Opening today in limited theatrical release is Black Sheep -- a New Zealand comedy horror film about blood-thirsty killer sheep! And UHM talks to the brain behind this new chomp at the genre, Jonathan King. Check it out!

CONDUCTED BY: Dan AKA Master of Horror
EDITED BY: FrighT MasteR
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON: 6/22/07

Talk to us about your influences and why you decided to get into filmmaking?

Star Wars was the film that changed my life. I was obsessed with it as a kid, read all about it ... and discovered that it was made by somebody. That's when I found out about film directors and what they did. That was all I wanted to be when I grew up. I had a couple of 'real' jobs in my 20s, but decided at some point that I was going to make films no matter what.

Would you say you're a genre fan? If so, which films would you consider to be your favorites?

Yeah, I've always loved genre movies. My formative movie-going experiences were with films that transported me to another time or place: Star Wars, later Brazil, The Evil Dead and Dawn of the Dead, American Werewolf in London ... Also going back to older films: Cat People, The Haunting, Citizen Kane ... these were films that had a real effect on me.

How do you feel about the state of "Kiwi Horror" today? Do you feel New Zealand deserves more attention when it comes to genre fare?

We don't really have a horror industry, more just the odd film sneaking out. I think the good ones do get attention -- partly because they're horror films from an unusual source but, hopefully, because they're cool films. I do think it'd be good if people do see New Zealand as a place that cool things can come from ... and Peter Jackson's success has helped that immeasurably.

Probably the most important question I think is on everybody's mind is... why sheep?

There are only 4 million people in New Zealand ... and 40 million sheep! I wouldn't say we lie awake worrying about them ... but it's something that you can't ever really escape in New Zealand. Wherever you go in the world, people say "Oh, New Zealand: lots of sheep!" So I knew it would be the perfect combination of ideas that would work for people -- here and internationally: New Zealand + sheep + horror movie. Having said that, I didn't put it together analytically, it just popped into my head like that.

Without giving too much away, tell us about the film and what fans may be able to expect.

Black Sheep is a comedy horror film about the genetically engineered sheep program going horribly wrong on a sprawling New Zealand sheep farm. The hero -- who's 'ovinophobic' (scared of sheep) -- and his companions must battle their way back across the farm to raise the alarm before the sheep descend from the hills and tear everyone to bits ... and let's just say they don't quite get there in time!

We've had pretty much every rampaging animal attack film you can think of including, as of recent, cows. Do you feel sheep aren't getting a fair shake in the terror department?

They hadn't (though, since finishing the film, I am hearing about more examples!). I think they've probably done their thing now!

What role has WETA played in the film’s production?

WETA's role in Black Sheep was huge. Richard Taylor was a big supporter of the project very early on. He said that WETA would love to be involved and they did some incredible concept art for the film and, later, a marquette of our 'weresheep'. This gave people confidence that we could actually make the film. Once we were going, they brought a huge number of crazy and challenging effects to life. They also delivered a huge amount for what was still a low-budget film -- and this was on the back of them coming off King Kong! We simply couldn't have made the film without their support.

What, in your opinion, makes Black Sheep so entertaining?

I think what makes it work is that there's a neat idea there ... that keeps playing in fun, funny and outrageous ways through the film. It takes things you might expect from a genre film and gives them back to you in a fun way, filtered through the sensibility of this crazy idea. It also takes what you know about New Zealand -- as well as some current environmental issues -- and gives it back to you in an outrageous way. I've always seen it as delivering a fun ride for an audience.

How have the festivals and audiences reacted to the film?

Festival reaction has been absolutely incredible. Often a midnight, the screenings seem to attract people who are really coming along to get on board and have a good time -- and that's definitely the way to see this film. We've had packed, uproarious screenings in almost a dozen countries now. The film won the Audience Prize and the Jury Prize at the Gerardmer Fantastic Film Festival in France and the Silver Raven at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival.

Why has Black Sheep seemingly taken so long to see U.S. distribution?

It hasn't really taken that long! We did a deal on it at AFM last November. It isn't really a Christmas film, so the decision was made to hold it for early summer. It played South by Southwest in Austin in March and Tribeca in New York in May. It only opened in New Zealand at the end of March.

Will this release see the film in its uncut glory or will we be seeing a version for mass market consumption?

You'll see every gut-munching, schlong-chomping second of it!

Have you had new offers to direct other films now that your own has reached the states?

I haven't had actual offers ... but I have been invited to look at scripts and give my take on them. For a film geek from Wellington, New Zealand, it's incredibly exciting to have meetings in Hollywood and discuss making a movie there. It's definitely something I'd like to do at some stage ... but I do think it would have to be the right thing.

Can we expect to see a Black Sheep sequel, action figures or comics sometime in the future?

Well, if millions of people go and see the film we might!

Special thanks for Jonathan King for taking the time out to talk with us!