Category - Movies
Sydney Sweeney is About to Fix Edgar Allan Poe's Weirdest Short Story
If there's two great artists that need to collaborate, it's clearly Sydney Sweeney and the undead spirit of Edgar Allan Poe. And, as of now, it sounds like this dream team will indeed and in fact happen, thanks to a new film in development from studios A24 and Picturestart. According to an exclusive report from Deadline, Sweeney is in talks to star in a new movie version of The Masque of the Red Death, an 1842 short story written by horror legend Edgar Allen Poe.
If the deal happens, Sweeney will star in a new film version of The Masque of the Red Death written and directed by Charlie Polinger, which, is reported to be "a wildly revisionist and darkly comedic take on the short story."
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For purists worrying that Sweeney is about to destroy this classic Poe short story with all this wild revisionism and comedy, the truth of the matter is that this version can do nothing but improve on what is not Poe's greatest work, despite the story's massive acclaim. Yes, you've probably heard of The Masque of the Red Death, but do you remember what it's about? Something about a masquerade ball and people dying?
Here's the deal with this story: Although it's always listed as one of Poe's best (and it is good) it's got one fatal flaw: Half the story is a set-up, to a horrific punchline that only lands because the idea is so unique. But, almost nothing about "The Masque of the Red Death" makes a whole lot of sense.
In the story, a very rich guy named Prince Prospero hides away from the world in his extravagant house, entertaining a slew of guests at an ongoing party. Outside of the walls, a horrible plague called "the Red Death" is raging, but everybody is inside enjoying complicated lighting arrangements and ballet dancing to care. Eventually, (like on page 3) a spirit or demon comes in, as a kind of embodiment of the Red Death, and everybody dies.

That's pretty much it. The story is very short, and is either an allegory for how even privileged people can't stop death, or, it's not an allegory at all, and simply an atmospheric Poe tale, designed to feel creepy rather than make sense.
And so, although it's a good story, this proposed "comedic" take on the story might be richer than the source material. Poe is kind of winking at us throughout the entire piece, but for nearly two centuries, nobody can really agree on what he's winking about. Plus, in the short story, there's not really a character who automatically corresponds to Sydney Sweeney, unless she's playing a female version of Prince Prospero, which, could be very cool. Then again, it might be great if she's playing an entirely new character, too.
In any case, a quirky, new approach to this Poe story sounds delightful. Here's hoping Sweeney and Polinger pull it off, and their take on The Masque of the Red Death makes Poe roll in his grave — with approving laughter.