Editorials > David Lynch and Werner Herzog: Together at Last

David Lynch and Werner Herzog, two of the most fascinating and odd filmmakers of their generation, are planning to collaborate on a low-budget horror-style drama called "My Son, My Son." Herzog and his longtime assistant director Herbert Golder wrote the screenplay based on the true story of a San Diego man "who acts out a Sophocles play in his mind and kills his mother with a sword" (The Hollywood Reporter).

The narrative will consist of frequent flashbacks and flashforwards between the murder scene and the deranged man's daily life. Stylistically, they will shoot on digital video, as Lynch's last feature "Inland Empire" was. They plan to begin shooting on Coronado Island some time next March.

Lynch will serve as executive producer through his Absurda production company, and THR makes no mention of which man will be directing. My guess would be that Herzog will take the reins, as he so rarely writes a screenplay without directing it himself. Still, knowing that David Lynch will be watching over Herzog's shoulder is as encouraging a sign of quality as any.

THR also mentions that Lynch will be executive producing a "metaphysical gangster movie" called "King Shot." Alejandro Jodorowsky will direct Asia Argento, Nick Nolte, Marilyn Manson, and Udo Kier in the "'Sin City'-style film." Producer Eric Barrett claims that the film will have enough sex and violence to guarantee an NC-17 rating. Wow, it's rare that a film actually strives to be virtually unusable in mainstream theaters. Good for them. I'm glad Lynch isn't getting too old to take crazy chances every once in a while.

-David Morgan