Posts Tagged ‘Movies’
Posted by bob in Films, Reviews on September 21st, 2008
You have to admire a movie that tries to sustain suspense on a shoestring budget.
Essentially shot on one set for a mere $20,000, Breathing Room does what the Saws and Hostels of the world fail to do: engage you in the characters. The premise is a pretty straight-forward one: a naked young girl is tossed into a large, barren room. She’s told she’s the last of 14 prisoners, none of whom can recall how they arrived in this situation. Each has a number and is told they will be tested and only one will see freedom.
For the next 85 minutes, you’re left to wonder who is behind this and why and which one will survive. While you’re led to believe the pretty young thing (Alisa Marshall) will be your hero, along the way you’re left to wonder.
There’s some violence, but nothing overt. It’s all left up to the imagination which is where the best terror tends to be found.
The assorted characters, most of whom have something to hide, are a little too much the same age range but are different enough for you to be left wondering throughout the entire film why them, and which one will be a hero, coward or killer. The acting varies in quality as does the writing for the characters so there’s an uneven feel to the entire production.
The film, released on DVD from Anchor Bay today, is shot in a less-than-smooth style without leaving you seasick and heightening the tension the spare lighting and set provides. You lose track of the days, as do the characters, and you watch the body count mount and keep wondering why. The final twist at the end is jarring but not unsatisfying and overall, given its sparseness, does its job quite well.
Breathing Room was written by John Suits and Gabriel Cowan when they were just students at CalArts. It has a refreshing rawness to it and speaks well for their careers which have taken off since this was shot in 2006. That is has earned over $500,000 is the kind of return on investment people notice and it has led to additional work. We can look forward to more from them as a result.
Posted by dominie in Films, News on September 16th, 2008
As reported previously, in an effort to contain costs, Spider-Man 4 and 5 will be shot back-to-back over a six month span next year. In the latest news, actor Tobey Maguire has been granted “family time” as part of an unprecedented deal to reprise his role in the next two sequels of the top-grossing Spider-Man franchise. Additionally, Maguire is expected to earn a record $50 million in salary and profit shares from the two films.
Maguire, 33, will receive early mornings and evenings off during the grueling six months to spend time with wife Jennifer Meyer Maguire, 31, and their daughter Ruby Sweetheart, who is only 22 months old. The couple married in 2007 and Ruby is their first child.
According to the Times Online, Sony was prepared to offer the Spidey role to another actor because it was wary the clause could set a bad trend. That is, until Sony Chairman Amy Pascal, a mom herself stepped in and agreed with Maguire that six months without any built-in family time would not be fair for any parent. Bravo to Maguire for taking a stand and cheers to Pascal!
As for whether Kirsten Dunst will be returning to play Peter Parker’s love interest, Mary Jane Watson, Sony is expected to reveal the news in the next few days. Production for the upcoming sequels is expected to start in Fall 2009 with the release date still scheduled for May 2011. James Vanderbilt will script the movies with Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad producing, while Sam Raimi is still in talks to direct.
Posted by dominie in Films, News on September 15th, 2008
The latest signed to feature in the indie psychothriller Dark Woods, is genre vet James Russo (The Ninth Gate, Trauma, Blackwater Valley Exorcism, Satanic) who will play Sheriff Demming in the movie.
From director Mike Escobedo and a script by John Muscamero, Dark Woods stars Tracy Coogan (Zombie Honeymoon) as Susan, a terminally ill woman whose husband (played by Muscamero) brings her to a remote cabin in the woods. Things take a turn for the “demented worse” when her husband entertains a relationship with a local teenage girl.
Other newly announced actors include Mary Kate Wiles, Yvonne Huff, and Rob Simpson. Mark Shady (who will also co-star) and Peter Nee are producing the psychothriller.
“Dark Woods is more of a psychological thriller than a horror film in the classical sense,” Coogan revealed to Fangoria in an interview over the summer. “This time, there are no zombies! Monsters come in many shapes and sizes. Susan’s health is deteriorating rapidly, and she’s spiraling into dementia. She starts to hallucinate, and believes demons are coming to take her away. She struggles between consciousness and dementia, getting glimmers of her life, her love, her husband and her ultimate demise.”
Posted by dominie in Events, Films, News on September 15th, 2008
The official website for Toby Wilkins’ Splinter has gone live. Magnolia Pictures acquired the independent horror last year and did finally secure a limited Halloween night theatrical release. Check the website for updates and the countdown to the seconds until Splinter’s theatrical release.
