Ligotti/TRUE DETECTIVE Discussion, VALHALLA RISING Podcast + Nicolas Refn Interview

[dr. locrian]

Quote

We have a real treat for you this week. We talk about the cinematic masterpiece Valhalla Rising and also interview the director of the film, Nicolas Winding Refn! We also have a kickass guest host, Jon Padgett. Jon is a horror writer, voiceover artist, and trusty steward of ligotti.net – a site founded in 1998 dedicated to horror writer Thomas Ligotti (one of the “inspirations” for HBO’s True Detective).

I was brought on as a guest host for this podcast and interview with genius filmmaker, Nicolas Winding Refn. It was such an honor and a delight. (Apologies in advance for my occasional hemmings and hawings)

We talk at length about the Pizzolatto fiasco in the first minutes and then segue into discussion of the brilliant Refn film, VALHALLA RISING. And then the interview with Refn follows, and it's a damn good one. Followed by more Refn analysis and gushing.

Anyway, Click here to listen to the podcast/interview.

[matt cardin]

This is great! And I haven't even listened to it yet. Well done, Jon, in getting this guest gig. And how appropriate that you discussed the Ligotti/True Detective situation with Mr. Refn, who directed one of the recent Lincoln commercials featuring Matthew McConaughey doing his True Detective-inspired philosophical reflection schtick. Maybe you talk about that with him in this interview? I look forward to finding out.

(If you haven't seen the brilliant skewering of that commercial by Auralnauts, btw: "Matthew McConaughey and the Lincoln MKZ: Existential Crisis")

[dr. locrian]

Quote Originally Posted by matt cardin

This is great! And I haven't even listened to it yet. Well done, Jon, in getting this guest gig. And how appropriate that you discussed the Ligotti/True Detective situation with Mr. Refn, who directed one of the recent Lincoln commercials featuring Matthew McConaughey doing his True Detective-inspired philosophical reflection schtick. Maybe you talk about that with him in this interview? I look forward to finding out. (If you haven't seen the brilliant skewering of that commercial by Auralnauts, btw: "Matthew McConaughey and the Lincoln MKZ: Existential Crisis")

Hey, Matt.

Didn't mean to be confusing. We didn't talk Ligotti with Refn -- the podcast hosts and I talked about Ligotti and the TRUE DETECTIVE fiasco when they had me introduce myself. It went on for a good chunk of time, though, which I really appreciate.

Why didn't I ask Refn about Ligotti and TD? Good question. It was a missed opportunity. In my defense, I can only say that talking to Refn was intimidating! The man has an amazing mind.

[matt cardin]

Thanks for the clarification, Jon. The conversation sounds no less interesting.

[ramonoski]

Pretty good listen Bit of a shame that Ligotti's Penguin book has to be tainted by that one tv series, but it's good to know more spaces (in this case, this podcast) are opening up about it and giving both "The Pizz" and Ligotti their respective due.

Loved the analysis on Valhalla Rising. One hell of a movie. I still haven't seen the Pusher movies, but pretty much everything since Bronson has been amazing. Refn is definitely one of my favourite filmmakers today, and it's nice to see how insightful and funny he can be. Great interview. Now someone please slip him a copy of MWINYD so he can turn it into a movie

	MWINYD My Work Is Not Yet Done

[njhorror]

VALHALLA RISING is a great movie in its stark brutality.

[bendk]

I haven't had a chance to listen to the podcast yet, but I am looking forward to it. Valhalla Rising is a fine movie. I consider his film Drive to be a modern film noir classic. It is the first DVD that I have purchased in ages. I listened to more than a few interviews on Youtube after seeing that movie and some were very interesting. You should hunt down the one where Ryan Gosling talks about his interview with Refn when he was selecting a director. Poor dude sounded like he was having a nervous breakdown, but it worked out well for both of them. Great movie! I believe they have worked together since then.

[ToALonelyPeace]

Unfortunately I don't think the link works anymore. It's a pity since I love Valhalla Rising. Here's a series of interview with Refn in 2007. The interviewer was hard-hitting hence the title.

Rare revealing Nicolas Winding Refn interview (Pt. 1/8) [ENG SUBS] - YouTube