I’m no fan of modern gory horror movies — but it’s disappointing to hear that the proposed Guillermo del Toro feature-film version of Lovecraft’s “At the Mountain of Madness” has been canned. Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth etc) has instead officially announced that he’s signed up with Disney to write, produce and direct a movie version of their Haunted Mansion theme-park attraction. Which sounds like mindless Saturday-morning popcorn kiddie fodder, although I guess that in his hands it may achieve the heights of the first Pirates of the Caribbean film. As to “Mountain of Madness” it seems the studios executives simply wimped out on in the end, despite Toro’s promise of adding buckets of teen-friendly gore…
“it’s very difficult for the studios to take the step of an R-rated, tent-pole movie, with a tough ending and no love story.”
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It now seems the directing part of the package “may” happen…
“del Toro has since clarified his involvement with the film with a personal letter to Latino Review, explaining that he is only producing and co-writing ‘The Haunted Mansion’ — for now.”