Daniel P. Coughlin: A Promising New Voice in Old School Horror by Emmanuel Paige

Daniel P. Coughlin is a writer of screenplays and fiction, and with two feature films to his credit, Lake Dead, which was selected by Lionsgate for their 2007 After Dark Horror Fest - 8 Films to Die For, and Farmhouse, a film that is still in production and soon to be released, he is well on his way to becoming a name in the horror/thriller genre. His stories are well written with a brute force no-holds-barred style that rivals the best horror movies ever written, and with the influence of such Hollywood heavyweights as Wes Craven, who has acted as a mentor of sorts, there is good probability that Daniel will be the author of future horror classics.

Daniel has always had an interest in horror movies since he was a boy growing up in Watertown, Wisconsin, and has always wanted to be a horror writer. After a stint in the United States Marine Corps infantry where he served as a machine-gunner stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, and served in Operation Desert Fox, he was honorably discharged and then earned a degree in Film and Television from California State University at Long Beach.

One night while Daniel was attending a party with some friends, a producer from Alliance Group Entertainment happened to be present, Jason Hice, and mentioned that they were looking for horror scripts. Daniel happened to have one in his car, Lake Dead; they wanted to take a look at it. After reading it over a beer, Jason said he would get back to Daniel. Two weeks later, Jason was on the phone giving Daniel some good news: they liked it. Shortly thereafter the executive producers, Todd Chamberlain and Mike Karkeh, told Daniel that Lake Dead was exactly what they were looking for and they cut him a check. The rest, as they say, is history.

Macabre Cadaver: You are an accomplished scriptwriter with two movies, Lake Dead and Farmhouse, to your credit. Do you feel like you have arrived and are a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood?

Daniel P. Coughlin: I'm proud of what I've accomplished but I also know that I have a long way to go in this industry and genre before I can consider myself a force. I'm just thankful that I have two movies in the can and it helps that some of the genre lovers believe in me.

MC: You have a degree in Film and Television from California State University at Long Beach . . . what sparked your interest in taking up the study of writing for the screen?

DPC: Misspent youth in Wisconsin . . . kidding. I've always been a movie junkie and horror fanatic. I used to go to the video store with forged letters from my parents saying that it was okay for me to rent R rated movies. I would hide movies like Children of the Corn, The Exorcist, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Halloween under my mattress and then wait for my parents to go to bed so that I could watch them. To sum it up I have always known what I've wanted to do with my life. Be a horror writer.

MC: Hollywood is a rough place for a scriptwriter to make a living or get noticed. How did you get your foot in the door?

DPC: Funny you ask. I was a junior at Cal State Long Beach and a friend was having a party. Jason Hice, a producer from Alliance Group Entertainment was there and happened to mention that they were looking for horror scripts. I told him I had a script in my car. He told me to get it, I did and he read it over a beer and told me he'd get back to me. I really didn't think anything would happen but two weeks later Jason called me and had me take a meeting with the executive producers Todd Chamberlain and Mike Karkeh. They told me Lake Dead was what they were looking for and, no shit, cut me a check. Jason Hice became one of my best friends. I was also working for Wes Craven at the time so I had some pretty good advice.

MC: How does it feel to work with such names as Brian Alan Lane and Wes Craven?

DPC: Pretty fucking cool to put it lightly. Brian became my mentor and Wes has always been my favorite director. I never for one second forget how lucky I am to have their influences. Brian Alan Lane has been a blessing to me and many other young writers and continues to push me to be a better writer.

MC: I read your biography on IMDB and managed to track down some leads on your career. You are rather humble, in that I didn't find a website with your name on it, or a fan page, or any shameless self-promotion. Do you like to keep a low profile?

DPC: I would rather spend my time coming up with new stories. I really am just in love with storytelling.

MC: Right. I agree. There isn't enough time in a day to get everything done, and then write too. Bentley Little loathes the internet. Says it's a big distraction. I think he's right.

DPC: I didn't go on the internet until 2003. I strongly agree with Mr. Little and I still can't figure half this internet shit out sometimes. By the way I just read The Town and had a blast reading it.

MC: I haven't read that one yet. But I think I'll put that one on my list. I'm just finishing up Heart Shaped Box, Joe Hill, and I'm not sure what to think of that one. I don't even have much time to read anymore. Too much Internet browsing.

DPC: I have Heart Shaped Box on my list. I am currently reading Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub. I want to read William Peter Blatty's Legion before I get to it.

MC: Good book. I've read that one [Black House].

DPC: I like to keep a low profile.

MC: How and when did you get interested in writing? What is your writing schedule? Do you write full time?

DPC: I have been writing horror since I can remember, in fact my mother had me psychologically evaluated after reading some of my stories in the fifth grade. I write everyday and almost all day. I do hold a part time job as a camera operator for a few automotive reality shows, Chop Cut Rebuild and Street Tuner Challenge. I guess I've always found solace living inside my head and pouring it out on paper.

MC: Some writers have traditions, like listening to certain music while they write, drinking a fine malt beverage, or smoking a fine cigar after finishing a piece. Do you have any traditions that help you compose, or celebrate a finished piece?

DPC: I celebrate by kicking back with a case of Pabst Blue Ribbon and watching either Halloween II or the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I don't know why but it's a treat every time.

