Titel: Reinert Kiil over de Hora Trilogie en meer (Engels)
Auteur: Frank
Categorie: Interview
Datum: 16/04/11

Who is Reinert Kiil?

Who I am? Hmm... Difficult question. Short words to describe me is: Funny, Movie freak, Sporty (in periods), love good Norwegian traditional food and gets kick out of anything that goes fast. That’s me in short.

How did you come in the world of filmmaking?`

Really a lot of hard work. I started making short films at the age of 9. When I was around 20, I started working for other peoples films for free... Worked on the side as a butcher, cleaning person, driver and fisher just to pay the rent. But in my spare time, I put all my money in my own films and worked back then for free for other people in Tromsø (North of Norway) until 2005. That’s the year I landed my first real paid job in the industry as a production assistant on Kautokeino Rebellion. After that I have been working as a prop guy on films like Far North (Michelle Vohe, Sean Bean) , IceCold (Jørgen Langhelle), Olsen bandenjr, and much more... The last two years I have been an Art Director on two features and some short films and commercials.

Who are what were inspirations for you and how can we see those inspirations in your movies?

Tarantino, because he doesn’t come from a school or teaching place. He is an inspiration for everyone in the industry I think. Takishi Miike, I love his way of telling a normally dramatic story in his own way. You never know what you will get from him. Paul Verhoeven. I love his old flicks and for me it looks like he wants to push the limits all the time in mainstream films. And I love that.

You just have to look and see if you can find the inspiration for your self. I like mixing stuff.

Reinert, ‘Hora AKA Whore’ is your first feature length movie. Why did you choose to make a ‘Rape Revenge’ movie?

I needed something that makes the audience want to see the film just by hearing the topic. And as brutal a movie is the more people will want to see it. You know... Everybody wants to see the stuff they really don’t want to see. People are strange that way. And in Norway we never had a hard edge movie. A movie that grabs you because of the images you see on the screen. That was probably why I choose that genre.

‘Hora’ has been a big hit during the B-Movie, Underground and Trash Film Festival in the Netherlands. You’ve even won the award for best feature length. Did you expect that ‘Hora’ would be so positively received?

No. We made the film as an experience for everybody in the crew. Too see if we could make a feature in 10 days and make it work. Hora, "the Whore" is now out in 8 countries and is going strong on DVD in Norway. So I say we made a hit for us self.

How were the audience responses during ‘Hora’ screenings?

Different. You know in Norway every big review station gave the film bad critic. But almost every review from horror fans in Norway was good. Same was it in Denmark. Most of the papers, horror site and even politiken (one of Denmark’s biggest news) gave the film a good review. Filmrage said the film was the best low-budget to come from Scandinavia in 15 years (Pusher). Then I think it has no meaning in listening to the review people in Norway. I don’t think this country is ready for this kind of films. And we have this fucking Jantelov. Where you can’t be different ore better than anybody else. Hate that about Norway. When a band or actor does something that isn’t normal, everybody looks down on him/her... But the audience in Norway and Netherland (normal people on screenings and stuff) has been really funny. One guy passed out in the Netherland. And a girl puked in Norway. And I just heard that a guy in Berlin named his dog Hora, after the film. I like that one the best!. The audience have reacted both ways. With scare and with "this is a shit film". But I suppose it happens to all films out there.

You’ve had a ban on ‘Hora’ during the Minneapolis film festival. What was happening over there?

They just couldn’t show the film because of the nakedness and torture. So they sent it to a place -Filmpolice- I think. Who said “No, this movie can’t be shown”. And then I got an email that they will show it anyway in a secret screening. I liked that. That reminds me of the old school Grindhouse films. And that is just what Hora is about.

What can you tell us about your earlier works?

Have done almost 30 short films. Most horror. But one cartoon and two comedies and a mystic film. Music video and documentary.

The documentary was about Jorg Buttgereit. Its a short 12 min. documentary. And it had its release on his DVD “Der Todensking”. The short films have been shown on Shriekfilm festival, Horrorfind weekend (Where “the Voice of one’s conscience” was really good received). FFF, and on Os film festival. And many more places around the world. Did a sketch for a feature "Fuck Norge". and it leaked out on the internet so now its like I made a real feature called Fuck Norge. But actually Hora is my first feature in my opinion.

