The Making of DON’T

Its unfortunate 2007’s GRINDHOUSE didn’t do better. I think it’s gotten some reappraisal in the 15+ years since, especially with the release of Tarantino’s director’s cut of DEATH PROOF. Though it really is best, in this writer’s humble opinion, as a whole movie with all of the trailers and ads and whatnot. It also has a weird legacy since there are now two features made from the fake trailers featured in the film: there’s 2010’s MACHETE by Robert Rodriguez and the upcoming THANKSGIVING from Eli Roth.

But the best fake preview in GRINDHOUSE still remains Edgar Wright’s DON’T. It’s a hilarious send-up and loving homage that combines the absurdities of gaudy Italian gialli/European exploitation with the creepy aesthetic of ‘70s British horror. In case you haven’t seen it, here it is:

Curious about how DON’T was made? Well you should be, because it’s fairly fascinating. Writer/director Wright gathered some performers from his other films along with new-to-him actors to fill out these tropes of scientists, villains, victims, madmen, and more. That even includes an unrecognizable Simon Pegg (and an all TOO recognizable Nick Frost), each of whom show up in the brilliant trailer for about one-to-three seconds. To find out how it was made, what was the influence, and what the actors thought of the bizarre little short, check out the video below: