Exclusive: Executive Producer Jason Egan Talks The Neighbor
Sean Decker
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If the fictitious Addams and Munster families lived in a real world cul-de-sac, they’d more than likely share it with Las Vegas-based “hauntrepreneur” Jason Egan, whose love of all things spooky has now evolved from his immensely popular Fright Dome attractions into the world of horror cinema with the upcoming feature film The Neighbor.
Directed by Marcus Dunstan (of The Collector and The Collection) and co-written by him and longtime writing partner Patrick Melton (the two are responsible for Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, and the Feast series, among other films), The Neighbor, which stars Josh Stewart (The Dark Knight Rises), Bill Engvall (“Blue Collar TV”), and Alex Essoe (Starry Eyes), releases this September 6th on Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment and Digital HD and On Demand from Starz Digital.
Egan, along with Tony Sgro, executive produce the suspense/thriller in collaboration with Fortress Features with the film set in “the small town of Cutter, Mississippi, (where) most people keep to themselves. But when John (Stewart) comes home to find his girlfriend, Rosie (Essoe), missing, he suspects his mysterious and off-putting neighbor (Engvall – in an unexpected and shocking performance) – is somehow involved. John learns that Rosie’s life is not all that is at stake after a visit to his neighbor’s cellar. It becomes clear that the seemingly quiet town is more dangerous than it looks, and John and Rosie must do more than just run away if they want to survive the night.”
We caught up with Egan at the red carpet premiere of The Neighbor at the Palm Casino in Las Vegas on August 25th to discuss the project, his evolution into the world of film producing, and what audiences might expect from his 2016 Fright Dome attractions.
DC: The Neighbor in certain ways echoes some rather famous and/or infamous genre films: Straw Dogs, Rearview Mirror, Hostel. What in particular appealed to you about the script?
JE: Marcus Dunstan has such a way of captivating audiences and really triggering them to think instead of solely reacting in fear. When I read this script, I knew that it would not only be up to par with his normal terrifying plot twists but would also mess with people’s minds. For me making something that sticks with people long after they walk out of the theater is key!
DC: You’ve worked with Dunstan and Melton prior in creating haunted attractions licensed off the duo’s The Collector and The Collection films. What was your progression into executive producing The Neighbor, and what was your experience?
JE: A few years back I was fortunate enough to be able to partner with Marcus Dunstan to feature one of his other projects, The Collector, at Fright Dome in Las Vegas. The entire experience was phenomenal. Marcus is such a great person to work with and his creativity is amazing. From the time I began my career in the Halloween industry years ago, I always had a dream of working on major movie productions. Meeting Marcus and the team at Fortress Features made that dream a closer goal to accomplish. I am so thankful for the many people who have believed in my creativity and passion over the years and helped me to achieve this goal.
DC: Isolationism seems a partial theme in The Neighbor, in that both the protagonists and antagonists have purposefully withdrawn from society. Historically, the most impacting of horror cinema is reflective of genuine social anxiety (civil rights in Night of the Living Dead, the American draft in Halloween) as it taps into the zeitgeist. Do you feel there’s any political subtext, given the current American political climate, in the film?
JE: Personally I don’t feel like there was a political subtext to this film, or at least not one that I was aware of. In working with Marcus and observing his style in the past, it seems more that he plays off of real-life fears. For The Neighbor he was playing off of the location more than anything else. Being deep in the South out in the woods provided an environment which plays on the fears of seclusion and of locals who are secretive and private in their lives.
DC: You are not only a horror fan, but obviously an astute businessman, having at the tender age of 23 negotiated a deal with MGM Resorts International to launch your haunted attraction Fright Dome at Circus Circus’ Adventuredome, in addition to now producing genre film. When and how did you know that the genre was something you wanted to pursue?
JE: Oh man, that goes back to when I was a little kid! Most kids decorate with spooky things when it’s Halloween, but not me! I was decorating my mom’s basement and pulling off scare pranks as far back as I can remember. When my friends were saving their money for holiday time or random things, I was saving for the post-Halloween clearance sale at Spencer’s so I could expand my arsenal! I’ll never forget my mom telling me to become a doctor or a lawyer – that Halloween wasn’t a career. Little did she know then what my crazy, twisted mind would come up with!
DC: In addition to producing The Neighbor, your original yearly haunt attraction Fright Dome is now in its 14th season in Las Vegas, and you’ve also introduced Fright Dome in Hong Kong and Ghost Ship Harbor near Boston. You’re creating a veritable fright empire. How difficult is it to juggle, and what’s next for you?
JE: It is really challenging to juggle, especially in September and October, but sometimes I think I test myself by seeing just how much this mind and body of mine can take! Never did I think all those years ago that little old me from Nebraska would have all of this opportunity in front of me. I don’t want to waste one minute on not pursuing all of these projects. I have a great team around me that I am thankful for every day. Next up is another movie!
For more information on The Neighbor, visit the official site here.
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Josh Stewart (The Collector), Melissa Bolona (Shark Lake), Alex Essoe (Starry Eyes), Bill Engvall, Ronnie Blevins (Fear, Inc., Seven Psychopaths), Jaqueline Fleming, and Luke Edwards (“True Detective”) star.
Set in Mississippi, The Neighbor centers on a man who discovers the dark truth about his secretive neighbor and what, or whom, he may be keeping in the cellar.
Synopsis:
In the small town of Cutter, Mississippi, most people keep to themselves. But when John (Stewart) comes home to find his girlfriend, Rosie (Essoe), missing, he suspects his mysterious and off-putting neighbor (Engvall) is somehow involved. John learns that Rosie’s life is not all that is at stake after a visit to his neighbor’s cellar. It becomes clear that the seemingly quiet town is more dangerous than it looks, and John and Rosie must do more than just run away if they want to survive the night.
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