Jaws was released over 50 years ago, and people are still terrified of sharks. There are scream-worthy moments in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Jurassic Park. And while Steven Spielberg technically didn’t direct Poltergeist—Tobe Hooper did—he produced it, wrote the story, and co-wrote the screenplay. And now, five decades into what’s been a very genre-heavy filmmaking career, Spielberg admits he’s still hoping to direct a horror movie eventually.
Speaking to Empire, however, the Oscar winner explained there’s a reason why he hasn’t yet taken the plunge.
“I haven’t directed a horror film yet, and I’ve always wanted to, and someday I may,” he said. “But there have been some great horror films out already that satisfy that itch.”
Zach Cragger’s Weapons is one such example. “When I see a great horror film like Weapons, I don’t have an itch I need to scratch. I see Weapons, and it doesn’t make me want to make a horror film that’s as scary or scarier than Weapons. It satisfies me so completely, it actually arrests my desire to someday make a really, really scary movie.”
Spielberg’s latest alien-themed movie, Disclosure Day, arrives June 12, and it seems he doesn’t have that same urge to put off sci-fi when he sees a really great sci-fi film from another filmmaker. Case in point: he loves Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies and thinks they “honor” the books by Frank Herbert, which he also loves.
“They are among my favorite science fiction movies, not just recently, but of all time. Especially the second film,” he told Empire. “I think [Part Two] is the best movie Denis has ever made. I cannot wait to see the third one.”
Being Spielberg has its privileges, by the way. Dune: Part Three isn’t out till December, but “I’m sure he’ll show it to me early. I’m such a fan of his.”
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