Ajay Kumar at 14:18, 7 September 2023

2023-09-07T14:18:50Z

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{{short description|American novelist}}

{{Infobox person
| name = C. Robert Cargill
| image = C. Robert Cargill & Ryan Harrison - Fantastic Fest 2009 (cropped).jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|09|08}}
|birth_name=Christopher Robert Cargill
| birth_place= [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]], U.S.
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Screenwriter
* Novelist
* Podcast Host
}}
|website =
|caption = Cargill at [[Fantastic Fest]] 2009}}
'''Christopher Robert Cargill''' (born September 8, 1975) is an American screenwriter, novelist, podcast host, and former film critic known under the pseudonyms Massawyrm (on [[Ain't It Cool News]]) and Carlyle (on [[Spill.com]]). Cargill currently resides in [[Austin]], [[Texas]] with his wife.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.crobertcargill.com/blog/bio/|title=C. Robert Cargill bio|publisher=C. Robert Cargill|accessdate=2013-06-20}}</ref> He is best known for writing the films ''[[Sinister (film)|Sinister]]'' (2012), ''[[Sinister 2]]'' (2015), ''[[Doctor Strange (2016 film)|Doctor Strange]]'' (2016), and ''[[The Black Phone]]'' (2021). He is a frequent writing collaborator of [[Scott Derrickson]].

==Early life==
Cargill was raised in a military family, growing up on army bases around the United States. He held several jobs prior to writing, including video store clerk and travel agent.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

==Career==
===Film critic===
Cargill wrote his first article in 2000, when he volunteered to write a review of the movie ''[[Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]'' for a website called "Guerilla Films." His article managed to get the highest amount of traffic of over 50,000 hits, "a HUGE deal" at the time, which secured him the job to write more reviews.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

While working for Guerilla Films, Cargill began spending time with Ain't It Cool News' Eric Vespe (AKA 'Quint' on the site), which landed him a job on Ain't It Cool's "Indie Indie Column," a previously abandoned post.<ref name=filmcom>{{cite web|url=http://www.film.com/video-movies/interviews-movies/sinister-c-robert-cargill-interview|title=From Blogger to Screenwriter: 'Sinister' Co-Writer C. Robert Cargill|publisher=[[Film.com]]|first=Chase|last=Whale|date=2012-10-09|accessdate=2013-06-20}}</ref> He began writing for Ain't It Cool News under the name Massawyrm in May 2001.<ref name=slackerwood>{{cite web|url=https://www.slackerwood.com/node/2579|title=The 'Sinister' Side of Local Writer C. Robert Cargill|publisher=[[Slackerwood.com]]|first=Jordan|last=Gass-Poore'|date=2011-11-16|accessdate=2020-01-03}}</ref> His first review for the blog was of Jon Favreau's movie, Made.<ref name=slackerwood/> During his work as a blogging critic, Cargill met various directors, which occasionally led to small roles in independent productions.<ref name=TES>{{cite web|url=http://www.theestablishingshot.com/2012/10/writer-c-robert-cargill-gets-sinister.html|title=Writer C. Robert Cargill gets Sinister with us whilst chatting about his love of film...|publisher=The Establishing Shot|first=Craig|last=Grobler|date=2012-10-22|accessdate=2013-06-23}}</ref> In 2011, he told [[Jordan Gass-Pooré]] with Slackerwood that it was getting "tougher and tougher" to write movie reviews because of his relationships with people in the movie industry.<ref name=slackerwood/> "I've always had a strict code about writing about films made by people I'm friends with," said Cargill. "It's harder to write objectively about film without people feeling that you're being biased."<ref name=slackerwood/> Besides his work for Ain't It Cool News and his involvement with Spill.com, he also did freelance work for [[Film.com]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.film.com/author/c-robert-cargill|title=C. Robert Cargill-Film.com|publisher=[[Film.com]]|accessdate=2013-06-20}}</ref> and [[Hollywood.com]] (the site that owned Spill.com).<ref name=bio/>

=== Novelist===
{{quotebox|quote= I considered every film another day of classes and writing a review a home work assignment and it was graded by everyone who wrote nasty comments on the internet.|source=C. Robert Cargill<ref name=TES/>|align=right||width=30%}}
Having wanted to be a fiction writer from a young age, Cargill considered every film he reviewed and its feedback as a learning experience. According to an interview with ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'' he compared it to "a strenuous, endless crash course—maybe even a master class—in what does and doesn't work in a story."<ref name=TES/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/books/2013-02-28/chasing-c-robert-cargills-dreams-and-shadows/|title=Chasing C. Robert Cargill's 'Dreams and Shadows'|newspaper=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|first=Richard|last=Whittaker|date=2013-02-28|accessdate=2013-06-23}}</ref>

