Audiences stayed away from Cold Creek Manor in droves. Often hailed as one of the most innovative and distinguished directors working today, it's ironic that Mike Figgis' first real attempt to crack Hollywood should take the form of "a clichéd, implausible thriller". Nonetheless the Brit helmer stands firm for this DVD release.
Cooped Up
Cooper's Documentary breaks the mould of bland, studio-produced ‘making of' featurettes by offering a behind-the-scenes look at the film within the film - in other words, the video diary shot by Dennis Quaid's character as he investigates the history of Cold Creek Manor. In it you'll learn that Cooper's camera was mounted inside a steering wheel to give an ethereal touch, and that Quaid did most of the shooting himself. Unfortunately there isn't much else in the way of revealing observations, making this a case of style over substance.
Fans of the old-fashioned Hollywood thriller might find The Rules Of The Genre an enlightening viewing experience. However, if you consider yourself a sophisticated filmgoer Mike Figgis' notes on editing tempo, economy in storytelling, and the importance of surprise twists will not hold your interest - especially when you consider how poorly received Cold Creek Manor was.
Steve Irwin, Eat Your Heart Out
Figgis offers better insights in his audio commentary. He raves about the advent of digital technology and how it's opened up so many possibilities in filmmaking, but he also relates the sometimes heartbreaking experience of trying to get a film off the ground. Even more disconcerting is Figgis' recollection of having to wrangle a throng of snakes, especially when he confesses that: "I can't tell the difference between the ones that kill you and the ones that don't."
In his introductions for some of the eight deleted scenes, Figgis explains why he made the cuts. These include an alternate ending, but no explanation is required here as it's simply a tacked-on resolution scene that adds nothing to your understanding of the characters or the horrors they've had to endure.
Although Figgis is very forthcoming in recounting the experience of making Cold Creek Manor, we're not offered another perspective on it. Simply put, the foundations are too shallow.
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