The original’s few survivors will join a group of newcomers in the slasher sequel.
NEW FEARS EVE racked up a big body count last year, and now the creative team are readying the follow-up. P.J. Starks and Eric Huskisson are once again directing and producing NEW FEARS EVE: PART 2, joined in the latter capacity by Jeffrey Reddick, with Starks scripting. RUE MORGUE got a little time with Starks (pictured above with the film’s murderous villain, The Doctor) to exclusively preview the new bloodbath.
How does NEW FEARS EVE: PART 2 expand on the original’s story?
NEW FEARS EVE leaves off on a cliffhanger during a pretty crucial moment. Whether that’s appreciated or not, it was always by design, because I wanted the first act of PART 2 to have a distinct HALLOWEEN II feel. It’s all action and a lot of kills. Again, a lot of material and experiences from my personal life were used to develop the story, which is about relationship reconciliation, betrayal and how to navigate regular life after traumatic fallout. The massacre at Hooper Industries left its scars, and now the characters have to keep looking over their shoulders.
I know that all sounds very serious, and while there is a much more dramatic turn to the story, I can promise ramped-up sophomoric one-upmanship, including some over-the-top comedic setpieces throughout the film. Think SCREAM 2 meets AMERICAN PIE 2. You’ll also get a big and bloody third act. We believe fans of the first film will be happy.
I finished the first draft of the script in about two weeks. When Eric and Jeffrey read it, Eric didn’t really have any major notes, while Jeffrey challenged a few things. Which was good, because it led me to really fleshing out a new character. Everyone thinks the script is really strong now, so we locked it in.
Which members of the first movie’s cast/creative team are returning, and who will be the newcomers involved?
The plan is to have as many returning crew as we can. Our team became a well-oiled machine and a family while working on the first, so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Obviously, Lily-Claire Harvey is returning as Leslie and Jesse McDonald will come back as The Doctor. I’m super-excited, because Jesse’s character Ned is also coming back in a big way. We’re still early in the preproduction process, and there are some new roles we need to cast, with a few of those meant to be filled with known talent.
With so many murders, and such extreme ones, in the original, how is the sequel going to top it?
That’s a great question. Honestly, there are so many deaths in the first movie that I was worried I’d spent my creative kill load on the first. While there are fewer deaths in the sequel, the gore factor is pushed to 11. With NEW FEARS EVE, I wanted each kill to be unique, and it has a slew of deaths you’ve never seen in other slashers. I’ve kept that same goal in PART 2, but want to push the visceral intensity. Gorehounds are going to be in for a treat. It’s not just a splatterfest; it’s creatively layered carnage.
Will we learn more about The Doctor this time?
I understand that’s a point of contention with fans of the first movie [laughs]. Some people loved The Doctor’s reveal, others hated it and some were confused by it. My reasoning behind not giving everything, or really anything, away about The Doctor is purely artistic. His embodiment is literally an allegory, but that artsy-fartsy explanation is not enough for some. So yes, I specifically give well-placed nuggets of information in the new script that deepen the character’s mythos. You’ll learn much more about him than you did in the first movie.
