Brian De Palma's Plans For A Harvey Weinstein-Inspired Horror Film Have Not Gone Down Well

Too soon?
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Screenwriter Brian De Palma’s choice to create a horror film based around the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations has been met with a mixed reception online.

Over the weekend, Brian told Le Parisien that he was working on a project inspired by the Weinstein accusations, after a number of women came forward to accuse the movie mogul of varying levels of sexual harassment and abuse (Weinstein has denied all allegations of what he has described as “non-consensual sex”).

Brian De Palma
Brian De Palma
Jim Spellman via Getty Images

Brian, who helmed films including ‘Carrie’, ‘Scarface’ and ‘Mission: Impossible’, said: “I’m writing a film about this scandal, a project I’m talking about with a French producer.

“My character won’t be named Harvey Weinstein, but it will be a horror film, with a sexual aggressor, and it will take place in the film industry.”

Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein
Josiah Kamau via Getty Images

However, the news hasn’t been well-received by everyone, with many on social media that it’s too soon to be using the Weinstein saga, which helped shine a light on both the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, as a launch-pad for entertainment:

Maybe, just maybe, a woman should be writing this...https://t.co/5wPtzThcEm

— Abigail Dombey (@AbigailDombey) June 2, 2018

Grotesque to cash in on this.

— MsF (@Ms87Love) June 2, 2018

awesome. another *dude* (not a woman telling this story) profiting from all of this real-world horror.

— Sir Chacha (@PLandoCalrisian) June 1, 2018

A cishet white man is gonna use the real life trauma and suffering of women for his own ""artistic expression""!! How unexpected!!!! And from such a nuanced and sensitive director as well!!!! 🙄🙄🙄🙄

— ✨tender horns✨ (@futileharangue) June 1, 2018

We do not need what will essentially be sexual assault porn! Make a legal drama if you want to tell this story

— Beemus (@BeemusWhatsThis) June 2, 2018

Don't know that the world will be better off for it. There's horror enough in the story as is.

— Che (@mountainembrace) June 2, 2018

Maybe I am missing something here but I cannot imagine the women would want their lives and what that monster did to them would want this relived in a horror Movie because they have lived it .I don't agree that they need this in their life.i won't go see it.

— @Maggie.Moison (@MaggieMoison) June 3, 2018

I bet a lot of women won't watch it. These old wounds have been recently ripped wide open. How many triggers should a woman endure? #TooSoon

— Candace Waldrop (@Kandieshere) June 1, 2018

Mamet and dePalma- bad taste. ONE IN 5 women have been assaulted which means chances are high this film will give many female audience members PTSD relapses. This is not going to help the situation as it may encourage men to act like WEINSTEIN.

— Laura Ann Tull (@LauraAnnTull) June 2, 2018

Just ♥ it when privileged, white, male directors co-opt the pain and suffering of women in the name of #art. Especially, women whose careers in #theindustry were brutally cut short. I'm sure this film won't miss the mark at all. /s #tonedeaf much? pic.twitter.com/CPuB576pug

— Ms. Anthrope (@mswhispers) June 3, 2018

Bringing back this thread thanks to news breaking that Brian DePalma is making a horror film about Harvey Weinstein. Have we even heard of ONE actual victim being given funding to make art from their experience? #timesup #metoo @IndieWire https://t.co/RPBaNqrVvx

— Sarah Tither-Kaplan🌈 (@sarahtk) June 1, 2018

Bad idea... Let his memory fade from the minds of the victims and society. We know the story, and hopefully it ends with jail time to hold him accountable for his actions. Let's show the world that some actions are beyond money and power!@shondarhimes @rosemcgowan @salmahayek

— Maureen Lobmeyer (@___Maureen__) June 2, 2018

that subject doesn't make for good art or entertainment.... :( I hope he is dissuaded

— binx (@hungriebunnie) June 2, 2018

Why doesn't he bugger off and let the women actually tell their story?! In court AND then later behind and in front of the camera? It's emphatically not his, or *any* man's, tale to tell!

— Dean Owen Jones (@WordSherbert) June 1, 2018

I don’t know why make such a movie but I think the profits should be donated to the #TimesUp #MeToo movements! @MiraSorvino @AsiaArgento @jes_chastain #Screenwriters #Screenwriting

— Ramus FL (@RamusFl) June 3, 2018

Brian De Palma is working on a horror movie about Harvey Weinstein, in case you needed an example of how even the "good" men benefit from rape culture

— Lindsay (@HyperGlavin) June 3, 2018

David Mamet was met with a similar reaction earlier this year when it was revealed that he had penned a play about the Harvey Weinstein allegations, while Ryan Murphy was also criticised when he said he was planning a new show called ‘Consent’, inspired by the #MeToo movement.

Last month, Weinstein was charged with rape and a criminal sex act after alleged attacks on two women, to which his lawyers suggested at the time that the former Miramax boss intended to plead not guilty.

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