The Guru of Exploitation: Talking With Joe Bob Briggs by Owen Keehnen

The name Joe Bob Briggs has become synonymous with low budget R rated gore and delicious low-budget fare. ‘Joe Bob’s Drive in Theater’ ruled The Movie Channel for nearly a decade where his wit and personality made it the networks highest rated show. Next he moved to TNT where he reigned as the host of MonsterVision for another four years. Now he’s back on cable with his own show on HorrorNet for more blood-spurting and boob-spotting fun. Definitely must-see TV.

In addition to his fun and insightful hosting duties Joe Bob has remained steadfast to his journalism roots authoring several books – Joe Bob Goes to The Drive-In, A Guide to Western Civilization, or, My Story, Joe Bob Goes Back to The Drive-In, The Cosmic Wisdom of Joe Bob Briggs, and Iron Joe Bob. His latest effort Profoundly Disturbing: Shocking Movies That Changed History offers a series of insightful essays (in his inimitable style) on movies that have shaped the way we view cinema – featured are writings on such favorites as ‘I Spit On Your Grave’, ‘Blood Feast’, ‘Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter’, ‘Deep Throat’, and the original ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’.

The man also has two DVD lines being released each with his signature commentary. Whew! This is one busy guy but he was gracious and kind enough to take some time and answer a few questions for his RacksandRazors fans.


 
 

Owen: Tell me how the persona of Joe Bob was born.

Joe: I was the film critic at the Dallas Times Herald and I noticed that there was a certain class of film that was never reviewed, never screened for critics--it existed only in the ghetto of drive-ins and downtown grind houses. I found these films more entertaining than the standard Hollywood mainstream release of the week, and so I started reviewing them. One of the first producer/directors I met was Roger Corman, and I asked him, "What are the essential exploitation ingredients?" He told me, and I refined that into the three B's: Blood, Breasts and Beasts. I wanted to celebrate these films, so I invented a populist persona that wouldn't be subject to the same restrictions that existed for mainstream critics. For the first three years, nobody knew who actually wrote the column. At any rate, I started going to the drive-ins to review the films, because the distributors were skeptical and didn't want to screen them for me. The first one I did was "The Grim Reaper," the Italian cannibal classic. Eventually the exploitation distributors started setting up screenings for me in advance because, at the time, I was the only critic in America interested in reviewing these movies. The criticism and the persona developed in concert.

Owen: I love that you have this deep appreciation of your subject matter.  It definitely came through in your film hosting.  I really enjoyed 'Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater' on TMC and then 'MonsterVision' on TNT.  Tell me about your newest hosting gig on The Scream Channel.

Joe: Well, first of all, the Scream Channel has changed its name. The current one we're working with is HorrorNet, although I hope it will change again, because I think horror is too limiting, the channel is supposed to also include suspense films and thrillers. At any rate, the show on HorrorNet will be more of the same. Movie hosting, direct to camera, enthusiasm for the movies themselves but not afraid to poke fun. One of the basic differences between what I do and what some other hosts do is that I always celebrate the movies, even if I'm putting them down--if that makes any sense.

Owen: I also recall that there were several movies TMC wouldn't let you show.  What were some of the titles and is HorrorNet more amicable that way?

Joe: "The too grisly for cable" list didn't apply just to TMC -- no one else would show those movies, either. They included "Demons," the original "Chainsaw Massacre," "I Spit On Your Grave" (I think this one is still banned), and a lot of lesser titles that didn't pass editing. HorrorNet will show uncut movies, but only on our secondary premium channel. The basic digital channel will be edited for nudity and for violence.

Owen: You're the author of several books.  Most recently, Profoundly Disturbing: Shocking Movies that Changed History.  Can you give me a synopsis of what you wanted to convey with the book?

Joe: It's about movies that were banned, censored or just ignored but that somehow seeped into the popular culture and affected us.

Owen: Why do you think so many critics are quick to deny the importance of films like 'Blood Feast', 'I Spit on Your Grave', or 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'?

Joe: Well, I don't think there are many critics left who would deny the importance of "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," but many critics don't realize the impact films have due to the bizarre ways they percolate through the culture. For example, "Blood Feast" was popularized almost entirely by punk bands in the late seventies. "I Spit On Your Grave" was so notorious that it was on the "too grisly for cable" list--banned from even premium cable channels--and pretty much destroyed the careers of everyone affiliated with it. Oddly enough, it was the male critics who were most disturbed by it.

Owen: And what was the last movie you saw that has "changed the way we look at movies"?

Joe: Probably "Crash." Not the abortion that came out this year, but the Cronenberg movie.

Owen: You have acted in several movies as well like Martin Scorsese's 'Casino', 'Face/Off'', 'The Stand', and 'Hollywood Boulevard 2'.  I was sad to hear your part in 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2' was cut.  Was that upsetting at the time?

Joe: No, not really, because I just did it on a lark. I was on the set working for Rolling Stone, and Kit Carson and I wrote three scenes together because Tobe was so hyped to get me in the movie. The scene was cut by Cannon Films because they were editing for length, and Tobe was most apologetic.

Owen: With watching all these movies and obviously loving them...have you ever considered making a movie of your own?  If so, what would be the title and plot?

Joe: Well, no, not really, it would be fun, but I've always been focused on other things.

Owen: I know that video and DVD has increased the number of horror flicks, but do you think the demise of the drive-in affected the horror movie experience?

Joe: Nope, because all you need for a great horror movie experience is a dark environment, preferably full of screaming girls.

Owen: I have also heard you are hosting a DVD line for Elite.  What can we expect from that project?

Joe: I have two DVD lines, one with Elite Entertainment and one with Media Blasters. For Elite, I've done the commentary track for "I Spit On Your Grave," "Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter" and "The Double D Avenger." For Media Blasters, I've done "Samurai Cop," "Blood Shack," "The Hollywood Strangler Meets the Skid Row Slasher," "Hell's Angels '69," "Hell High," "Warlock Moon," "The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies," "Blood Sisters" and "Run, Angel, Run."

Owen: So can you give me Joe Bob's list of the 10 must-have horror movies to have in every collection?

Joe: Oh wow. I'm changing my list all the time, but off the top of my head:
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the original)
    Hellraiser
    Night of the Living Dead (the original)
    Audition
    Evil Dead
    Suspiria
    Demons
    Frankenstein (the original)
    Invasion of the Body Snatchers (the original)
    Peeping Tom 

Owen: Have you ever seen a movie and thought "This gore is just too much!"

Joe: Absolutely not.

Owen: And finally since this is Racks and Razors, what horror movie has the highest breast count that you can recall?

Joe: That's a tough one. I know that at one time the champion was "Gas Pump Girls," but that's not a horror flick. Probably "Sorority House Massacre 2."  

Owen: Thanks again Joe Bob and all the best to you.