Cinema Shock

PANIC ROOM (2002) | David Fincher, Part 6

FIGHT CLUB had been a grueling shoot for David Fincher and, at least upon first release, had alienated both audiences and critics alike.
So when it was time for Fincher to move on to his next film, he sought out something a little simpler, something that wouldn't involve the hundreds of locations that he'd dealt with on FIGHT CLUB and one that was designed as pure entertainment. A "popcorn movie."
It should have been simple. Unfortunately, the reality of shooting his next film was anything but easy. It ended up being a difficult shoot for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was Fincher's own inability to be flexible, a hard-earned lesson that he took with him to future projects.
In this, the penultimate episode of our David Fincher series, we trace the full production history of PANIC ROOM, from script to screen and beyond.
Up Next: David Fincher — Rules of the Game, Part 7: ZODIAC.
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
 

FIGHT CLUB (1999) | David Fincher, Part 5

After back-to-back successes with SE7EN and THE GAME, David Fincher found himself at the top of Hollywood's A-list, proving that he could produce hit films without abandoning his dark sensibilites. 
His next project, however, would put his reputation to the test. Although it's now considered a classic — and may very well be Fincher's most widely-seen film — when FIGHT CLUB was released in 1999, it was met with controversy, a negative critical reception, and disappointing box office returns.
In this episode, we'll trace the entire history of FIGHT CLUB, from its inception as a novel to Fincher's development of the film and subsequent battles with the studio over the story's content, all the way through its divisive release in the fall of 1999, as well as how its legacy stands today, a quarter century after its initial release.
Up Next: David Fincher — Rules of the Game, Part 6: PANIC ROOM.
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
 

THE GAME (1997) | David Fincher, Part 4

After the success of SE7EN, David Fincher returned to a film that he'd started developing before deciding to prioritize the serial killer film that would put him on the map.
That film was THE GAME, a twist-filled thriller that's often overlooked and underappreciated during discussions of the director's filmography, but one that still features all of the skill, cynicism, and wit that have become staples of Fincher's work.
In this episode, we'll discuss the creation of THE GAME, from script to shoot to screen and everything in-between, as we continue our deep dive into the films and career of David Fincher.
Up Next: David Fincher — Rules of the Game, Part 5: FIGHT CLUB.
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
 

SE7EN (1995) | David Fincher, Part 3

After his disastrous experience on ALIEN 3, David Fincher retreated back into the world of music video and commercials, vowing to never again direct a feature film.
That is, until a script by a young, first-time screenwriter named Andrew Kevin Walker crossed his desk. That script — about a serial killer who chooses his victims based on the Seven Deadly Sins — would prove to be the perfect canvas for Fincher's dark, exacting sensibilities.
Making SEVEN (or SE7EN if ya nasty) didn't come without its share of headaches or interference from the studio. The now-iconic ending was a particular point of contention. But Fincher, having learned his lesson on ALIEN 3, was determined to make the film his way, no compromise.
On this episode, we dive into the history behind SEVEN, from the evolution of Walker's script, through the difficult shoot and battles with the studio, through the film's release and ultimate success.
Up Next: David Fincher — Rules of the Game, Part 4: THE GAME.
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

ALIEN 3 (1992) | David Fincher, Part 2

After spending years in Development Hell, the production of ALIEN 3 finally moved forward once first-time feature director David Fincher came on board.
But it wasn't smooth sailing from there. The story of ALIEN 3's production is one of a legendary disaster, one where studio interference turned the film into one that was so compromised that its director disowns it to this day.
In this episode, we will discuss all of the trials and tribulations that Fincher and his cast and crew went through while making ALIEN 3 and we'll discuss its legacy not only in the annals of science fiction, but in the scope of Fincher's overall career. Is ALIEN 3 the unmitigated disaster that many (including its director) would have us believe it is, or was it simply misunderstood by audiences who saw it in 1992?
Up Next: David Fincher — Rules of the Game, Part 3: SE7EN.
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

David Fincher: Rules of the Game, Part 1

"People will say, 'There are a million ways to shoot a scene', but I don't think so. I think there're two, maybe. And the other one is wrong." — David Fincher
David Fincher has a reputation for being an exacting, meticulous director, one who sees an entire film in his head and who will do whatever it takes to get that vision onscreen.
While that way of working has helped him to produce a filmography filled with modern classic — everything from the cult classics THE GAME and FIGHT CLUB to award winning prestige films like THE SOCIAL NETWORK and ZODIAC — it also has a tendency to cause friction between him and anyone who isn't fully on board with his vision.
In this new series, David Fincher: Rules of the Game, we'll be exploring the first decade and a half of Fincher's career, beginning with his oft-maligned debut film, ALIEN3
In this introductory episode, we'll explore the years that the third ALIEN film spent in development hell, a time in which is went through multiple story variations, nearly a dozen writers, and several directors before Fincher ever even came on board. We'll also be taking a look at Fincher's life and career before ALIEN3 and the years that he spent as an award-winning and highly influential director of commercials and music videos.
Up Next: David Fincher — Rules of the Game, Part 2: ALIEN3.
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

Cinema Shock Rewind: ALIENS (1986)

For our next series here on Cinema Shock, we're going to be taking a look at the films of David Fincher, including his feature film debut ALIEN3. Since ALIEN3's history — which includes years spent in development hell, multiple directors and multiple screenwriters — is so tightly weaved into the history of the films in the franchise that preceded it, we wanted to give our listeners a chance to revisit the stories behind the productions of those films. We recently re-published our episode covering Ridley Scott's ALIEN and we continue the story here, with James Cameron's ALIENS.
This episode was originally released in June of 2022 as part of our series James Cameron: Man of Tomorrow.
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

Cinema Shock Rewind: ALIEN (1979)

For our next series here on Cinema Shock, we're going to be taking a look at the films of David Fincher, including his feature film debut ALIEN3. Since ALIEN3's history — which includes years spent in development hell, multiple directors and multiple screenwriters — is so tightly weaved into the history of the films in the franchise that preceded it, we wanted to give our listeners a chance to revisit the stories behind the productions of those films, beginning with Ridley Scott's ALIEN.
This episode was originally released in April of 2021 as part of our series The Unsung Legacy of Dan O'Bannon.
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
 

Extras: The ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA Sequels

In this special bonus episode, Justin, Gary and Todd take a look at every sequel to ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA!
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA (1991) | Cinema Shock Roulette

For the final entry in our Cinema Shock Roulette Extravaganza (but certainly not our last Cinema Shock Roulette episode), we're headed to Hong Kong to take a deep dive into the production of Tsui Hark's seminal martial arts film, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA.
In this episode, we'll discuss not only the production of ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA, but the history of Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung on film, the early careers of Tsui and star Jet Li, and how this film reshaped the Hong Kong film industry, not only revitalizing the period martial arts film genre, but also spawning no less than five sequels, which in turn helped launch the career of martial arts sensation Donnie Yen.
Up Next: David Fincher — Rules of the Game, a 7-part series on the career of director David Fincher.
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, and Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net