John Carpenter And Nicolas Cage Are Scared Straight

johncarpenter Okay, enough with the jokes about the title!

Anyone can go for a cheap gag and an innuendo laden article – God knows I’ve written enough of them myself – but when Master of Horror John Carpenter is attached to a movie it is no laughing matter. When it stars A-List talent like Nicolas Cage then it is truly something to get excited about.

Carpenter and Cage are in final negotiations to direct and star in Scared Straight – a prison set thriller. The synopsis is as follows:

“‘Straight’ follows a troubled youth who’s sent to prison off the ‘Scared Straight’ crime-prevention program, which imprisons delinquent teens for a short period in the hopes of deterring them from a life of crime. While the teen is there, a riot breaks out and the prisoners take him hostage. A lifer, played by Cage, is forced to help the young man out.”

It sounds like it could be pretty damn cool. I think that I’m a well known Cage apologist and John Carpenter is one of my heroes, so I’m pretty excited over this film.

Carpenter hasn’t made a film in seven years, and to see him make one with bankable star smells of comeback. While it may not be his usual mix of Horror or Sci-Fi, it does sound like there could be a great deal of tension – like Assault in Precinct 13, and if it’s half as good as that film then we’re in for a treat.

BTW – I am talking about the original Assault on Precinct 13 – not the remake!

The film will be financed by Nu Image/Millennium Films (who seem to be developing a lot of films these days) while it will be produced by Rob Cohen (director of XXX and The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor).

The film is set for an October start date – if all goes well in the negotiations. I really hope that Carpenter finds room for Kurt Russell in this, those guys need to work together again!

I will definitely keep you posted on this one.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Tags: scared straight,

790

Yeah and Con-Air was really only watchable because it had a strong cast.
;-)

Yeah how bout "Escape from the USA". ????
Snake is on the run from the military and has to get out of the EMP damaged US ??

I would rather take my chances on that kind of film than watch some movie about captivity of an innocent young man, with themes of prison rape and redemption in the background. Not even Speilberg could get me in the seat for that crap.

But that's just me//? :-)

Reverend

Rofl, we all wish that, 790.

Sounds a lot like Cage's Role in Con-Air, just this time it's a riot and not a plane =)

790

Spoilers, more than likey ? ;-)

Yeah Reverend, I remember the tv show, prisoners screeming at juvenile lawbreakers. Not really a fun show, if ya ask me.

I can't see this film being anything other than more of the same with a cheesy hostage sitch at the end, with more than likey Cage giving his life to save the kid in the story.

I sure wish Carpenter would make a sequel to Escape from La before he retires. :-)

Reverend

790 - You've got a good nose, it is a remake

Scared Straight was a TV show years back, a documentary more like. Exact same plot ( except it was for real and no riot ) of a bunch of kids sent to talk to 'lifers' in hopes of scaring them straight. It's an interesting watch, especially since 15 of the 16 kids went on to lead good lives.

So you're right, it is, just has a twist. All the glamour will be lost in Hollywood because what made it interesting was that it was true.

And directed by Danny Glover.

Rev