An Interview with Rene Perez, Director of Cry Havoc

by Mike Haberfelner

April 2020

Films directed by Rene Perez on (re)Search my Trash

Your new movie Cry Havoc - in a few words, what is it about?

It’s about a beautiful reporter who is granted an interview with a criminal who’s on the FBI’s most wanted list. A man who is suspected of using his fortune to get a serial killer out of prison. The reporter meets the man and his masked killer called Havoc. 

What were your sources of inspiration when writing Cry Havoc?

This is the 4th Havoc movie now, so he is his own thing. He always was. My only goal is to make an 80s style slasher. But a real one. Not the many PC or social justice movies that call themselves 80s style horror. I serve the fans only. All of my inspiration is for them. 

Now Cry Havoc isn't the first time Havoc pops up in one of your movies - so what can you tell us about his previous exploits, and about his creation to begin with? And who came up with his absolutely creepy looks?

I make all of the Havoc movies as self-contained stories. Yes you could watch them all and you’d see how they connect, but I know that these are low budget movies with zero advertising so people might not know that the others exist. I make each one easy to follow for the new viewers and cram in lots of extra details for the long time fans. 

Back to Cry Havoc - what can you tell us about your movie's approach to horror?

I make lots of horror movies but with Havoc, since he’s a slasher, I’ve taken the approach to make his as realistic as possible. He has no supernatural powers, there is no need to make excuses for him. He doesn’t get killed and then resurrected in the next movie. He’s a slasher in the 80’s style, but without all of the goofiness that modern audiences wouldn’t accept.

Now Cry Havoc isn't exactly a film that shies away from blood and guts - so for the sake of all the gorehounds among my readers, do talk about the film's splatter effects for a bit, and how were they achieved?

These movies are extreme horror. Most times they cannot even get an R rating because of the gore and the nudity too. Most of the releases have been censored. I hope this one is not, although the distributor is very corrupt and they aren’t telling me if this one is censored or not. If it turns out to be censored, don’t watch it. I’ll have to rent it once it comes out and see if they censored anything. As for how we filmed it, we use only practical effects. The gore in this new movie were done by Oliver Müller and the flashback scenes done by Marcus Koch. They did some great practical gore effects. I don’t use any CGI gore. I don’t believe in it. Every bullet hit, every slice of an ax or cleaver is practical.

You of course also have to talk about the action scenes and stuntwork in Cry Havoc!

I make the lowest budget movies in the commercial world. So that means no stunt doubles. LOL. All of my actors and actresses do their own stunts out of necessity, and because it looks more real. It’s seamless. Robert Bronzi and Havoc have a ruthless showdown that I won’t spoil here. The girls also fought for their lives, jumped, ran and did it all on their own. The girls were bass asses, Bronzi was bad ass and Havoc, well he is the king.

What can you tell us about your overall directorial approach to your story at hand?

I just wanted to make a slasher movie that could have existed in the 80s or 70s. I direct each actor in the way they need it in order to give their best and I keep the audience's enjoyment at the forefront. With Havoc movies, all I care about is making the audience happy by scaring them and giving them the kind of horror movie that no other directors have the balls to make anymore.

Do talk about Cry Havoc's cast, and why exactly these people?

Every single actor in this movie turned out to be awesome. Some are returning to the Havoc series, others are new but they were all perfect fits for the role. I was so happy with everyone.

A few words about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?

Oh, we laugh and joke through every movie. Havoc movies are no different. Making movies and being creative is joyous. It’s memory making at its best. We are all friends and any of the new actors become friends.

The $64-question of course, when and where will be released onto the general public?

May 5th 2020 for North America. Germany has had the movie for over a year now, not sure if they have already released it or not.

Anything you can tell us about audience and critical reception of Cry Havoc?

All of the critics have been giving great reviews so far. Looks like this is the best of the Havoc movies. If the movie is uncensored, then I think horror audiences will also like it. Love it. We’ll see what audiences think after May 5th. Just a few weeks away.

Any future projects you'd like to share?

Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned)

The links below will take you just there!!!

Find Rene Perez at the amazons ...   amazon.com   amazon.co.uk   amazon.de Looking for imports? Find Rene Perez here ...   eThaiCD.com Your shop for all things Thai

Yes, I really would like everyone to go and check out my new movie called The Insurrection. It’s available now on https://vimeo.com/ondemand/theinsurrection

Your/your movie's website, social media, whatever else?

Find me and contact me at www.thedarkestmachines.com and www.facebook.com/thedarkestmachines/

Thanks for the interview!

© by Mike Haberfelner

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