Acclaimed director Edgar Wright is revered by cinephiles and praised for consistently offering original ideas, including Last Night in Soho. Now, Wright has revealed what inspired him to become a filmmaker, along with sharing his most-watched films.
While his well-reviewed psychological horror film Last Night in Soho did underperform at the box office, only racking up $4.2 million in its opening weekend, that didn't stop the passionate cinema lover from discussing all things film. After all, most of his filmography has gone on to become cult favorites.
Wright recently did a Reddit AMA where he opened up about why he ultimately wanted to pursue a career in making movies. "I was always interested in films and being a part of that world but the lightbulb moment was seeing a TV documentary when I was 14 called 'The Incredibly Strange Film Show' which had an episode about Sam Raimi and the fact that he directed 'Evil Dead' at the age of 18 after having made Super 8 shorts with his school friends," Wright said. “I pretty much leapt up and said 'that's what I'm going to do." Raimi's style evidently has carried over to Wright's films, as Wright has even mentioned in the past that the Spider-Man and now Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness director once approached him to helm 2009's Drag Me to Hell before Wright eventually convinced Raimi to return to his horror roots and direct the movie himself, according to Empire.
When asked during the Reddit AMA what his most viewed films are, Wright responded with iconic works like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Airplane!, and American Werewolf in London. Wright's combination of comedic elements mixed with his darker, more dramatic beats is definitely apparent throughout many of his films, particularly in Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and now his most recent Last Night in Soho, which is the most full-on horror Wright has done to date. Wright's signature visual style can also be a reflection of what Kubrick was able to display in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
In a time where numerous big blockbuster comic book adaptations are reigning over the box office, it's crucial for smaller, wholly original stories to get just as much attention, especially when they are made by a talent like Wright. Last Night in Soho takes place in 1960s London and centers around a young woman named Eloise, who has a passion for fashion design and is mysteriously transported back in time in the body of her idol, a singer named Sandie.
Everything starts off well, but Eloise soon begins to realize the dire consequences that await. The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit) as Sandie, Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit) as Eloise, Matt Smith (Doctor Who) Jack, and Terrance Stamp (Superman) as older Jack. Wright also co-wrote the film with 1917's Krysty Wilson-Cairns.
Last Night in Soho is currently playing in theatres.
Source: Edgar Wright/Reddit