Pulp Features

Andre Van Heerden was born in Zambia, Africa, to a Canadian mother and a South African father. His mother was a catholic, his father a protestant. With a background like this to begin with, one could imagine him turning out to be one screwed up kid. Instead, he played soccer, grew up in Canada, got a degree in English/Journalism and went to pursue one of his lifelong interests, that of working in the movies.

Van Heerden got his start making documentaries, usually centred on the debate between evolution and creationism. Then, he moved up in the world, when he started as a writer for the religious-based show, “This Week in Bible Prophecy”, headed by two Toronto-area brothers with film production ideas of their own. When these brothers started Cloud Ten Pictures, Van Heerden found his calling. He was able to land work as a writer, director and producer. He lucked out, so to speak.

Van Heerden, a practicing Christian who loves to debate evolution and creationism to this date, went on to become one of the most recognized directors in “faith-based” films, that is, movies dealing with the coming of the Antichrist and the end of the world as we know it. While his movies already had an audience within the church body, the films likewise caught on with the secular crowd. The non-believers rented the videos expecting decent horror films and frankly, they got them.

In his movies, Van Heerden introduced Franco Macalousso, a leering, annoying son-of-Satan to put Damien in the Omen series to shame. Overacted to the hilt, by long lasting actor, Nick Mancuso, this antichrist is half Hitler, half Bozo the Clown. While overwhelmingly sinister at one minute, he is charming and charismatic the next. In one scene, he resembles The Red Guy from the “Cow & Chicken” cartoons, at other times, an evil force worse than any of the Caesars of Rome. Yet no matter how evil his plans or how laid out, the good guys (played by Christians of course) always manage to outwit him at the last second, like in the Roadrunner cartoons… with the Coyote having his best-laid plans backfire. At least it has been that way until now, for a new script is said to be within initial stages, which will show Macalousso evolving into something far more powerful, far more wicked and frankly, a far more formidable enemy for his Christian counterparts.

For examples of Macalousso’s creepiness, as well as Van Heerden’s capacity as a director, see “Judgment” and “Tribulation”. If you are a believer then this is the movie set for you. If you are an agnostic, then simply check the films out and view them as horror movies. Mancuso’s performances alone are worth the rental price. In more recent times, Van Heerden directed yet another “faith-based” horror thriller, called “Deceived”, with Judd Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr. and others. Signals reach an observatory and lead people to believe aliens are contacting earth. All is not as it seems and Independence Day it isn’t. Add government conspiracies, the devil, and a group of people turning on each other after hearing said signals, and you’ve got an interesting concept. Each of the listeners is affected by the signal and changes, becoming obsessed with one of the seven deadly sins the church likes to warn people about. For example, a fat, pompous pastor turns to gluttony, eating everything in sight and making a gigantic martini for himself with a bottle of booze and a bottle of olives. That’s just a warm up.

At least Franco Macalousso isn’t the culprit in “Deceived”.

On a personal note, Van Heerden lives in the Toronto suburbs, with a wife, one child and another (as of this writing, late February, 2003) on the way. Aside from his biblical beliefs, he also admires western films and some horror. One of his favourite genre films and characters, oddly enough, remains “Unforgiven” and the world-weary William Munny as played by Clint Eastwood.

While Van Heerden has no personal website, information on his projects may be found at Cloud Ten Pictures.

He is relatively young as far as directors go, still in his early 30s, an interesting concept as most directors are much older. Van Heerden sometimes has to put up with a lot because of his age as well. In Tribulation, Margot Kiddor patted him on the head and said, “Why you’re just a baby,” upon meeting him. Even worse, Judd Nelson though he was just a fan approaching to ask for an autograph, before they were introduced.

In any case, Andre Van Heerden is a bright new face on both the religious realm and the horror film realm. Look for more from him in times to come. Regardless of (or perhaps because of) your personal beliefs or philosophies, give his movies a try.

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