Dario Argento, whose Italian horror films are the stuff of lore (“Suspiria,” “Tenebre” and the Jennifer Connelly-led “Phenomena”) is back at it, and this time, it’s a doozy. “The Sandman,” written by David Tully and not to be confused with Neil Gaiman’s exquisite comic series, is a modern serial killer thriller starring none other than Iggy Pop. Yes, Iggy Pop.
If the pairing of Pop and Argento is just about the most outlandish thing you can think of, and you want in on the action, then there’s more good news in store. Variety reports that the duo are teaming up to fundraise for the film, turning to Indiegogo in the hope of raising a quarter of a million dollars. Fans who give enough can get a personal message from either or both icons, set tours or even a cameo in the movie.
Though he had his heyday in the 1970s and 80s, Argento has been consistently active since emerging as a writer in the mid-60s. His last film, “Dracula 3D,” opened about a year ago in the U.S., though we don’t know a single person who saw it.
If you’re curious about Argento’s earlier work, his relationship to other Italian filmmakers and his thoughts on violence and gore in his filmography, we suggest you check out Eyes on Cinema’s interview with the director. The 16-minute clip features a younger Argento talking about his career, and is a timely lead-in to the crowd-funding campaign.
Stay tuned for “The Sandman” developments. In the meantime, you can contribute to the project via their Indiegogo site, where, as of this writing, they’ve already raised over $14,000 toward their goal.