On the 26th of February 2013, Cargill released his first novel, ''Dreams and Shadows'', an [[urban fantasy]] story of folklore and mythology, which also follows three modern characters from childhood to adulthood.<ref name=goodread>{{cite web|title=Dreams and Shadows by C. Robert Cargill|url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15818357-dreams-and-shadows|publisher=[[Goodreads]]|accessdate=23 June 2013}}</ref> Subsequent novels included ''Sea of Rust'' and ''Day Zero''.

===Screenwriter ===
The idea for his first film came to fruition when he met up with a fan and friend [[Scott Derrickson]] at a bar in Las Vegas where he pitched his idea for ''[[Sinister (film)|Sinister]]''. Derrickson, showing great interest in this concept, contacted producer [[Jason Blum]] who particularly liked the simplicity of the concept and understood the urge to make it as fast as possible before it could be made by anyone else. Shooting of the movie started in September 2011, 6 months after<ref name=filmcom/> and was first screened at [[South by Southwest]]. In an interview with Film.com, Cargill stated that his days as a film critic were over for the time being due to his success and dedication to his new-found career path. "I may pop in every once in a while and write up reviews, but ever since I was a child, I've wanted to be a fiction writer, and now I have the chance to do it in both formats that I am in love with."<ref name=filmcom /> Sinister was released to positive reviews with many praising the snuff film segments, directing, cinematography, atmosphere, and acting. It was a box office success grossing over $87 million on a $3 million budget. Both Cargill and Derrickson returned as writers for ''[[Sinister 2]]'' (2015), which was directed by [[Ciaran Foy]].<ref>Fischer, Russ (2014-04-17). [http://www.slashfilm.com/sinister-2-director/ "The 'Sinister 2' Director Is 'Citadel' Filmmaker Ciaran Foy."] ''Slashfilm.com''. Retrieved 2014-04-20.</ref> Unlike its predecessor, the sequel was critically panned. Many criticisms were aimed at the overuse of jump scares, horror cliches, story, and heavy amounts of excessive violence and gore. Cargill and Derrickson were working on a movie adaptation of the ''[[Deus Ex (series)|Deus Ex]]'' video games.<ref name="slashfilm">{{cite web |last=Lussier |first=Germain |date=1 March 2013 |title='Sinister 2′ Moving Forward From Original Creators |url=http://www.slashfilm.com/sinister-2-moving-forward-from-original-creators/ |accessdate=23 June 2013 |publisher=[[slashfilm]]}}</ref><ref name="deus">{{cite web|url=http://www.craveonline.com/film/interviews/205309-it-will-be-cyberpunk-scott-derrickson-a-c-robert-cargill-on-deus-ex|title=It Will Be Cyberpunk: Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill on Deus Ex|first=William|last=Bibbiani|publisher=[[CraveOnline]]|date=2013-02-20|accessdate=2013-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109221332/http://www.craveonline.com/film/interviews/205309-it-will-be-cyberpunk-scott-derrickson-a-c-robert-cargill-on-deus-ex|archive-date=2013-11-09|url-status=dead}}</ref> They both left the project after [[Kevin Feige]] hired them to work on a film adaptation of [[Doctor Strange]] in 2014, which would become the 14th film in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]].<ref name="Andy Chalk published">{{Cite news |last=Andy Chalk published |date=2022-04-06 |title=The cancelled Deus Ex movie script actually sounds pretty good |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-cancelled-deus-ex-movie-script-actually-sounds-pretty-good/ |access-date=2022-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Kit |first1=Tatiana Siegel,Borys |last2=Siegel |first2=Tatiana |last3=Kit |first3=Borys |date=2014-06-03 |title=Scott Derrickson to Direct Marvel's 'Doctor Strange' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/scott-derrickson-direct-marvels-doctor-709117/ |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