MC: You write fiction as well as screenplays. Any plans for novels in the future?

DPC: Yes. I have been wanting to write a novel for a long time and I am just now feeling that I'm ready for it.

MC: Do you like writing for the screen better than for print? Screenplays over books?

DPC: I think that writing a book would be more rewarding for a writer but I haven't written one yet. I have to say, I fall in love with every character and story I come up with and I try to make them as three dimensional as possible whether it is pros or screenplay. As of lately it is nice to see as many words packed onto a sheet of paper as possible and I hope to have my first novel done by the end of next year.

MC: What is your favorite novel?

DPC: Stephen King's "IT"

MC: Good one.

DPC: I've read it three times.

MC: Who is your favorite writer?

DPC: Stephen King.

MC: This one is the question that all horror writers seem to get a kick out of, and I just have to ask: Where do you get your ideas?

DPC: I have an overwhelming fascination with human response and a film and fiction warped mind. As far as the darkness that comes with horror, I dealt with a few too many tragedies at a young age and have a fascination with death as the result.

MC: I can understand that.

DPC: Yeah, use it or it abuses you.

MC: Right. I've written some pretty wild stuff. The subconscious has a way of leaking out onto the page. It's either that or maybe go insane.

DPC: I agree one hundred percent. It would be cool to read some of your work. I love a good read.

MC: I've got quite a bit. I just got so focused on publishing lately, I don't have time to pursue it right now.

DPC: Find it . . . damn it.

MC: Okay. I'll do that. Actually, there is a story in Macabre Cadaver, Issue 1, "The Dead Horse Saloon" . . . You can find it in the archives.

DPC: I'm on it!

MC: There have been a lot of people talking about the horror genre and saying that it is dead. More so in fiction than movies, but dead nonetheless. Do you think that is true? I certainly hope it isn't dead. And if it is, we have to revive it.

DPC: Horror shall never die as long as human beings exist. Whether people admit it or not they want to be scared, it's fun. it's exciting, it's thrilling and it lets you know you're alive. On top of that, horror is therapeutic in that it allows us to confront our worst fears in a controlled environment where we can get up and leave at any point.

MC: I watched your movie, Lake Dead, and I really liked it. It was way more horrifying than I expected.

DPC: Thanks. I wanted to write something horrifying. All you can do is hope that it comes out effectively.

MC: It was effective. I'll give you that. I noticed a lot of influence in Lake Dead, archetypes, like the Bates Motel, Halloween, Wrong Turn, Friday the 13th, and such. It was a powerhouse of good unrelenting horror themes. Did you intend to go for the jugular with this one?

DPC: I wanted to write a "slasher" film that had heavy influences from my favorite films but still wanted it to maintain it's own identity.

MC: It was unique. I just saw that it had all of the big scares built in, and the rules . . . you know . . . from the movie Scream. Having sex and using drugs always gets you killed first. Wrong Turn was also a good example of this.

DPC: Yes. The rules definitely apply and I had a blast enforcing them.

MC: Lionsgate included your film Lake Dead in After Dark Horror Fest - 8 Films to Die For . . . that's pretty awesome. Were you surprised?

DPC: I got a call from the director George Bessudo, literally, a week before it came out in the theater. We were both ecstatic that our movie was selected for the fest. Yes, I was surprised.

MC: How involved were you in the creation process of your movies, in the writing and filming? What was it like to be involved and see your creation come to life?

DPC: I did the rewrites during the short development process and then it was all George Bessudo which I have to add, he shot this entire film in three weeks with a limited budget. The summer we shot this film was surreal and I made it to the set almost everyday.

MC: You've done some cameo roles in your films . . . any desire to take up acting more seriously?

DPC: No! We needed extras.

MC: What's your new movie, Farmhouse about? I know you can't spoil the plot, but can you give us a little sneak peak? Is it an all out brutal horror movie, or is it more of a thriller?

DPC: Farmhouse is more of a thriller/mystery swimming in the realm of horror. A young couple packs up moves after they lose their infant son to start a new life. They break down in the middle of nowhere and wind up in the care of a strange country couple (Steven Weber, Kelly Hu). The country couple becomes more and more deranged as the plot unfolds into something that has been in your face the entire time. I won't spoil the end but I have to say I am proud of what we have and the film turned out great. There are a few over-the-top brutal scenes but they are necessary for the story.

MC: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers interested in writing screenplays?

DPC: Watch movies. Write, even if you think it's crap and then write some more. If you're exhausted and can't get off the couch . . . dig deep, push yourself onto the floor, crawl over to the computer and punch in those keys. That and love it!

MC: Okay. That's it. Anything else you would like to add?

DPC: I did want to say that while I was writing this film [Lake Dead] I actually thought of my girlfriend and her friends, their names are Brielle, Amy and Kelli. It was very easy to kill her friends but the reason Kelli didn't die was that I had a hard time killing her in the story, not that I didn't want to kill her . . . on paper . . . but I couldn't bring myself to do it. And if you notice at the end of the film when the SUV carrying the young people shows up, that's my brother Ryan Coughlin who says "This place is fuckin' awesome."

MC: You get attached to your characters. I know how that is.

DPC: I love every character, I think it's important to fall in love and find an attachment to every character. It makes the story so much richer.

MC: That's the key to good writing. You have to love it, and your characters.

DPC: I think so.