Edgar Allan Poe has appeared as a character in two recent films: Francis Ford Coppola’s surreal mystery, Twixt, and via John Cusack’s loony, Nic Cage-like portrayal in The Raven. After years of caricatures and interpretations, however one filmmaker seeks to forego the myth and pay respect to the gothic horror master’s brilliant, tragic life: director Stuart Gordon launched a Kickstarter to raise money for Nevermore, a screen adaptation of the successful one-man show he produced for his Re-Animator star Jeffrey Combs. Based on a screenplay from Gordon’s longtime writer, Dennis Paoli, the film takes place in 1848 as Poe attempts “one last recitation of The Raven to save himself from a life of crushing poverty and soul destroying alcoholism.” The film will use personal letters and essays to depict the author “in his own words,” and include dramatizations of some his most famous works.
The project marks Combs and Gordon’s second take on the macabre wordsmith, as both worked on the 2007 reimagining of The Black Cat for Showtime’s Masters of Horror series. If funded, Nevermore would further their dedication to Poe’s legacy, and become Gordon’s first feature film in six years. Considering his cult movie past, this little venture should prove interesting. Check out the pitch video below.
Are you a Poe fan? Would you contribute to Nevermore?