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When the world was made aware of the passing of Australian filmmaker Jamie Blanks, the horror community felt the loss. The cause of death has not yet been announced, but it has been reported that Blanks’ passing was very unexpected.
The director was only 54 years old, but made his mark on the genre. He was most notably known to the horror world for his movies Urban Legend in 1998 and Valentine in 2001.
Humble Beginnings
Blanks began his career with Silent Number, a short film released in 1993 as available to watch on YouTube here. The short is roughly fifteen minutes long, and is about a young woman spending the night babysitting in a spooky house during a storm. As the storm rages on, the babysitter receives calls from a scared young boy begging for her help. Apparently, the boy has been locked in a dark and unknown place by his abusive father.
Later, the director created a $3,000 self funded trailer for I Know What You Did Last Summer. While the trailer did not help him secure the job for this particular horror movie, it demonstrated his ambition, craft, and ability as a director. When combined with his short film, his 1990’s horror career was born.
Capturing an Era
Coming off the tail of played out 1980’s horror franchises, the 1990’s horror industry was established with movies like; I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Disturbing Behavior (1998), and Scream (1996). The trend continued to bleed into the 00’s with films such as; Prom Night (2008), Sorority Row (2009), and House of Wax (2005).
Dead teenager films dominated the genre, and director Jamie Blanks captured the era perfectly with his films Urban Legend (1998)and Valentine (2001).
The horror director seamlessly incorporated elements of the 90’s and 00’s. In fact, these details still resonate with those of us today who have lived through the years. Cassette tapes and CD’s, beepers, 30lb computer monitors, and the insufferable screech of dial up all punctuated his films.
Watching these details back then immersed fans into the world he carefully created. Blanks portrayed reflections on everyday real life. Stepping back into that world decades later offers Millennials a sense of nostalgia, as cringe as it may have been.
Blanks’ Look and Sound of Horror
Blanks had a talent for directing young heartthrobs of the time, including; Joshua Jackson of Dawson’s Creek and David Boreanaz of Buffy the Vampire Slayer added his movies to their budding filmography. Up and coming bombshells Tara Reid and recently established Denise Richards also graced his projects.
The director also had an eye for young, blossoming talent. Rising stars Michael Rosenbaum of Smallville, and most notably 2014 Golden Globe winner Jared Leto joined his cast in Urban Legend.
Knowing what the audience wants to see in horror is one thing, but constructing an atmosphere with music was something the horror world hadn’t yet fully embraced in the 90’s. The most notable impact of music in horror was John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978). Not only did Carpenter write and direct the movie, but he also composed what is arguably the most iconic horror theme in genre history.
Fortunately, if there was anything Blanks was equally as knowledgeable about as he was with horror, it was music. He worked as a composer and scored many of his own movies. His knowledge of music and composition aided him greatly in the director chair when he took his audience on a 90 minute suspense ride of horror.
Many of the scares in Urban Legend relied heavily on the musical score composed by Christopher Young. However, Blanks strongly insisted on assisting in the direction the composition took. Instead of letting Young use his standard movie methods by utilizing synthesizers, the director wanted to go in a different direction. Blanks insisted the artist take a more orchestral approach, which is what Young’s background is originally in. This gave the movie a more unique, signature sound.
A Tribute to the Greats
Blanks himself was a self-proclaimed fan of horror movies, so it is no surprise he included some great horror cameos in his own movie Urban Legend.
Professor William Wexler, an instructor of American folklore at Pendleton University, is portrayed by none other than Robert Englund. As of 1998, Englund was coming off of the height of his career as Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street films. However, he was (and is) as relevant and beloved as ever among the horror community, and instantly noticed among fans.
Blanks also casted Danielle Harris. Harris originally cemented her place in the genre as a child actress as the role of Michael Myers’ niece, Jamie Lloyd, in Halloween 4 and 5. She later returned to her home in horror as Tosh, Natalie’s Goth roommate at Pendleton University.
Blanks’ rounded out his cast of veteran horror actors with Brad Dourif, most notable for his work as Charles “Chucky” Lee Ray in the Child’s Play series. Blanks and Don Mancini, creator of the Child’s Play franchise, were industry friends. In fact, fans have wondered if Tara Reid’s costume at the Stanley Hall Massacre party was a nod to Mancini’s film Bride of Chucky, which was released just one month later.
Upon his friend’s passing, Mancini took to X, posting;
RIP@BlanksJamie A VERY talented filmmaker. AMAZING eye. And an extremely nice person. His love of the horror genre was infectious and inspiring, and that lives on in his films. 🙁
Since the director’s passing, there has been an outpouring of love for his family and friends. In addition, many in the horror community have rekindled their appreciation of his work. Let us know what you think of his movies in the comments.
