Cinema Suicide

I like John Landis a lot based entirely on his 70’s and 80’s output. Helicopter crash or not, he’s definitely my bag, man. It seems entirely appropriate that he would be up to direct a bio-pic based on the life of William M. Gaines, the head of the notorious EC Comics, which spawned some of the most ghoulish horror comic books such as Vault of Horror and Tales From The Crypt and eventually led to the dreaded Comics Code Authority.

From Ain’t It Cool News:
JOHN LANDIS TO “GHOULISHLY YOURS, WILLIAM M. GAINES”

John Landis (”National Lampoon’s Animal House,” “The Blues Brothers,” “Masters of Horror”) has been attached to direct the authorized feature biopic, “Ghoulishly Yours, Wiliam M. Gaines.” Landis will develop the project with Joel Eisenberg, who is penning the screenplay based on the life of the titular EC Comics’ publisher (”Tales from The Crypt,” “Mad Magazine” et. al.).

Pic will revolve around the banding together of an anti-establishment group of artists and writers, led by a reluctant Gaines, as they produce their controversial yet hugely popular line of comic books. At the peak of his success Gaines becomes an unwitting First Amendment figurehead, defending his livelihood against the U.S. government amidst accusations of perpetuating juvenile delinquency.

Landis most recently helmed “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project” for HBO.

Eisenberg is a partner in production concern EMO Films, LLC with Tim Owens and Eugene Mandelcorn.

Landis’ sense of humor seems perfectly suited for this kind of project. With American Werewolf, in particular, you can tell that the ghoulish gallows humor of EC Comics had a large role in the writing of the script. EC horror comics are also eternally cool, tame by modern comparison but fun to read in the same way that old Vincent Price AIP flicks are to watch.

I’m already looking forward to this movie.