| 5. Jack O'Lantern, a.k.a. Jack-o (1995) |
A Steve Latshaw film featuring Bernie Fidello as Simms and Ryan Latshaw as the young Sean Kelly, with special appearances by John Carradine as Walter Machen (a.k.a. “The Judge of Hell”) and Cameron Mitchell as Dr. Cadaver.
Screenings:
Festival #16
Festival #17
Festival #21
Festival #45
review by ahchie | open
letter to Steve Latshaw | message from Mr. Latshaw
opening scene | pictures | promotional
material & memorabilia
Steve Latshaw on the making of Jack-O
JACK-O was originally titled “JACK-O-LANTERN.” I sent a ¾ inch dub of dailies to original distributor Royal Oaks Entertainment. When Company President Andrew Stevens saw my handwritten note “Jacko rushes” on the tape he immediately changed the name of the film. To this day he refers to my son Ryan as “Jacko!” – much to my son’s irritation.
The film itself was the last in a series of 3 films I directed for B movie maven Fred Olen Ray in Florida (the other two were DARK UNIVERSE and BIOHAZARD: THE ALIEN FORCE). It came about as a result of a “scream queen” contest on the Phil Donahue Show. The winner got to appear in JACKO. The girl who won – Kelly Lacy – was flown down to Florida for the first three days of shooting (at the James Best house). She’s the teen who gets her throat cut after JACKO is disturbed from his grave. The film was shot in 16mm, on an original budget of $30,000, believe it or not.
This budget required me to deliver a finished, edited master complete with score. I ended up putting an additional $15,000 of my own money into the film because of budget overruns, reshoots, etc. I think Fred put another $20,000 into sound effects, final mix and Linnea Quigley’s salary.
As I’ve always said – it’s impossible to make a “good” movie for that kind of money. But if you’re smart you might be able to make something that’s entertaining and fun. I’ve always thought we managed to pull it off.
Enjoy – and happy holidays…
Steve Latshaw
Scene:
Campfire somewhere in the woods. Seated around the campfire are Simms (middle
aged man played by Bernie Fidello) and Sean Kelly (boy played by Brian Latshaw.)
Simms:
Trick or treat, Sean. Heh, heh, heh.
'Mr. Jack will break your back.
Cut off your head with a whack, whack, WHACK!'
(Simms slams a hunting knife into a nearby log as he says the last "whack".)
Simms:
There's a story behind that old nursury rhyme, Sean. Would you like to hear
it?
(Sean nods nervously.)
Simms:
'The Pumpkin Man will steal your soul;
Snap it up and swallow it whole;
Then just as quick before you die;
The Pumpkin Man will steal your eye.'
Many years ago, on a night just like this, the men of Oakmoor Crossing caught
a murderer. The killer was a wicked old wizard, and before he was hung, he
put a curse on the town. Told them a monster would come for them. Jacko. Mr
Jack, the Pumpkin Man. That Halloween, Jacko came back. A farmer got ready
to fight the monster. It was on this old farm, right where we're sitting.
But before he left, he said goodbye to his son - a little boy with same last
name as yours, Sean - a boy named Kelly.
Jack O'Lantern, 1995
call sheet, shooting schedules, and script excerpt, click each for larger image:
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