Juan Piquer Simón (16 February 1935 – 8 January 2011) was a Spanish

film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfillment of that Goal, vision. The director has a key role ...

best known for directing two cult classic

horror Horror may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Genres *Horror fiction, a genre of fiction **Psychological horror, a subgenre of horror fiction **Christmas horror, a subgenre of horror fiction **Analog horror, a subgenre of horror fiction * ...

exploitation Exploitation may refer to: *Exploitation of natural resources *Exploitation of Animals *Exploitation of labour **Forced labour *Exploitation colonialism *Slavery **Sexual slavery and other forms *Oppression *Psychological manipulation In arts an ...

films, ''

Pieces Piece or Pieces (not to be confused with peace) may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Games * Piece (chess), pieces deployed on a chessboard for playing the game of chess * ''Pieces'' (video game), a 1994 puzzle game for the Super NES * ...

'' (1982) and '' Slugs: The Movie'' (1988).

Career

He also directed two Jules Verne-based films, ''Where Time Began'' (1976) and ''Mystery on Monster Island'' (1981), as well as '' Supersonic Man'' in 1979 (which was spoofed by RiffTrax), and ''

The Pod People ''Extra Terrestrial Visitors'' (Spanish: ''Los nuevos extraterrestres'', ''The New Extraterrestrials'') is a 1983 science fiction film directed by Juan Piquer Simón. The film's original draft was intended as a straightforward horror film abou ...

'' in 1983 (which was famously featured on an episode of ''

Mystery Science Theater 3000 ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (abbreviated as ''MST3K'') is an American science fiction comedy television series created by Joel Hodgson. The show premiered on WUCW, KTMA-TV (now WUCW) in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on November 24, 1988. It then ...

''). He also directed '' Cthulhu Mansion'' and '' The Rift'', both in 1990.

Legacy

'' is one among the many cult classic

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit physical or psychological fear in its viewers. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with Transgressive art, transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements of the genre include Mo ...

s that have been restored and digitally remastered by

Bob Murawski Bob Murawski (born June 14, 1964) is an American film editor. He was awarded the 2010 Academy Award for Best Film Editing for his work on ''The Hurt Locker'', which he shared with his wife, fellow editor Chris Innis. He often works with film di ...

of Box Office Spectaculars and

Grindhouse Releasing Grindhouse Releasing is a Hollywood-based independent cult film distribution company led by film editor Bob Murawski and co-founded by Sage Stallone. Grindhouse digitally remasters, restores, and produces bonus materials and video documentaries f ...

. Juan Piquer Simón owned his own independent studio in

Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...

, Spain, and designed many of his own special effects sequences for his films. He also was the co-director of the Mediterranean Film Festival in Valencia, Spain. He died in 2011 at age 75 of

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lung. Lung cancer is caused by genetic damage to the DNA of cells in the airways, often caused by cigarette smoking or inhaling damaging chemicals. Damaged ...

. ''Pod People'' has since become a favorite for MST3K fans and the show's creator

Joel Hodgson Joel Hodgson (born February 20, 1960) is an American writer, comedian, and television actor. He is best known for creating ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (''MST3K'') and starring in it; he played the character Joel Robinson. In 2007, ''MST3K'' ...

.Robot roll call! 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' cast share favorite episodes as show turns 25, TODAY
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Filmography

As film director: * ''España Violenta'' (1964) * ''Vida Y Paz'' (1965) * ''

Where Time Began ''Viaje al centro de la Tierra'' (English: ''Journey to the Center of the Earth'') is a 1977 Spanish adventure film based on the 1864 novel ''Journey to the Center of the Earth'' by Jules Verne. It has been released under the titles ''Where Time B ...

'' (1976) * '' Supersonic Man'' (1979) * ''

Jules Verne's Mystery on Monster Island ''Godfrey Morgan: A Californian Mystery'' (, literally ''The School for Robinsons''), also published as ''School for Crusoes'', is an 1882 adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne. The novel tells of a wealthy young man, Godfrey Morgan, who, ...

'' (1981) * ''Los Diablos Del Mar '' (1982) * ''

'' (1982) * '' Extra Terrestrial Visitors'' (1983) * ''Dirty War'' (1984) * ''

Slugs Slug, or land slug, is a common name for any apparently shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusc. The word ''slug'' is also often used as part of the common name of any gastropod mollusc that has no shell, a very reduced shell, or only a sma ...

'' (1988) * '' The Rift (1990) * '' Cthulhu Mansion'' (1990) * ''La Isla Del Diablo'' (1994) * ''Manoa, La Ciudad De Oro'' (1999) As film actor: * ''

'' (1982) - Killer's Hands / Crime Scene Photographer (uncredited) Interview: * ''Pieces of Juan'' (as himself), an interview with Juan Piquer Simón about his film, ''

'', as well as his life and career (directed by

Nacho Cerdà Nacho Cerdà (born 1968/1969) is a Spanish film director and screenwriter best known for his controversial 1994 short film ''Aftermath''. Biography Career Shorts ''Aftermath'' is the second in a trilogy of short films known as ''La Trilogia ...

, available on

/ Box Office Spectaculars' North American DVD release of ''

'')

References

External links

*
Spanish web site for Juan Piquer Simón
{{DEFAULTSORT:Piquer Simon, Juan 1935 births 2011 deaths Mass media people from Valencia Film directors from the Valencian Community Spanish horror film directors