By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Michael Mongillo, the award-winning filmmaker behind 2017’s supernatural mystery DIANE (pictured) and others, is gearing up for his next genre movie, THE CHANGED. He gave us the exclusive scoop on the project, so read on…
Mongillo, who also helmed the mockumentary BEING MICHAEL MADSEN and the 2001 chiller THE WIND, describes THE CHANGED as “More or less Philip Kaufman’s INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS story intersecting with George Romero’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD plot. But it’s not combining the pod-people and zombie subgenres; it’s a mix of that claustrophobic setting with an invasion scenario of paranoia. Overall, it’s a sci-fi/horror thriller in the same vein as an Alex Garland [28 DAYS LATER, ANNIHILATION] revisionist genre piece, where a lot is familiar but the deviations from what’s expected are simple and satisfying.
“THE CHANGED will be very straightforward—not my usual genre-as-backdrop approach—delivering the chills and thrills for audiences who like scary movies, myself included,” he continues. “The aim, which is my usual m.o., is to depict the scenarios truthfully, as people would realistically behave in these mindblowing situations.”
Currently scheduled to shoot in September on Connecticut locations, THE CHANGED will reunite Mongillo with many members of the DIANE team. “Matt Giannini co-scripted, Taylor Warren is back as producer and all-around post guru and Emmy-winning Jeff Reilly is on as editor,” he says. “And of course, my business and creative partner Jason Alan Smith will star. We’re hoping Carlee Avers [who played the title role in DIANE] will also be joining us; a lot is still in the works.” We’ll keep you updated as THE CHANGED gets closer to production!
