Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón surprised audiences at the Locarno Film Festival when he expressed his keenness on exploring the horror genre. The renowned filmmaker, honored with a Locarno lifetime achievement award, is celebrated for his diverse body of work, encompassing fantasy and adventure, science fiction, and drama.
"I love horror movies," declared Cuarón at the event. He revealed a burgeoning fascination with the genre, mentioning classics such as Roman Polanski’s The Tenant and Rosemary’s Baby as influential touchstones.
Cuarón’s prospective foray into horror follows a career in filmmaking marked by critical acclaim and commercial success. Discussing his involvement in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the director admitted initial hesitation before ultimately embracing it.
"I saw that it was great," shared Cuarón, highlighting JK Rowling’s ability to capture the complexities of adolescence and the nuances of social class within a magical framework. “I love the universe that she created because it is so grounded in humanity. It was a joy to do that film,” he added.
His experience working on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban proved invaluable for Cuarón’s subsequent projects. “I knew that to do Children of Men, I would need visual effects,” he explained. Recognising his lack of experience in the field, he approached the challenge with a beginner’s mindset. The skills honed during the Harry Potter film’s production served as a foundation for the visually complex worlds of Children of Men and Gravity.
Further, Cuarón candidly discussed the commercial failure of Children of Men and the subsequent career downturn. However, this setback ultimately paved the way for Gravity, conceived as a more commercially viable project to revitalise his career.
Throughout the masterclass, Cuarón emphasised the importance of artistic evolution and pushing creative boundaries. Describing his approach to the Oscar-winning Roma, he revealed an unconventional filmmaking process.
“I wrote the screenplay, but the rule was that I was going to write it and not look back, no corrections,” he explained. The film was subsequently shot in chronological order, with actors discovering their characters’ journeys alongside the director.
This immersive method, while creatively fulfilling, took a significant emotional toll. “I didn’t realize the toll that it was taking by reproducing the space of my childhood. It was like going into some sanatorium and receiving electroshocks,” Cuarón shared.
Cuarón’s next project, the Apple TV+ series Disclaimer starring Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline, is set to premiere on October 11.