Next Stop Horrorland

I'm not a big horror film fan. I'll watch them when I go to my buddy Rick's house, who's completely obsessed. Or perhaps possessed. I don't know for sure, because he nevers calls me anymore.

In any case, I may not be able to wax philosophical on the divergent visual aesthetics of Tobe Hooper and George Romero, but I certainly can enjoy the occasional well-written, well-directed gorefest.

Some directors' names I can immediately identify with the horror genre -- Carpenter, Barker, Romero, Argento, Craven, Raimi. Other directors seem to wander into the genre after establishing themselves elsewhere. That seems to be the case these days with one of my favorite directors -- and fellow product of the Connecticut shoreline -- Brad Anderson (pictured above).

If you haven't seen Anderson's early films like Happy Accidents or Next Stop Wonderland, his decision to write and direct an installment of the Showtime series Masters of Horror might make perfect sense, following as it does his dark psychological thriller, The Machinist. But taken with his early bent toward quirky romantic comedies, it seems a bit of a leap. Then again, given the sci-fi-tinged storyline of Happy Accidents and the morose feel of Next Stop Wonderland, maybe it's not so unnatural.

Now pay attention, Rick. Masters of Horror, about to begin its second season, gathers of group of prominent directors -- mostly from the realm of horror filmmaking -- to tell stories that wouldn't pass muster in the current PG-13 world of multiplex slasher flicks. The first season featured films by series creator Mick Garris, Dario Argento, Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Don Coscarelli (Phantasm, Bubba-Ho-Tep), John Carpenter and John Landis, among others. Season Two adds Tom Holland (Fright Night, Child's Play), Ernest Dickerson (Juice) and Anderson to the mix.

Anderson's contribution is titled 'Sounds Like' and was adapted from a short story by Mike O'Driscoll. The one-hour story follows Larry Pearce, a man whose increasingly acute hearing drives him to violent behavior. Pearce is played by The Wire's Season Two standout -- and Emmy snub -- Chris Bauer, aka local union boss Frank Sobotka.

Bauer's gritty yet nuanced acting along with Anderson's pensive and uncompromising writing and direction promise to make this installment of Masters of Horror one for the TiVo, or OnDemand if you send the checks to Comcast. And Rick, I'll see you on November 11th -- have some Pabst in the fridge.