You’re currently working on your second movie ‘Inside the Whore’, a sequel in sorts to ‘Hora’. Why a sequel and not another ‘stand alone’ feature length?

I said before I started on Hora that I will make a trilogy. Rape revenge, Mockumentary and slasher. I change the last one to a slasher/splatter. It was not said from the start that I make Hora 1-3 on a row. But since I didn’t get funding for my script “Christmas Blood and Tigertown”, I had to make something again that I only just had my own money in. And what is better than making another exploitation movie again then?

You have a couple of ‘big names’ for your second movie. How did you accomplish that?

Yes. Jørgen Langhelle (Elling, the Thing, Torpedo) Viktoria Winge (Max Manus, Cold Pray, Reprise) Dagrun Anholt (Buddy, Umeå4 Ever, Gråtass) , Vegar Hoel (Dead Snow, Monstertorsdag, Tomme Tønner) Kim Sønderholm (the Horror Vault, Tour De Force, Judge Ice) Irris Holaes Lua (Bandidas, Sinister and the main vocals from the Phillipina band Playgirls), Elin Sandvik (Sinus) and Isabel Vibe (Hora) The first movie was because I had contacts around the industry from my props work. But the actors and actresses liked the script and wanted to be in the sequel. So I got them in the film just because of that.

Your next movie is getting a nationwide release in Norway, does this mean genre movies are getting more mainstream in Norway?

I will not say nationwide release because in the end we don’t know if the film will be legal, and plus, if the cinemas around the country want the film. But the distribution company is working on a cinema release. Genre movie is finally getting up in Norway. Not the fucking boring middle school drama films that we made around the whole 80`s and part of the 90`s

Can you tell us something about the Norwegian film industry and your relationship with it?

Norwegian film is getting better now I think, because younger people get in the industry and new people. Its not the same guys over and over again like before. And we make genre films and artsy genre films. That is cool. Like one of the best Norwegian film ever got out last year I think. Trolljegeren. I really like that one. And maybe this will be the turnaround for Norwegian films. Because everywhere I have gone on film festivals I hear that Norway is a safe and boring film country. But maybe now we can get new ideas and new type of films. I hope so!

Can you give us some spoilers about the last part in the trilogy?

Its a film where bigger forces will try to stop the making of the film. That I can say. And if I get some funding I will shock many people by showing one of the actors who has said yes to join the film. But I need the money first. I can’t say this much... He’s a Hollywood star.

What kind of projects do you want to do in the future?

Horror, Action and children’s’ films. I have also a script for a Sci Fi drama adventure. But I don’t think anybody will be producer on that one. hehe

Looking back to your days producing and directing your movies. What interesting memories come back to you?

When we shot the sequel to the “Whore -Inside the Whore-“ . I play the main character myself. And I’m no actor. But I used tips from other actors and I went far in the role. When we where on location it was hard because I was almost ‘in character’ the whole time. Many of the crew got a little bit scared sometimes. Both from my reactions and because of my health. I didn’t sleep much there and almost didn’t eat. That is the hardest in my mind.

The funniest memory is the first time I worked with Isabel Vibe. She was so normal when she went around naked. As you know she’s from the porn industry and I had never worked with that kind of character before. But one day when I was telling her what to do I was like really in to the conversation and suddenly I froze and looked at her. I saw then she was naked with a lot of blood all over and I was thinking... What am I doing. They all got a good laugh. And they all tell me that story after to make a little fun of me. hehe

You’re a underground film director and probably watch a lot of (underground) movies yourself. What part of the world or which directors do we need to look out for in your opinion?

I like Epstein’s work. Only seen two of his films. But I think he’s got something.  Matthew Leutwhyler is a guy, I think if he gets the right photographer and some money he can put his ideas on the big screen. Always think Olaf Ittenbach had something. Some of his film where really shitty. But still some were really good! Hope he can make a Hollywood film someday. And I know Rob Zombie isn’t an Underground director. But still he has made some really underground films perfectly. If you take away Halloween 2. So I hope he will make a lot of great things in the future.

Do you have anything more to add?

I hope The Netherlands is ready for Kiil Produksjon movies in the future! We will bring you some totally sick horror flicks!

Thank you for your time

Thank you!