Back on the 15th we posted a piece here commenting that all signs were that Takashi Miike's Imprint had been dropped from Showtime's Masters of Horror. Well, word came out today that our speculations were absolutely correct. Word has been whipping around the net at a furious pace but all signs seem to point back to this piece in the New York Times as the breaking point for the news.
There are full details in that piece but what it breaks down to is the producers feeling that Miike's piece is too graphic to be aired, though they are sure to point out that they will still be releasing it uncut on DVD. Personally, I think it's all a PR stunt to get the floundering show some press before the DVD release. Here's why:
First, Miike is a known quantity. Is anybody surprised that he turned in a graphic piece of work after being hired by a US cable network for a show geared entirely around giving horror directors free rein? I'm certainly not and I don't believe for a second that the producers were.
Second, the producers say themselves they were fully aware of the objectionable material at the script stage. If they were really uneasy with it, they would have dealt with it then.
Third, Showtime is cable. They can show pretty much whatever they want to. Broadcast standards are a non issue, as they are not a broadcast network. The show has been failing not because it has been crossing lines but because it has not been transgressive enough so the idea that this piece has gone 'too far' seems simply ridiculous. They knew what they were getting, funded it anyway, and are under no broadcast standards obligations.
So why drop it? Hucksterism, baby. This is the equivalent of having medics on standby in theater lobbies and planting a few fainters in the audience to create buzz at the premiere. "Sure, most of the episodes sucked, but wait 'til you see what we couldn't show you ..." At least that's my take on it ...
Thanks to the raging horde of you who sent the news in ... too many to mention, you filled my inbox up real good ...
Too bad I can't see the article...
Really? It's letting me in fine ... here are the relevant bits:
""Imprint" may go even further, and clearly represents something more than Showtime bargained for. "I think it's amazing, but it's even hard for me to watch," said Mick Garris, the creator and executive producer of the series. "It's definitely the most disturbing film I've ever seen." It will now be released directly to the DVD market through IDT's home video subsidiary, Anchor Bay Entertainment, along with the rest of the episodes in the series. No date has been announced."
""Definitely, at the script stage we made comments about the aborted fetuses," Mr. Garris said. "We made it clear that we were going on American pay cable television, and even though there wasn't as much control over content, there still were concerns. And then when we got the first cut, it was very, very strong stuff, and we made some suggestions on what might help before we showed it to Showtime. The Japanese made the changes they were comfortable with, and eventually we arrived at a film that he was happy with and we're all happy with. But Showtime felt it was not something they were comfortable putting out on the airwaves." "
Showtime edited Argento's showing because it was too much for them, but they didn't scrap it for airing. His original cut will remain for the dvd.
"Complete freedom" my aching ass.
well, showtime had no hand in producing or funding the show. they just come on board later to broadcast it. afaik it was originally set to go direct to dvd. so if they object to abortion or sex with baby corpses or whatever miike has cooked up this time that's their decision.
This is truly disappointing. You know HBO would've had the balls to show the Miike one.
Even more disappointing is that fact that the same old directors are coming back for more next year. Sure, I wouldn't mind seeing Carpenter come back, Gordon and even Dante (His "Homecoming" episode is a major highlight from this season), but Landis and Garris, too?
Where's Romero, Craven, and Raimi? O'Bannon? Savini even? How about the up-and-comers like Fesenden, Aja (High Tension), and Roth?
Well, there goes any idea that this series was going to be cutting edge...
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