John Mcnaughton
About
Biography
Biography
A talented independent filmmaker whose bleak, chilling vision of society has garnered him considerable critical praise, John McNaughton has also engendered at least an equal amount of controversy. His first feature film, "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer," was not distributed for over three years after its completion in 1986--partly as a result of its precarious financial provenance, but also because of its relentless but nonjudgmental examination of the pathology of the real-life Henry Lee Lucas. "Henry" was the first film over which a production company sued the MPPA for the X rating it received. Eventually, McNaughton's powerful and insightful if extremely unnerving film, with its final shooting cost of only $120,000, became a cult hit on the art house circuit and even made the annual "Top 10" lists of TIME, USA TODAY and the CHICAGO TRIBUNE.
McNaughton formed a solid working partnership with producer Steven A. Jones on "Henry," and their subsequent films continued to explore the nature of violence, passion and greed. The sci-fi thriller "The Borrower" (1991) was notable for the grisly, deadpan humor added to the tale of an alien, stranded on Earth, who must replace his regularly exploding head with those of humans. McNaughton's rendition of performance artist Eric Bogosian's one-man off-Broadway show, "Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll" (1991), shot in just four days, emphasized the grubbiness and cynicism of the world Bogosian portrayed. Even McNaughton's occasional TV projects, such as directing episodes of the crime series "The Street" and "Homicide: Life on the Street," the Showtime film "Girls in Prison" (1994) and the supernatural pilot "The Book" (to air in 1996), have been consistent with his film work.
In 1993, McNaughton entered the Hollywood mainstream with "Mad Dog and Glory," a relatively light drama, written by the talented Richard Price. Intriguingly cast, with Robert De Niro as a shy cop, Bill Murray as a gangster who is also a frustrated comic and Uma Thurman as the bone of contention between them, the film proved an interesting misfire. Its mix of dark comedy and sometimes whimsical drama divided critics and failed to pull in audiences used to more conventional genre fare.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Cinematography (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Special Thanks (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1985
Began co-writing the screenplay for "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" with Richard Fire
1986
Production completed on "Henry", McNaughton's directorial debut (which he also produced and composed the score)
1987
Arranged to make second feature film, "The Borrower", for the financially strapped Atlantic Releasing Co.
1988
"Henry" chosen by filmmaker Errol Morris, guest director of the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado, as one of his two personal picks to be screened there
1988
Filming on "The Borrower" completed in December two weeks after Atlantic Releasing went under
1990
"Henry" finally received (reasonably) widespread US distribution
1990
Shot third feature film, "Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll" in four days
1991
"The Borrower" finally received (reasonably) widespread US distribution
1993
Helmed the quirky "Mad Dog and Glory" which teamed Bill Murray and Robert De Niro
1994
Directed first TV-movie, "Girls in Prison"
1998
Reteamed with Murray (in a supporting role) for "Wild Things"
2001
Helmed "Speaking of Sex"; premiered at Chicago Film Festival
