The Dutch filmmaker behind cult favorites like AMSTERDAMNED (pictured), THE LIFT and SAINT now gets his own feature-length documentary; jump past the jump to read about the project from its creators.
DICK MAAS: THE DOCUMENTARY is being put together by director/editor Jeffrey De Vore (whose many previous cutting credits include THE WINDMILL) and producer Jan Doense (CHERRY TREE, NAILS), who have set up a crowdfunding page for it; see the link below. Maas, whose films also include the LIFT remake DOWN (a.k.a. THE SHAFT), DO NOT DISTURB (a.k.a. SILENT WITNESS), QUIZ and most recently the killer-lion thriller PREY, is one of the few directors in the Netherlands movie industry to be wholeheartedly devoted to genre, and that’s what the doc seeks to celebrate.
“Dick Maas is an outsider in the Dutch film industry—a rebel filmmaker who likes to make explosive cinema filled with comedy, action, sex and gore, unlike many of his peers,” De Vore tells RUE MORGUE. “Where a lot of Dutch filmmakers play it safe, Maas dares to take risks. He is a true original who writes, directs, produces and composes the music, all in a very unique and recognizable style.
“As explosive as his films are, his career is as well,” De Vore continues. “After their huge box-office success in the ’80s, Maas and his producing partner Laurens Geels built a gigantic movie studio and backlot near Amsterdam. It soon became a disaster and the studio sadly collapsed—an event that really impacted Maas’ career. DICK MAAS: THE DOCUMENTARY is a fast-paced, tell-all story of a European genre master who changed Dutch genre cinema forever. If you liked THE LIFT and AMSTERDAMNED, you’re in for a treat.”
“Dick Maas has been consistently making films with a uniquely recognizable personal style for over 40 years now,” adds Doense. “He has had his ups and downs, and has come to a point in his career where he is willing to share his stories. Moreover, he has granted us access to his huge private archive of never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage, so DICK MAAS: THE DOCUMENTARY will be a must-see for anyone interested in his films.”
The doc will also include interviews with cast and crew from Maas’ movies, his fellow filmmakers and fans. The crowdfunding page, offering a wide variety of perks, can be found here.
