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Zack Snyder is known today as one of the most divisive directors working in Hollywood.
From his 2004 feature film debut, Dawn of the Dead, to 300, Watchmen and that infamous four-hour ‘Snyder Cut’ of Justice League, the 60-year-old’s work is routinely dissected online in fierce fan debates.
His latest project – the $10million self-financed film called The Last Photograph – is certainly no exception.
After premiering at TIFF, the violent indie arthouse film has been ripped apart by critics, who have called it an ’embarrassment’ and described it as being ‘utterly indefensible’.
However, during an interview with Variety, Snyder hit back at critics who have labelled him a ‘fascist’ by claiming that he made ‘the gayest movie ever made’ with his 2006 film 300.
Asked whether he has been ‘paying attention to the noise’ about The Last Photograph, Snyder said: ‘Yeah. This morning, I woke up to my X feed, and the discourse is incredibly energized by this battle.
‘The amount of energy and the amount of vitriol I find really incredible. “I want to kill Zack Snyder.” “Zack Snyder is a fascist.” “Zack Snyder is a homophobe.” “Zack Snyder is a bisexual.”’
The director went on to say that ‘we’re all human’ and ‘this is just a movie’ in response to the online criticism.
Commenting on whether reactions to The Last Photograph are impacted by people’s pre-existing feelings about him going into the movie, Snyder then said that he ‘100%’ agrees before using the premiere of 300 at the Berlin Film Festival as an example.
‘When we showed “300” at the Berlin Film Festival this exact same thing happened,’ he explained.
‘There was immediate discourse around the movie, and everyone booed and walked out. It was our first time showing the movie and we were like, “What the f***.” They were saying it was “a disaster,” “the worst movie ever” and a “fascist” movie.
‘Then we had a press conference where they were asking me all these questions, like, “Are you a fascist filmmaker?”
‘The hallmark question was when one of the guys said, “Are you pro-gay or pro-NRA? Which are you?” And I said, “Look, I’ll be honest: I’m a tiny bit of both.” But obviously I’m pro-gay. I made the gayest movie ever made.’
Pressed on this statement, Snyder then went on to say that his film 300 is ‘one of the gayest movies ever made’.
Doubling down, he added: ‘I always go, “Look, there are few movies where people come in straight and come out gay, and ‘300’ is one of them.”’
300, which came out in 2006 and is based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, became one of Snyder’s best-known movies, following a group of Spartan warriors led by King Leonidas.
Discussing what could come next for him in his career, Snyder revealed that he is currently reading Dead Samurai, a comic about a zombie apocalypse in feudal Japan.
He also said he would love to make a Rick and Morty movie and reiterated his long-running ambition to adapt Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead.
The Last Photograph is yet to receive a confirmed release date.