Christopher Nolan has sparked fresh excitement among fans by hinting that he may direct a horror film in the future.
The Academy Award-winning filmmaker’s latest release, The Odyssey, features several dark and unsettling moments. Nolan said working on the film had only increased his interest in exploring the horror genre.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Nolan was asked whether audiences could now stop requesting him to make a horror film, considering the frightening elements in The Odyssey.
Laughing, he replied, “I was going to say that. They don’t need to beg me to tell a horror story anymore. Just buy a ticket.”
However, Nolan made it clear that The Odyssey had not fully satisfied his interest in horror. Instead, the experience made him even more eager to explore the genre.
“It very much whets my appetite for more. But I’ve always believed that horror as a genre has to be approached very carefully from a conceptual point of view. In other words, you have to have an amazing idea,” he said.
For Nolan, making a horror film is not mainly about visual effects or technical experiments. He believes the strength of the story and its central idea matter the most.
Explaining what inspires him, Nolan referred to Brian De Palma’s Obsession, praising the film for its powerful concept and storytelling.
He said he is always searching for the right story rather than looking for an opportunity to experiment with filmmaking techniques.
Apart from its action and mythological elements, The Odyssey also explores Zeus’ law, which is linked to the principle of treating others with the same respect one expects in return.
Nolan said mutual respect plays an important role in defining civilisation. He added that such values cannot be imposed only through religion and must exist naturally within human beings.
Based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who undertakes a dangerous journey home after the Trojan War.
The film also features Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Elliot Page and Travis Scott.
