasters. Henenlotter appeared as himself in the documentary film Herschell Gordon Lewis – The Godfather of Gore and narrated the film on the 2010 FanTasia. In issue #304 Frank and comic artist Joshua Emerick started the BasketCase comic strip for Fangoria. The three panel strip runs in each issue.
He will be making a special appearance at the Cinema Wasteland B-movie convention in October 2011.
Filmography
- Basket CaseBasket Case (film)Basket Case is an American horror film, written and directed by Frank Henenlotter, that was released in 1982. It has two sequels, Basket Case 2 and Basket Case 3: The Progeny by the same director. It is notable for its low budget and over-the-top violence...
(1982) - Brain DamageBrain Damage (film)Brain Damage is an American comedy horror film that was released in 1988, and directed by Frank Henenlotter .-Plot:...
(1988) - Basket Case 2Basket Case 2Basket Case 2 is a 1990 American comedy horror film written and directed by Frank Henenlotter. It was released on DVD by Synapse Films on October 30, 2007.-Cast:* Kevin Van Hentenryck as Duane Bradley* Judy Grafe as News Woman...
(1990) - FrankenhookerFrankenhookerFrankenhooker is an American black comedy horror film that was released in 1990. Very loosely inspired by Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, the film was directed by Frank Henenlotter and stars James Lorinz as medical school drop-out Jeffrey Franken and former Penthouse Pet Patty Mullen as the...
(1990) - Basket Case 3: The ProgenyBasket Case 3: The ProgenyBasket Case 3: The Progeny is a 1991 American comedy horror film written and directed by Frank Henenlotter. The third installment of the Basket Case series the film follows Times Square Freak Twins Duane and Belial Bradley and several fellow freaks as they help Belial's girlfriend give birth and...
(1992) - Bad BiologyBad BiologyBad Biology is a dark horror comedy film directed and produced by Frank Henenlotter and rapper R.A. the Rugged Man.-Plot:Driven by biological excess, a young man and woman search for sexual fulfillment, unaware of each others existence. Unfortunately, they eventually meet, and the bonding of these...
(2008)
External links
- Frank Henenlotter @ www.hotelbroslin.com
- "Frank Henenlotter's Sexy Shockers" at Something Weird Video
- Spencer Fornaciari & John Portanova at Scarecrow VideoScarecrow VideoScarecrow Video is an independently owned video sales and rental store.Located in the University District of Seattle, Washington, the store was opened in 1988 by Rebecca and George Latsios. It currently stocks over 100,000 titles, many of them out of print...
for The MacGuffin Film Podcast Episode 29 – One of a Kind, February 2010