Edgar Wright is a filmmaker with a very distinct style. If you’ve seen any of his films, you can see how his editing, his use of music, and his distinct brand of humor can be found in every feature he’s created. And when you learn about the “lightbulb” moment where Wright realized he was going to strive to be a filmmaker, it makes sense where he might have gotten some of that stylistic inspiration from.
Speaking to The Guardian, Edgar Wright talked about his childhood and the moment he realized he wanted to become a filmmaker. Though he was already in possession of a Super 8 camera, it wasn’t until he saw an interview with Sam Raimi on TV that he understood that filmmaking was going to be his life’s ambition.
“My brother and I got a secondhand Super 8 camera as a double birthday/Christmas present,” Wright explained. “It had a vari-speed function, so we’d film us throwing our Action Men and Rom Space Knights out of the window in slow motion.”
He continued, “Jonathan Ross’s ‘The Incredibly Strange Film Show’ on Channel 4 had a feature on Sam Raimi, who made Super 8 shorts before he made ‘The Evil Dead.’ I had a lightbulb realization: ‘I’m going to be a film director.’ I’ve since told Jonathan Ross: ‘I wouldn’t have become a film director if it wasn’t for you.’ He said: ‘You make me feel fucking old.’”
When you think about Raimi’s career, especially beginning with a unique mix of humor and horror, it makes sense that he would have a huge impact on Wright. Just look at “Shaun of the Dead” to see Wright take on horror-comedy with style. Though maybe the trademark Raimi-esque camera movements didn’t quite carry over.
Wright is about to tackle the psychological thriller genre with his new film “Last Night in Soho,” which is set to arrive in theaters on October 29.
