Just few weeks back my cool friend “Patrick Samuel” the film editor from this new cool site known as “STATIC MASS EMPORIUM” had the chance to sit for an exclusive interview with the master of suspense, Academy Award nominated filmmaker, M.Night Shyamalan. He had the opportunity to meet Shyamalan at THE LAST AIRBENDER UK press conference where they talked about meeting some time later and since M.Night Shyamalan being true to his word, he called Patrick for a 40 minute interview where they talked about everything, from Unbreakable 2 to God and DEVIL. This is the first part of the interview where M.Night Shyamalan goes deep to discuss all things God and Devil.
Anyone who has looked at Night’s films, I mean really looked at them, will see a common theme which runs through them. The Sixth Sense (19990, Unbreakable (2000), Signs (2002), The Village (2004) Lady in the Water (2006), The Happening (2008) and The Last Airbender (2010) all had it; the idea of people with remarkable hidden powers and the responsibilities which come with that power.
PATRICK: Is this theme continued in Devil?
NIGHT: Devil for me is that we choose to get on that elevator. By our lack of taking responsibility for things that happen to us in our lives. “Oh I lost that job”, “Screw that boss, he always had it in for me!” and not taking responsibility for whatever you can be responsible for in that matter. Ultimately, the people who end up in that elevator have not taken responsibility for themselves or the things that have happened to them in their lives. The good decisions, the bad decisions, they haven’t taken responsibility in total. When I realise that as a human being, I feel very free. Let’s say something bad happens to me and I go “I’m responsible for that. That person did something really bad to me, but I’m responsible for that”. Then thinking how was I responsible, if my demeanour was different this way, if I hadn’t done this, if I had reacted in a different way”. You feel very free. Thematically, that’s where Devil is coming from. Of course, on the surface everyone’s gonna see a really scary rollercoaster ride!
If you’ve seen the trailer and the clips of Devil, there certainly seems to be a menacing tone, a malevolent force at work against these people trapped in the elevator. Night seems to be addressing not only ideas about power, responsibility and the nature of evil, but also the existence of God.
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According to The Night Chronicles official website they have a new plot revealed about their new project Reincarnate which is the second chapter under the banner. It is an idea that comes from the mind of M.Night Shyamalan and directed by Daniel Stamm (The Last Exorcism). The story is written for screen by Chris Sparling (Buried) and Playwright/Screenwriter Paul Grellong. The film is slated to shoot on 2011.
M.Night Films 