They were all challenging thingsto pull off. I counted on the fact that I had Sam Neill to help. He is the main character. He represents the audience. He has seen all thescams.
Most adults react that way to horror filmsanyway.
Sam needs to be there to help us through this rather outrageous plot. If you did it too straight without a character like that helping us, you'd be in a little bit of trouble. We wanted someone who was savvy like Bogart inThe Big Sleep. If In The Mouth Of Madness doesn't hit with audiences, Carpenter figures heis well adjusted now to deal with it. When I was younger I did.