In the story, a young couple retreats to the wilderness for a romantic camping weekend, but their romantic idyll is shattered when they are car-jacked by an escaped convict and his girlfriend on the run from the police.
As the foursome travel the backroads together, each plotting their next move, they find themselves in deeper trouble than any of them could have imagined — a blood-crazed, parasitic creature that absorbs the corpses of its victims has laid claim to the woods, and the two couples are now in its sights.
Finding shelter at an abandoned gas station, they must use their wits and every weapon at their disposal to stave off the onslaught, not only from the insatiable creature, but also each other….
Splinter, the debut feature from British special effects wizard Toby Wilkins, is an exhilarating ride of laughs and jolts as well as a throw-back to the classic creature features of the early 70’s and 80’s.
Written and directed by Toby Wilkins, the film stars Shea Whigham (Wristcutters: A Love Story), Paulo Costanzo (Road Trip), Jill Wagner (Junebug), and Rachel Kerbs.
If you can’t wait for Halloween night, the film will premiere at LA’s Screamfest.
Posted by dominie in News on September 15th, 2008
Friday the 13th fans can rejoice in news that Paramount has confirmed they are working on a brand new, revamped Friday the 13th box set. According to Dread Central, a reporter from Friday the 13th Films caught the news from a Paramount rep during a panel at The Scare Fest in Lexington, Kentucky.
The Paramount rep unveiled a few details you may be interested in. The new DVD box set is currently in development that will include a fully restored uncut format and be laden with infamous missing and extended scenes. Sources say a lot of planning is going into this development to offer fans a proper tribute to one of the most iconic killers ever put on film.
The goal is for the new set to hit stands in time for the remake’s release on February 13, 2009.
Click here for other related Friday the 13th news.
Posted by dominie in Events, Films, News on September 15th, 2008
The final two official posters for Midnight Movie, directed by Jack Messitt, are available now. Starring Daniel Bonjour, Michael Swan, Arthur Roberts, Dinora Walcott, Rebekah Brandes, Ashley Black, Michael Schwartz, Kathryn Aagesen, and Greg Ciruinick, the film about a 1970’s horror screening that comes alive… literally. The audience is in for a thrilling surprise when the killer from the movie emerges from the screen to kill them one at a time.
If you can’t wait for the DVD (arrives January 9, 2009), view below for the upcoming screening dates!
Chicago Film Festival – World Premier!
Sept 27, 2008 at 9:45
Portage Theater, Chicago IL
http://www.chicagohorrorfest.com
Shriekfest Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival
Oct 2-5, 2008
Releigh Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Screening times/details to follow
http://www.shriekfest.com
Eerie Horror Fest
October 9-12
The Warner Theater - Erie, PA
Screening times/details to follow
http://www.eeriehorrorfest.com/
Escapism Film Festival
October 17-19, 2008.
The Carolina Theatre – Durham, North Carolina
Screening times/details to follow
http://festivals.carolinatheatre.org/escapism/index.html
Deadmonton Horror Festival
Oct. 26, 2008 at 5:50
Metro Cinema, Edmonton, AB Canada
http://www.deadmonton.net
Posted by dominie in Films, News on September 12th, 2008
Brittany Snow (Prom Night) has signed to be the lead in Senator Entertainment’s Clock Tower, a feature film (reported here) based on Capcom’s classic horror video game of the same name. The screenplay, penned by Eric Poppen (Borderland) is loosely based on all of the games and according to Bloody Disgusting, “concerns a young woman who receives a disturbing phone call from her estranged mother warning her not to come home. When she investigates, she uncovers a terrible supernatural truth from her past.”
Martin Weisz (The Hills Have Eyes 2) will direct the project, which begins lensing in Los Angeles come November. B-D scored the following casting breakdown for the film adaptation:
[DR. THOMAS BATES] is in his 40s – 50s and married, with a young daughter, he is a renowned psychiatrist who has finally given up a long stint in a maximum security psych ward for private practice. However, his new upscale patients are boring rather than challenging, and he jumps at the chance to dig his teeth into something more substantial. We later learn that Thomas, not unlike Alyssa, suffered a disturbing childhood, and lost his schizophrenic mother to suicide. As a young boy he had vowed to learn how to make the voices that plagued her go away. While he could not save his mother, he finds a chance to do something right in the life of Alyssa Hale…LEAD (9)
[ELEAZER BARROWS] 40s – 60s. He’s a grizzled man with a terrifying face in a long black robe, usually seen with an antique pair of shears, he is a fire ‘n’ brimstone preacher from the 17th century, responsible for the hanging of a great number of “witches.” He now makes his presence known to those remaining members of the Hale family, including Alyssa Hale and Chloe Bates…LEAD (6)
[SANDI BATES] is in her mid 30s – early 40s, wife of Thomas and mother to their six-year-old daughter, Sandi is a likable, nurturing woman, a furniture restorer who works out of the home. She’s happy to have her husband working regular hours with more sane patients, irritated and concerned when he takes such an interest in the case of a young woman at the hospital. Later, she becomes alarmed when it seems that Thomas may harm their little girl…LEAD (11) (more…)
Posted by dominie in Films, News on September 11th, 2008
According to The Hollywood Reporter, while working on their third album, lead singer Shawn Christensen of the indie rock band Stellastarr penned a script Warner Bros. couldn’t resist. The studio is fast-tracking the rocker’s sci-fi thriller titled The Karma Coalition, dropping $750,000 against the $1.5 million budget.
