a first-rate cult thriller...

...fascinating, gripping, impressively dark, stylish, intriguing, seductive, original , arresting, powerful, gritty, sure-fire killer thriller, brave, pro-feminist, terrific little film, thoughtful, riveting, "hits you in the way that, sometimes, cinema should"...

"I don’t think I’ve ever written a more glowing report for a low-budget British horror film" (wrote James Christopher in The Times) "it's been a long time since someone was brave enough to make such a movie" (Daily Mirror) - thought I'd throw some of the nicer press quotes in, just to give you some perspective, if you needed it, on the "rabid nonsense" tendency (see below!)

So... the press came out very much as expected (i.e. deeply divided), but with some key reviews in praise of the film (Variety was the crucial one - the movie business trade mag). So anyway, my US agents have had quite a few scripts come in for me and offers have been made - but I won't say much more yet on that count, I don't want to put the jinx on it. Straightheads box-office wasn't gigantic, and my prayers for rain were answered with the hottest, sunniest April weekend in Britain's recorded history (since 1659 - literally). Then last weekend we were bigfooted by Spiderman 3, which annihilated all before it... The DVD launch, however, looks most promising, according to the sellers who came to a Verve special screening last week, so who knows? My gut feeling is that Straightheads will continue to sell on disc for many years, and create a little niche for itself. What's next for me? Well, I need to keep working, and I've been busy on a new project since March -  a couple of small period dramas for Channel Four, and shooting begins tomorrow - so I won't be posting much for the next month. No doubt I'll catch up with Gillian and Danny soon (he's just had a baby daughter, by the way) to talk about old times! Take care all of you, do skorovo, and keep well.

Comments

[Toni]

Again congrats Dan, on Straightheads!!

[Polly]

Just a question that must have been asked thousand times but have you any precise idea of what will be included in the DVD? Do you have some deleted scenes that we would not have seen yet? Thanks!

[Ericka]

good to hear from you Dan. i'm still dying for a poster over here in the states! lol. is there someone i can be put in touch with? heck, i'll buy a used one. what do they do with all those, anyway??? i have a spot here on my wall for gillian and danny's faces, and i'm not giving up til its filled!

[Ann]

Novie proecty - horosho.
Dochka - toge horosho.
Uspehov.
Budu sdat soobchenyi

S iskrennostiy,
A.G.

[Chrissy]

I do hope when it comes out on DVD, there is a way for us people over in places like little ol' New Zealand to buy it. I have been dying to see Straightheads, and if I had the money? I would FLY OVER THERE just to see it. Ha-ha.

[Alan]

Hi Dan.

I'm glad you've been happy with the positive reviews. I was very happy with the one given by the Daily Mirror (my own paper) and Three stars out of Five is pretty good! But even if it had been a negative review I'd have ignored it and gone to see Straightheads anyway.

I had an uneasy feeling that Straightheads would be overshadowed over by Spider-Man 3 (and the weather situation probably didn't help matters either) but from what you say it appears Straightheads will do extremely well on DVD so that's cool. I imagine this movie will get quite a cult following on DVD. Rest assured that my pre-order is well and truly placed. I can't wait until I have it! I'm really looking forward to listening to your commentary with Gillian and Danny.

I hope you don't mind but I have a few questions I'd like to ask.

These first two are with regards to the DVD:

01) Is there any chance that Straightheads will be a Director's Cut with all scenes cut or edited from the cinema release reinstated into the film itself rather than put in amongst the Special Features' Deleted/Extended/Alternate scenes section? Straightheads was excellent and so enjoyable to watch at the cinema but if you add those deleted, alternate, and extended scenes back into the DVD release then it can only be a plus. Other excellent movies such as Alien and Terminator 2: Judgement Day have benefited from Director's Cut's on DVD and Straightheads could so easily be counted amongst them too. I sincerely hope that it'll happen.

02) Do you know yet what Special Features will appear on the DVD and is there any chance you can you tell us what they are please?

And this last question is with regards to the music:

03) Will Straightheads' amazing Score Music by Ilan Eshkeri ever become available on CD? If not, is there anyway the music could be made available for download as MP3 tracks maybe here at Straightblog or at iTunes perhaps? Would Ilan allow that? I'd certainly pay for them if the music did became available on-line!

And that's it on my questions front I think. Any answers you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I'm glad that you're well and keeping busy with you're new project. When you catch up with Gillian and Danny please send them our very best and congratulate Danny on becoming a dad for us.

So until your next update, take care and I look forward to hearing from you again.

Regards,

- Alan.

[Peet]

First of all congrats on Danny Dyer's baby daughter!!!

T'is great to hear from you Dan. I am also confident that the sale of the DVDs will be quite successful. It's a pity that there are no showings at Shaftsbury Avenue anymore tho. :) After almost two b***y weeks. Oh well...

I'm glad that you don't spit the dummy and continue with your work. Why should you anyway t'is not the apocalypse right? Ha,ha sorry!

Once more good luck for the projects to come and ta for your courtesy to share! :)

[Katie]

I know this has been asked a bagillion times, but I still haven't managed to find an answer. Will it be released in the US? If so, do you know when?

BTW. Can't wait for the DVD. Put it on Amazon ASAP! -lol-

Congrats on the great reviews, screw the bad ones!

A huge fan.
Katie from KY, US

[Hatter]

Good to see the positive reviews as well.

A commentary from you (and perhaps the actors) for the DVD would be an awesome thing to hear. I hope one is included when the DVD comes out.

Good luck, hope to hear from you again soon!

[Laila Russell]

I Would like to know if or when this will be show in america. Or if not will we be able to get it on dvd here in america.

[Laila Russell]

Will the movie be show here in america, if not when can we get it o dvd here.

[sara]

So...who wants to clear up the USA release rumors?

[Ian Kennedy]

I was wondering if any clips from the movie will be featured on this site at a future date (depending on possible releases in other parts of the world) and is there any possibility of seeing more stills from the movie (I'd love to see some from Gillian and Danny's bedroom attempted love scene- though I appreciate that you may have to be careful what you can show here)

still can't wait for the eventual DVD release and hopefully more footage!