As it turns out, The Midnight Coterie of Sinister Intruders didn’t step too far from reality. During a conversation at the Rome Film Festival with author Donna Tartt (via Indiewire), noted color enthusiast Wes Anderson revealed that he has flirted with the idea of deviating from his standard comedy-drama oeuvre to pursue other genres — specifically, horror and Christmas films. He explained to the presumably bemused crowd:
I have thought of doing a horror movie, and I have thought of doing a Christmas movie. Horror is an area where if a filmmaker really wants to use all the tricks, the techniques to affect your emotions … With the kind of movies I do, you’re supposed to say is this part supposed to be funny, or is this part supposed to be sad? Well, you say, I don’t know. I’m not sure. This is the way we wanted it. When you make a horror or a thriller, you say you’re supposed to be scared here. You’re supposed to be relieved here. Here we’re explaining something so you know the next part so you’ll be more scared then. I like the idea of the requirements and the obligations of working in a genre like that. I’ve done some scenes like that, but I’d like to do a scary movie.
The quirky auteur added that he, too, has found himself until the cinematic spell of yuletide spirit. It’s all about the money, baby!
I have thought of doing a horror movie, and I have thought of doing a Christmas movie. Horror is an area where if a filmmaker really wants to use all the tricks, the techniques to affect your emotions … With the kind of movies I do, you’re supposed to say is this part supposed to be funny, or is this part supposed to be sad? Well, you say, I don’t know. I’m not sure. This is the way we wanted it. When you make a horror or a thriller, you say you’re supposed to be scared here. You’re supposed to be relieved here. Here we’re explaining something so you know the next part so you’ll be more scared then. I like the idea of the requirements and the obligations of working in a genre like that. I’ve done some scenes like that, but I’d like to do a scary movie.
Either way, we’re assuming a dog will get brutally murdered for the sake of the narrative.