Cargill, along with Derrickson and [[Jon Spaihts]], worked on the script for Marvel's ''[[Doctor Strange (2016 film)|Doctor Strange]]'' (2016).<ref name="strange">{{cite web|last1=McMillan|first1=Graeme|title='Doctor Strange' Screenwriter: "Every Single Decision That Involves the Ancient One Is a Bad One"|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/doctor-strange-screenwriter-single-decision-887289|website=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=29 December 2016|date=25 April 2016}}</ref> The film received positive reviews from critics and audiences, With praise being aimed towards the acting, special effects, and musical score. It grossed over $677 million worldwide. Cargill and Derrickson were set to return for ''[[Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness]]'' but left due to "creative differences".<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Donnelly |first1=Brent Lang,Matt |last2=Lang |first2=Brent |last3=Donnelly |first3=Matt |date=2020-01-10 |title='Doctor Strange 2' Director Scott Derrickson Drops Out (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/doctor-strange-in-the-multiverse-of-madness-director-scott-derrickson-drops-out-marvel-1203462569/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Sam Raimi]] was hired to helm the project after they left.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Kroll |first1=Adam B. Vary,Justin |last2=Vary |first2=Adam B. |last3=Kroll |first3=Justin |date=2020-02-06 |title=Sam Raimi in Talks to Direct 'Doctor Strange 2' (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/doctor-strange-2-sam-raimi-1203475309/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> More recently, the writing duo of Derrickson and Cargill signed a deal with Blumhouse Television.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2020-12-14|title=Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill Ink First-Look TV Deal With Blumhouse|url=https://deadline.com/2020/12/scott-derrickson-c-robert-cargill-ink-first-look-tv-deal-with-blumhouse-1234655986/|access-date=2020-12-15|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

Cargill, under the pseudonym of Kit Lesser, wrote a biopic about FBI agent William Hagmaier (played by [[Elijah Wood]]) and his relationship with serial killer [[Ted Bundy]].<ref name=podofmadness>{{cite web|url=https://podofmadness.com/posts/no-safe-word-in-hell|title=There's No Safe Word In Hell|publisher=[[Podofmadness.com]]|first=Jordan|last=Gass-Poore'|date=2020-10-30|accessdate=2020-01-03}}</ref> "There have been a lot of movies and a lot of media made about Ted Bundy, and one of the things that bugged me a lot was that it's all kind of selling the myth of Ted Bundy and kind of glorifying him in a way," Cargill told Jordan Gass-Poore, the host of the horror-comedy podcast, Pod of Madness. "And the deeper you dig into the story you realize there's nothing to mystify here, there's nothing amazing about him." The film was released in 2021 as ''[[No Man of God]]''.

Derrickson's departure from directing ''Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness'' led him to ''The Black Phone'', a project he and Cargill had already planned on making. It is an adaptation of [[Joe Hill (writer)|Joe Hill]]'s [[20th Century Ghosts|short story of the same name]]. The film premiered at [[Fantastic Fest]] on September 25, 2021, and was theatrically released by [[Universal Pictures]] on June 24, 2022. It has grossed $157.2 million and received generally positive reviews from critics for its performances and faithfulness to the source material. It received praise from Joe Hill.

Cargill and Derrickson will also team up to write the script for ''The Outer Limits'', a movie based on the influential 1960s television show [[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|of the same name]]. The film, produced by MGM, will be adapted from a single episode of the classic show, "[[Demon with a Glass Hand]]."<ref>Kit, Borys (2014-06-19). [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/outer-limits-movie-works-mgm-713214 " 'The Outer Limits' Movie in the Works From MGM, Scott Derrickson."] ''HollywoodReporter.com''. Retrieved 2014-06-20.</ref>

