His new film,The Hole, is typical of his 80s work.

I think its been a long time since theres been one!

What made you decide to return to that kind of film?

Well, I didnt really decide, it was kind of thrust upon me.

It just came with the territory.

Because the more money you have, the more sets you’ve got the option to build.

And we didnt have much, so it was really a matter of conception.

It was tricky, but I think it worked.I noticed also that the film makes a playful reference toGremlins…

There was no getting around it.

I was quite aware of it on the set.

I think my phrase was not again!

And what was it like working with Bruce Dern again, whos appeared in so many of your films?

Was that an aspect of the script that interested you?

Not on a series.

With those anthology shows, theyre different.

And so thats much more attractive to me than doing series TV, which is basically for the money.

But now that technology is ancient.

It was cutting edge then, but its completely ancient now.

So its technically hands-down better than its ever been.

They had their money stolen out of their pockets.

Do you think that this saturation could be bad for 3D in the long term?

Thats got to come around in the end.

People only need to have one bad experience with 3D and they dont want to see any more.

So whats next for you?

Now if I say yes, they say oh good, well go and get the money!

And Im not alone most directors are in the same position.

It was one of the first big videos, and it was discovered on video, basically.

It was just a giant thumb with a little tiny pod on it.

And the studio botched the selling of it.

So it was just one of those movies that… IfGremlinshad come out two months earlier or two months later, maybe it would have been a flop.

But it happened to come out at the right time and it became this big phenomenon.

So you never know with movies.

You only get an hour, you know?

Theyre all trying to think, why are we making these movies?

Who are they going to be for?

How are they going to be seen?

How are we going to make any money?

Theres a lot of panic.

Remember whenShutter Islanddidnt come out until the year after?

Its because Paramount didnt have enough money to release it.

I mean, these guys arent doing that well, so its an interesting time.

Sort of like when TV came in in the early 50s.Joe Dante, thank you very much!