Horror flicks were once barely a rung above porn: that’s all changed

In the two decades since Leigh Whannell and James Wan launched their careers with the first Saw, there has been a dramatic change in respect for horror films.

“When the first Saw movie came out, horror was like one rung above porn in terms of industry respect,” Whannell says. “Now, all of a sudden, horror has been embraced wholeheartedly.”

After success with the Saw and Insidious series and the films Upgrade and The Invisible Man, the prolific Australian writer, director, producer and sometime actor is gearing up for the release of the Hollywood horror Wolf Man in cinemas next month.

“Similarly to The Invisible Man, it’s sort of a modern take on a monster movie,” Whannell says. “I’m right in the crosshairs of that phase where you’re nervous and excited about the release.”

After Wolf Man, Whannell has another commitment – an In Conversation session that will go deeply into his career – at the five-day festival the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts is holding to coincide with its awards on the Gold Coast in February.

It is one of more than 100 mostly free events at what is being styled as “Sundance at Surfers” for its hopes of attracting not just film and TV talent from other states but also tourists.

Despite living, largely working and raising three children with his actor-writer wife Corbett Tuck in the States, Whannell says he still feels very connected to Australia.

“It’s big part of my identity,” he says. “So if something like the AACTA Festival is asking me to be involved then that’s something that I want to do.”