==Podcasts==
Cargill co-hosts the film podcast ''Junkfood Cinema'' with critic Brain Salisbury,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spreaker.com/show/junkfood-cinema|title=Junkfood Cinema}}</ref> and the writing advice podcast ''Write Along'' with author David Chen.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://writealongpodcast.com/ |title=Home |website=writealongpodcast.com}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! rowspan="2" width="33" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Title
! colspan="5" |Credited as
|-
! width="20" | [[Screenwriter|Writer]]
! width="20" | [[Actor]]
! width="20" | [[Film producer|Producer]]
! width="80" | Role
! width="350" | Notes
|-
| 2002
| ''[[The Rules of Attraction (film)|The Rules of Attraction]]''
|
| {{yes}}
|
| Bus Station Townie
| uncredited<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movieclips.com/yTfY-the-rules-of-attraction-movie-videos/|title=The Rules of Attractions (2002)|publisher=[[Movieclips]]|accessdate=2013-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026111544/http://movieclips.com/yTfY-the-rules-of-attraction-movie-videos/#|archive-date=2012-10-26|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 2005
| ''Last Days of America''
|
| {{yes}}
|
| Breakdown Guy
|
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Pathogen (film)|Pathogen]]''
|
| {{yes}}
|
| Janitor
|
|-
| 2007
| ''When Is Tomorrow''
|
| {{yes}}
|
| Stephen
|
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Zombie Girl: The Movie]]''
|
| {{yes}}
|
| Himself
|
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Sinister (film)|Sinister]]''
| {{yes}}
|
|
| Co-writer
| The original concept came from a nightmare after seeing ''[[The Ring (2002 film)|The Ring]]'', consisting of him going up to his attic and finding a box of [[super 8 film]]s.<ref name="filmcom" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.craveonline.com/film/interviews/205257-horrific-images-scott-derrickson-and-c-robert-cargill-on-sinister|title=Horrific Images: Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill on Sinister|publisher=[[CraveOnline]]|first=William|last=Bibbiani|date=2013-02-19|accessdate=2013-06-23}}</ref>
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Sinister 2]]''
| {{yes}}
|
|
| Co-writer
|
|-
| 2016
| ''As They Continue to Fall''
| {{yes}}
|
|
|
|
|-
|2016
|''[[Doctor Strange (2016 film)|Doctor Strange]]''
| {{yes}}
|
|
|Co-writer
|
|-
|2019
|''[[Into the Dark (TV series)|Into the Dark]]''
|
|
| {{yes}}
| Executive producer
| Anthology TV series. Episode - ''My Valentine''
|-
|2021
|''[[No Man of God]]''
| {{yes}}
|
|
| Credited as "Kit Lesser"
|-
|2021
|''Shadowprowler''
| {{yes}}
|
| {{yes}}
|Co-writer, Executive producer
|Short film
|-
|2021
|''[[The Black Phone]]''
| {{yes}}
|
| {{yes}}
|Co-writer, producer
|
|-
|TBA
|''[[The Gorge (film)|The Gorge]]''
|
|
|{{yes}}
|Producer<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/apple-original-films-skydances-the-gorge-anya-taylor-joy-miles-teller-1235140627/ | title=Apple Original Films Boards Skydance's 'The Gorge' with Anya Taylor-Joy Set to Co-Star Opposite Miles Teller | date=11 October 2022 }}</ref>
|
|-
|TBA
|''The Outer Limits''
| {{yes}}
|
|
|Co-writer
|
|-
|}

==Bibliography==
*''Tome of Artifacts ''by Keith Baker, contributed (April 2007, {{ISBN|978-1588469359}})
*''Dreams and Shadows'' (February 2013, {{ISBN|0575130091}})<ref name=goodread/>
*''Queen of the Dark Things'' (May 2014, {{ISBN|0062190458}})<ref>{{cite web|title=C Robert Cargill - Queen of the Dark Things cover art and synopsis|url=http://upcoming4.me/news/book-news/c-robert-cargill-queen-of-the-dark-things-cover-art-and-synopsis|publisher=Upcoming4.me|accessdate=18 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219003423/http://upcoming4.me/news/book-news/c-robert-cargill-queen-of-the-dark-things-cover-art-and-synopsis#|archive-date=2013-12-19|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*''Sea of Rust'' (September 2017, {{ISBN|9780062405838}})<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.harpercollins.com/9780062405838/sea-of-rust|title=Sea of Rust|last=Cargill|first=C. Robert|website=HarperCollins US|language=en|access-date=2017-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927053325/https://m.harpercollins.com/9780062405838/sea-of-rust|archive-date=2017-09-27|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*''We Are Where the Nightmares Go and Other Stories'' (Feb 2019, {{ISBN|9780062405876}})<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/we-are-where-the-nightmares-go-and-other-stories-c-robert-cargill?variant=32116775682082|title=We Are Where the Nightmares Go and Other Stories|last=Cargill|first=C. Robert|website=HarperCollins US|language=en|access-date=2021-06-07}}</ref>
*''Day Zero'' (May 2021, {{ISBN|9780062405807}})<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/day-zero-c-robert-cargill?variant=32280907382818|title=Day Zero|last=Cargill|first=C. Robert|website=HarperCollins US|language=en|access-date=2021-06-07}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|1803036}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEpbUf8dGq0 Interview] with [[DoubleToasted.com]]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cargill, C. Robert}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American film critics]]
[[Category:Writers from Austin, Texas]]
[[Category:American fantasy writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American novelists]]
[[Category:American male novelists]]
[[Category:American science fiction writers]]
[[Category:Urban fantasy writers]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Writers from San Antonio]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:Novelists from Texas]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Texas]]
[[Category:21st-century American screenwriters]]

C. Robert Cargill - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 14:18, 7 September 2023