Dan Lin of Warner-based Lin Pictures will simultaneously produce the project along with his current endeavors, Sherlock Homes and Terminator Salvation. Studio native Stephen Gilchrist who brought the project to Lin Pictures will co-produce the film.
Joe Russo is attached to direct with Jim Sturgess to star in the story about a game of cat and mouse that ensues when a corrupt detective tells a falsely accused (now) fugitive his dead wife of five years may still be alive. He embarks on a quest to uncover the truth, but he will have to pay for exposing the existence of an underground organization responsible for faking her death.
Christensen’s previous work includes co-writing Sidney Hall with partner Jason Dolan. Additionally Stellastarr is well known within the indie rock world and has toured with such bands as The Killers and Jane’s Addiction. It will be exciting to see how this movie plays out. Stay tuned for more to come!
Posted by dominie in Events, Films, News on September 9th, 2008
A lawsuit has been filed against Disturbia, the teen-thriller starring Shia LaBeouf, which debuted at the top with $23 million in 2007. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the lawsuit filed Monday in Manahattan federal court contends that DreamWorks’ Disturbia is a “rip-off” of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1953 Rear Window.
Sheldon Abend Revocable Trust, which owns the rights to Cornell Woolrich’s short story “Murder From a Fixed Viewpoint,” claims DreamWorks should have followed in Hitchcock’s actions in legally acquiring the rights to creating a big-screen adaptation of the thriller. Named defendents, Viacom, NBC Universal, and Steven Spielberg, have not commented.
Key points from the lawsuit:
- Disturbia and Rear Window are “essentially the same” stories: both are murder mysteries solved by a man peering from his window and witnessing strange behavior by a neighbor.
- The characters are similar.
- The plots unfold basically the same way.
Posted by dominie in Events, Films, News on September 9th, 2008
Not to be confused with the already shot prequel series Caprica from director Jeffrey Reiner, the new Battlestar Galactica movie prequel is in the works! The two hour event has not been titled yet, but the outline goes a little something like this: “Starting before the events of the miniseries, our story focuses on familiar characters including Cylon Number One, known as Cavil (Stockwell), Resistance Leader Sam T. Anders (Trucco) and Chief Galen Tyrol (Douglas). In the beginning, the Cylons had a plan, but it didn’t account for one thing: survivors. During the chaotic aftermath of the destruction, two powerful Cylon agents struggle with plots and priorities on the human ships that got away, and among the resistance fighters who were left behind.”
Jane Espenson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Gilmore Girls), who’s written some of the best episodes for BSG in the past returns for this highly anticipated addition to the series, and Edward James Olmos, the admirable Admiral Bill Adama, will direct.
Wait, it gets even more exciting. Sci-Fi has confirmed that Edward James Olmos (Admiral Adama), Michael Trucco (Sam Anders), Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol) and Dean Stockwell (Brother Cavil) Tricia Helfer (Caprica/No. 6), Grace Park (Boomer/Athena), Callum Keith Rennie (Leoben), Rick Worthy (Simon) and that surly Michael Hogan (Tigh) would appear in the project. That’s eight of twelve cyclones confirmed!
Other tidbits: Cylons Lucy Lawless (D’Anna Biers), Matthew Bennett (Aaron Doral), and Rekha Sharma (Tory Foster) were not mentioned. Still waiting to hear on updates pursuing Katee Sackhoff (Kara Thrace/Starbuck). Darn. And lastly the 12th and final Cylon will be kept under lock and key to be revealed in the final 10 episodes early next year.
You have to admire a movie that tries to sustain suspense on a shoestring budget.
