Miramax Stirring 'Straw' Once More
NEW YORK (Variety) -- Miramax is developing a loose remake of Sam Peckinpah's controversial drama "Straw Dogs," which contained such a brutal rape scene that the film was only recently released in the UK on video, 30 years after it opened in the United States. The premise of "Fear Itself" is similar to that of its critically acclaimed 1971 progenitor, which starred Dustin Hoffman and Susan George. It will focus on a married couple confronted by a random act of violence. They flee from New York to rural Maine, but they discover that they cannot outrun the threat of violence. Miramax has hired John Polson to direct the film. His most recent project was "Siam Sunset," but he has been garnering buzz for "Swimfan," a "Fatal Attraction" for the high school set which appears to have sleeper potential. The "Fear Itself" script was written by Stuart Blumberg, who previ-ously wrote the Edward Norton acting/directing vehicle "Keeping the Faith."
NEW YORK (Variety) -- Miramax is developing a loose remake of Sam Peckinpah's controversial drama "Straw Dogs," which contained such a brutal rape scene that the film was only recently released in the UK on video, 30 years after it opened in the United States. The premise of "Fear Itself" is similar to that of its critically acclaimed 1971 progenitor, which starred Dustin Hoffman and Susan George. It will focus on a married couple confronted by a random act of violence. They flee from New York to rural Maine, but they discover that they cannot outrun the threat of violence. Miramax has hired John Polson to direct the film. His most recent project was "Siam Sunset," but he has been garnering buzz for "Swimfan," a "Fatal Attraction" for the high school set which appears to have sleeper potential. The "Fear Itself" script was written by Stuart Blumberg, who previ-ously wrote the Edward Norton acting/directing vehicle "Keeping the Faith."