Script consultant UK looks back on Rawhead Rex (1986)

As the busiest and hardest working UK script consultantscript writer for hire and script doctor in the business I spend a lot of time watching movies from the past, this week I managed to catch up with the classic drinking man’s film Rawhead Rex (1986)

Now Rawhead isn’t a very good film – but it is a cult classic if you grew up in the 80s and 90s. The film is based on a very good Clive Barker short story – Clive also penned the script (and later expressed disappointment in the film). 

Director George Pavlou went on location in Ireland with high hopes – but pretty quickly the money ran out – and he struggled to get the film finished – often sacrificing quality in a bid to actually get as much footage in the can as he could.

I’m currently shooting various pick up scenes for my horror feature debut as a director Markham which I’m hoping to get finished within the next few months.  I feel for and understand Pavlou’s frustrations with the lack of resources given to shoot Rawhead – but hey, if you’re working on a limited budget you need to get creative to get the effects you want.

Rawhead was everywhere on VHS when I was growing up and it’s good to see it again now.  I think Pavlou and Barker had high hopes that they were going to make a classic monster horror and in a way they have – but it’s a B picture classic – one that’s more funny than scary, and a film that’s many faults add to the charm of watching it.

Matthew Cooper has been a script writer for hire  and script doctor for over 20 years. He’s written for most of the UK soaps, including writing award winning episodes of Emmerdale, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs and has been BAFTA shortlisted and Royal Television Society nominated as a script writer. He’s also a leading UK script consultant. You can find some of his broadcast credits on the IMDb. You can get in touch with Matthew on matcoop23@yahoo.co.uk or hire him on Peopleperhour

His directorial debut Markham will be released in 2019.