Charles Band set a precedent when he founded Full Moon Features over thirty years ago, creating a narrative blueprint that many modern horror filmmakers adhere to, and was an enduring and provocative figure during the VHS Boom of the ’80s and early ’90s. When Epic Entertainment bought the bankrupt Empire Pictures (Empire produced Ghoulies and Re-Animator), Charles, with an eye for the cultural merits (severed heads, tentacles, monsters) of truly great cinema, founded Full Moon Features. Already familiar with studio filmmaking and the machinery surrounding it, including distribution, Band now had complete control.
The polymath (Band was involved to a greater or lesser extent in several other entertainment subsidiaries) went on to spawn cult movie franchises such as Puppet Master, The Gingerdead Man, and Subspecies. Most readers will remember Blockbuster Video putting out most of Band’s catalogues in their “straight-to-B-movie” bargain bins. Horror fans were enamoured with VHS covers featuring lurid images of interdimensional tentacled sex fiends, porcelain dolls, and green, slimy, bald little heads emerging from toilet bowls. Band tapped into the home video market and was successful, that is, until VHS died.
But, like the demonic toys he sent out into the world: Band’s back. He launched Full Moon Streaming, he executive produced the new Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich, directed by Tommy Wiklund and Sonny Laguna (from a script by Bone Tomahawk’s S. Craig Zahler), and he has loads more on the horizon at Full Moon. In this interview, we talk with Band about the legacy of Full Moon, independent horror cinema, and more!
What's your take on the legacy of Full Moon Features?
Charles Band: Well, we've had an awesome journey so far with the company, but really, I feel like we're only just beginning. Back in the ’90s, we tapped into a growing home video market that wanted original horror and fantasy films, and when the video store ceased to be a few years ago, we struggled to find our place. But now, with the advent of streaming, I believe we've managed to both find a way to reach our lifelong fans while targeting an entirely new demographic. The world has changed dramatically and I'm proud that Full Moon has changed with it and will continue to adapt to the changes to come.
How do you feel Full Moon has shaped independent horror?
Charles Band: I can't say exactly how or if our films shaped the genre itself or influenced trends, but I do know our movies shaped a great many of the current wave of young filmmakers making these kinds of movies. And I do find it amusing when I see things like the Pacific Rim films and compare it to our early stuff like Robot Jox and Robot Wars, or the current craze over haunted doll movies like Annabelle, and think of movies I made decades ago like Dolls or the Puppet Master films. Again, we can't take responsibility for current genre products, but we were ahead of the curve in many ways.
What are your thoughts on independent horror today?
Charles Band: There's plenty of great films being made today and plenty of platforms to enjoy them on. It seems the independent horror film has found its place again, which is awesome, and I like that there's more of a healthy environment with streaming to take chances and experiment. That said, I'll always prefer horror movies that are fun. I make movies to escape the world's problems—to make magic, not make people miserable!
How have the past 25 years changed the landscape of independent filmmaking, production, distribution, etc.?
Charles Band: Again, back when we started, we were making tons of dough via the home video rental market. You would go into a Blockbuster Video (RIP) and see dozens of our titles, several units deep, lining the shelves. When video died, the industry stumbled around in a daze. But now, for the first time in a long time, I see a future...
Full Moon distributes all your movies—is it difficult for low-budget horror movies to get a distribution deal now?
Charles Band: It's possible, sure. But I wonder, who is making money anymore? I mean, what's the value of a movie now? With digital technology being so accessible to everyone, it's key that independent filmmakers be creative and stretch dimes to dollars, that way there's more of a chance to profit in the distribution phase. There's got to be a focus now on QUANTITY as well as quality.
How can filmmakers these days stand out?
Charles Band: Know your market! Know your audience! And make sure you're giving that audience what they want. If you do that, you stand a better chance of making an impact and having the audience coming back for more.
Will we see an expansion from Full Moon into horror television?
Charles Band: Well, we've created a handful of original series for our Full Moon Streaming and Amazon channels, stuff like Trophy Heads and Ravenwolf Towers. And we have all kinds of ideas to keep dabbling in that arena. There's honestly SO much going on in the Full Moon Universe right now that I wouldn't rule anything out.
Can you talk to us about your plans for Full Moon Streaming?
Charles Band: It keeps growing. Every day. We came up with that tagline, "It's like NETFLIX for Luna-tics," and really, that's true. We have an incredible collection of totally insane movies on Full Moon Streaming and our erotic cinema sister channel Exotic Movie House, more than any other service out there. Not only our horror and fantasy films, but key titles from the Blue Underground, Severin, and Something Weird libraries. And we keep adding more and more amazing stuff every day. Sky’s the limit and it's only going to get bigger.
What movies are you most proud of and why?
Charles Band: There are so many movies I'm proud of—a few maybe that I'm not so proud of!—but it's hard to say. I guess my Empire Pictures classics like Re-Animator and From Beyond, Robot Jox, Ghoulies. But I suppose the Puppet Master franchise is my proudest achievement. We built a real deal mythology with those movies and they have spawned more movies, toys, and merchandise than I can keep track of. There's a huge, international fanbase for the Puppet Master movies. And now, there's even a remake that is set to hook an entirely new generation. It's amazing how popular and loved that series is.
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