Exclusive Interview with Nobody Gets Out Alive Writer/Director Jason Christopher

Nobody Gets Out Alive is writer/director Jason Christopher's love letter to slasher films of the 70's and 80's, and the movie was released this week to DVD by Image Entertainment. I recently had the chance to catch up with Jason, and we talked about putting together his first feature, his love of directing over writing, and what's next:

Why did you decide on Nobody Gets Out Alive as your first feature film and what movies inspired the story?

Jason Christopher: 90's horror movies just didn't do it for me because there was a completely different vibe from the 70's and 80's horror movies. Then Scream came out and horror movies started to pick up again. I think the last best slasher of the 80's was Intruder in 1989.

I always wanted to write a script that was my thanks to the 70's and 80's slasher genre. It wasn't until my father passed away that I came up with the Hunter Isth character. That was the roughest time in the world for me and I just said "let's do this," and started writing the script.

I wrote it in two weeks and it sat around for a while, until my cousin started talking about movies with me. We decided to try to make something together, and I filmed a lengthy short called "The Pendant" for zero dollars.

People were really digging The Pendant, so the week after, we decided to make a real movie with a budget. I was writing scripts all the time, but the one I really wanted to do was Nobody Gets Out Alive. I thought I could do it for fifty thousand dollars, and but could only reach thirty six thousand. We had to work with just that, but we made it and now I'm talking with Daily Dead.

I know you write and direct, but which do you prefer? Do you find one more challenging than the other?

Jason Christopher: To be honest, I wrote a new script and it's probably the last script I'll ever write. After I finished the last draft, I realized that script writing wasn't for me. I have tons of stories that I'd love to develop and want to write down, but script writing is not my field. I have more of a vision looking through the viewfinder of the camera than working on the Macbook Pro.

When I was younger, I would have to do everything because there was no one else to do it. I learned as I went along, but writing isn't really my thing. I'm most comfortable directing and editing to tell a story.

I learned so much with Nobody Gets Out Alive by just being on the set making a movie. Everything I learned before that, I did by watching interviews. I'd listen to what Edgar Wright, Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarantino, and Robert Rodriguez had to say. Tarantino said that he didn't go to college, he went to film, and I really agree. There's no better way to learn than from the movies themselves.

Jared is one of the more interesting characters in the movie and Chris Ready did a great job in the role. How did you come up with the character and what made you hire Chris for the part?

Jason Christopher: Everyone who has seen the movie loves the Jared character and I love him too. He was that annoying and funny character in the script, but Chris took it to a whole new level. He wasn't supposed to be reading for Jared, but he's a very funny guy. He walked out of the door of the production office, and the way he did it is how Jared would have left the room. I had him read that character and thought he was perfect for it.

The character is based on two of my friends. The annoying side was my friend Chuck, but the way he dresses is my friend Mike, who'd wear pajama clothes wherever he went. Chris was so frigging good as Jared and was cracking me up the whole time.

It's been a while since you filmed Nobody Gets Out Alive. Are you excited to be moving forward onto new projects? What's next for you?

Jason Christopher: I'm working on a new project, but I can't say too much. The title is Monsters Within and it's a monster movie with a twist. Me and this actor have been going back and forth for a year now on the creative process. I am so excited to jump into this movie when the money is there, because it has a budget that's way more than thirty six thousand. [laughs]

I can't say his name, but the actor we're talking to is a musician converting to acting and he is phenomenal. For the scoring side, I'm talking to a pretty big band about it too. I'm so damned excited because I learned so much from Nobody Gets Out Alive. I was 22 when I made that and I'm 25 now, so I'm really excited to put Nobody Gets Out Alive on the shelf and get started on the next movie.

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To learn more about Nobody Gets Out Alive, check out the release details, trailer, and our exclusive clip below:

"Image Entertainment announces the release of the bone-chilling revenge thriller Nobody Gets Out Alive. Written and directed by Jason Christopher and starring Shaun Paul Costello, Chelsey Garner, Brian Gallagher and veteran character actor Clint Howard (Austin Powers, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Apollo 13), Nobody Gets Out Alive takes viewers into the dark heart of myths …where history turns into homicide!

The film charts the tragic path of Hunter Isth (Gallagher), whose life is turned upside down when his young daughter is killed by a drunk driver. In mourning, depressed and angry, Hunter disappears and is rumored to have moved away from Braiden Woods. As years go by, Hunter and his devastating story evolve into a local legend, a myth that many consider to be just that, until a group of partying teenagers accidentally find themselves trapped in a brutal fight for survival… with a legend bent on vengeance!"

Official Trailer: