I don't exactly know the full extent of Stephen David Brooks' filmmaking skills, but for his second feature as both writer and director he took about the same budget as your average home video of a kid's birthday party and managed to come up with a quirky, intriguing, and delightfully different sci-fi tale called FLYTRAP (2015).
When I say "low budget", I mean that almost the entire film takes place inside a house in the suburbs of L.A., with no SPFX (even though Brooks has worked with John Dykstra himself as a visual effects supervisor) and precious few props or other major production elements--just a nicely-written script and a cast of actors who know how to get the best out of it.
One of them is Jeremy Crutchley ("Black Sails") in a deftly wry performance as British college professor James Pond ("My parents had a sense of humor"), whose car breaks down in front of a house in a sleepy Los Angeles neighborhood while he's on his way to a new job as an astronomy professor at UCLA.
Knocking on the nearest door for help, he meets Mary Ann (Ina-Alice Kopp), a beautiful but odd young woman who's not only socially awkward but seems unfamiliar with even the most basic human interactions. In fact, the first thing she does after offering James a huge glass of wine is to lower the shoulder strap of her dress and inquire as to whether he is now ready to "reproduce."
James' earlier voiceover about how "they" are among us comes to mind and we begin to suspect Mary Ann's earlier admission that she's from Venus (James assumes she means Venus, Texas) might not be all that far-fetched.
He also finds it odd that she mentions a housemate named Gilligan (Jonah Blechman) and another known as The Skipper (Jason Duplissea), who is, not surprisingly, their "leader." (Mary Ann also mentions a "Ginger" who, for some reason, didn't work out.) But are they indeed aliens...or just members of a weird religious cult?
FLYTRAP keeps us in the dark about all of this in the most teasing ways, maintaining a nice level of suspense as James, now a prisoner in the house, keeps trying to escape (an electronic collar prevents him from crossing the threshold) while also facing the fact that Mary Ann's seemingly insatiable desire for him doesn't appear feigned.
So, along with him, we keep wondering just exactly what the heck's going on even as The Skipper's behavior grows more punitive and hostile toward James (jealousy, perhaps?) and whether or not James will be disposed of when his purpose (something to do with "reproducing", perhaps?) is fulfilled.
There are some nice moments between James and Mary Ann as he warms up to her and she seems eager to learn how humans interact romantically. While Crutchley maintains James' likability with little effort, Ina-Alice Kopp gives Mary Ann a yearning innocence that's quite disarming. We feel for her when she expresses a desire to leave the house and experience the outside world, even though we know she's merely part of the "flytrap" keeping James prisoner.
Despite some talk about being trapped by fear of the unknown, or by "an unknown or invisible god", the story thankfully doesn't try to get too mired in metaphor. The narrative is refreshingly lean and straightforward, with a nifty ending that leaves just enough unresolved to fade out on a tantalizingly unsettling note.
Sometimes we wake up in the middle of a sticky situation from which we can't escape, this movie seems to be telling us, and there's nothing for us to do besides hang in there and try to reclaim our autonomy. As for me, I found FLYTRAP just as sticky and just as inescapable.
"UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!" A FEATURE-LENGTH SCI-FI PARODY ADVENTURE STARRING 40 FORMER "STAR TREK" ACTORS WILL HAVE ITS SNEAK PEEK WORLD PREMIERE ON THE EVE OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF "STAR TREK"
In What May Be One of the Largest Historic Gatherings of Former "Star Trek" Actors, Over 25 Stars and Guest-Stars from All Five of the "Star Trek" Series Will Be in Attendance at the Private Industry Screening
Los Angeles, CA (August 30, 2016) - The Sci-Fi Parody Adventure feature film "Unbelievable!!!!!" will have its World Premiere at a Sneak Peek Industry Screening in Hollywood. Red Carpet arrivals will begin at 6:15pm, and the screening will start at 7:30pm Wednesday, September 7, at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres at Hollywood & Highland, in Hollywood, CA, announced husband and wife filmmakers, Steven L. Fawcette and Angelique Fawcette today. The film was written and directed by Steven and produced by Angelique under their Archangel Films banner.
The star of the film, Kirk Stillwood, a puppet created by the Chiodo Brothers, who created all of the "Team America: World Police" puppets, will be in attendance at the screening and will do interviews on the Red Carpet. Kirk Stillwood is voiced by Kevin Carlson. The film also stars forty former "Star Trek" actors from all the "Trek" series and two movies!
"We wanted to create a unique and original film that sci-fi fans can watch again and again, celebrating their love for this iconic TV show. It is a Sci-Fi Parody Adventure, which uses none of 'Star Trek's' intellectual property, with a cast of over forty former stars of the shows in a zany parody, along the lines of 'Airplane!' and 'Mars Attacks!'," said Steven L. Fawcette. "I hope the five exclamation points in the title "Unbelievable!!!!!" convey the film's comedic sensibilities," he added.
'Unbelievable!!!!!" stars 40 actors who starred or guest-starred on one of the five "Star Trek" TV series, includingChase Masterson, Garrett Wang, Tim Russ, Nichelle Nichols, Robert Picardo, Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, Nana Visitor, Walter Koenig, Linda Park, Connor Trinneer, Manu Intiraymi, Dina Meyer, Olivia d'Abo, Julie Warner, Armin Shimerman, Jeffrey Combs, John Billingsley, Dominic Keating, Max Grodenchik, Casey Biggs, Brenda Bakke, Patti Yasutake, McKenzie Westmore, Anthony Montgomery, Vaughn Armstrong, Gary Graham, Steve Rankin, Michael Dante, Jack Donner, Michael Forest, Sean Kenney, Gary Lockwood, BarBara Luna, Beverly Washburn, Celeste Yarnall, Bobby Clark, Jasmine Anthony, Crystal Allen, Menina Fortunato, along with Gilbert Gottfried and Michael Madsen, and introducing Katarina Van Derham, Producer/Actress Angelique Fawcette, and Singer/Songwriter Emily L. Stanton.
Watch the trailer:
"As an Independent Film Company, we at Archangel Films have worked tremendously hard on this film, and that work has been a gift. Working with the talented cast of 40 'Trek' stars as well as two 'Trek" -- The Original Series iconic musical talents was an amazing experience," said Angelique Fawcette. "I hope that fans, who are used to seeing these actors in more dramatic roles, will have some fun and laughs watching the exploits of a Puppet hero and dozens of their favorite stars in our slapstick parody adventure," she added.
In addition to the many recognizable faces in "Unbelievable!!!!!," most "Star Trek" and sci-fi fans will recognize the name Gerald Fried from watching the TV credits roll by countless times. Fried, an Emmy-Award winning composer, scored the film. Fried was a composer for the original "Star Trek" and has written some of its most iconic musical themes, including "Amok Time's" Fight Music. Fried won his Emmy for his Composition work on the 1970's TV Series "Roots."
Additionally, Tommy Morgan, was the Lead Bass Harmonia player on the film's score. Morgan also worked on the original "Star Trek" series episode "Spectre of the Gun." Multi -Grammy and Academy Award winner Dave Grusin is the Pianist on the score. Grusin is known for his work on "The Graduate", "The Fabulous Baker Boys" and "On Golden Pond" and "Tootsie." Also joining the musical talent is Ross Garren who plays the Slider Harmonica.
"Unbelievable!!!!!" is a Sci-Fi Parody Adventure. The movie follows the crazy exploits of four astronauts (one is an animatronic marionette which resembles the character "Captain Kirk" from the 1960s TV show "Star Trek") who travel to the Moon on a rescue mission to determine the fate of two NASA comrades who have not been heard from in several days. The individuals they find at the Lunar Base are not whom they appear to be and, through acts of trickery and deception, nearly succeed in killing our heroes. The four return to find that everyone on the planet has been transformed into a variant life-form. Aliens from Mars have conquered Earth and now seek to destroy the last remnants of humanity. The astronauts fight back and soon discover how to rid themselves of the alien threat.
DIRECTED & WRITTEN BY - Steven L. Fawcette EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS - Steven L. Fawcette, Angelique Fawcette, Buster Pelster, Susan Waters, John L. Strauss, John Rexroth PRODUCER - Angelique Fawcette CO-PRODUCER - Nichelle Nichols CINEMATOGRAPHER - Thor Wixom EDITOR - Thor Wixom ASSISTANT EDITOR - Nick Brosco TRAILER EDITOR - Nick Brosco SOUNDTRACK COMPOSED BY - Gerald Fried
ABOUT ARCHANGEL FILMS LA, LLC ARCHANGEL FILMS LA, LLC is an independent film company based in Los Angeles, California, looking to create quality action and comedy films with an esoteric and a thought-provoking edge.
It seems there's this thing called "delayed gratification" which heightens one's anticipation of an impending pleasure by temporarily denying it. DARK COVE (2016) stretches this concept to its limit.
It eventually morphs into a mildly interesting thriller at some point during its second half, but really makes us earn that (very) mild interest by being one of the most boring movies ever for at least a full 45 minutes or so.
During that time, we're treated to what amounts to a painfully uneventful camping trip in the Canadian wilds (you know, just like those camping trips that neither you nor any of your friends ever wanted to go on in real life) by a group of five young people so obnoxious that we thoroughly despise them all less than five minutes into the film and want to see them get killed as soon and as horribly as possible.
"Joey", the party-hearty cut-up who's supposed to be funny, is especially horrible-death-worthy. But we also learn to loathe their full-of-himself leader Quinn (director and co-writer Rob Willey), Quinn's bland girfriend Lacey (Jules Cotton), her equally bland friend Jen (Montanna McNalley), and Quinn's alpha-male buddy Donnie (Cameron Crosby).
What really makes these people so insufferable is the fact that, for the first three quarters of the film, they never shut up. It seems that some screenwriters these days are still having their characters jabber away about mundane crap (much of it sounds improvised) in hopes that they'll accidentally come up with another "Royale with cheese" exchange or something. But in this case it's just endless drivel that you wouldn't even be interested in if you knew these people.
As we watch them drinking beer and ingesting various illicit substances around the campfire--and wait patiently for them to start dying--we keep wondering which variation of the "city kids on an ill-fated camping trip" movie this is going to be.
That is, we wonder whether they'll get stalked by a slasher-killer or urban legend boogeyman, or run into some local yokels who are up to no good, or just have it out amongst themselves due to bad interpersonal vibes or a violent reaction to shrooms or something.
(Strangely, the script is devoid of the usual ominous foreshadowing save for a minor musical sting here and there.)
The plot starts to thicken (finally!) when they encounter three Australians camping right down the beach from them--a couple of brawny surfers in wet suits and their hippy-dippy friend--and we wonder if one of these guys is going to take offense at some slight and go haywire with an axe or whatever.
We're especially suspicious of Chase (Ty Stokoe), the muscular bald-pated surfer who looks as though he might be a hair's breadth from flaking out.
Naturally, something does eventually occur which leads to a big-time flake-out by one or more of the principal characters, and it's here that I'm loath to divulge any more details. Suffice it to say that bloody axe-murder death and other unpleasantries ensue, bodies are disposed of, a concerned forest ranger shows up, and everybody get stalked.
But none of it ever really goes anywhere storywise, and just when you think things might be getting more interesting the whole thing comes to an abrupt end.
DARK COVE wants to be a suspenseful, nail-biting thriller, but there just isn't much "there" there. While it's markedly superior to many I've seen along the same lines (THE EVIL WOODS and MOTOR HOME MASSACRE skulk to mind) and much of the photography is quite good, it's the sort of time-waster that really does make you feel as though you've wasted your time.
Revealing True Story of a 1950s Hollywood Heartthrob Autographed Copies Available from TabHunter.com
"A savvy, rollicking, eye-popping film" -- Vanity Fair
"Tells a story that defies expectations" -- Village Voice
"One of the 10 Best LGBT Documentaries of 2015" -- The Advocate
Los Angeles, CA - After an incredible year on the film festival circuit and a theatrical run across fifty cities in the United States, the acclaimed documentary Tab Hunter Confidential is available to rent or own on Blu-Ray and DVD from FilmRise. Based on Tab's New York Times best-selling memoir, producer Allan Glaser and director Jeffrey Schwarz (I Am Divine) have assembled dozens of past and present Hollywood stars, and most importantly the man himself, to talk frankly about being a survivor of the Hollywood roller coaster.
Throughout the 1950s, Tab Hunter reigned as Hollywood's ultimate heartthrob. In dozens of films, and in the pages of countless magazines, Tab's astonishing looks and golden-boy sex appeal drove his fans to screaming, delirious frenzy, solidifying him the prototype for all young matinee idols to come.
Tab Hunter Confidential is available on iTunes with exclusive bonus features and also on Amazon Instant, Google Play, Vudu and more. The Blu-Ray & DVD is available nationwide, with autographed copies only available on Tab Hunter's official website, www.tabhunter.com.
Bristling against being just another pretty face and wanting to be taken seriously, Tab was one of the few to be able to transcend pin-up boy status. He earned his stripes as an actor to become a major movie star and recording artist.
But throughout his years of stardom, Tab had a secret. Tab Hunter was gay, and spent his Hollywood years in a precarious closet that repeatedly threatened to implode and destroy him. Decades later, Tab's dramatic, turbulent and ultimately inspiring life story has become an explosive documentary feature.
Tab Hunter Confidential offers unprecedented access to the man behind the marquee smile, who shares first hand what it was like to be a manufactured movie star during the Golden Age of Hollywood and the consequences of being someone totally different from his studio image. The film traces Tab's dizzying rise to Hollywood super-stardom, his secret life in an era when being openly gay was unthinkable, and his ultimate triumph when the limelight finally passed him by and true love won.
Punctuating Tab's on-screen presence are rare film clips and provocative interviews with friends and co-stars including John Waters, Clint Eastwood, George Takei, Debbie Reynolds, Robert Wagner, Portia de Rossi, Noah Wyle, Connie Stevens, Robert Osborne, and dozens more.
The Blu-ray (SRP $19.95) and DVD (SRP $14.95) release of Tab Hunter Confidential includes extended interviews with Tab Hunter, Hollywood legends John Waters, George Takei, Debbie Reynolds, Robert Osborne, Robert Wagner and many others.
Olive Films Releases Once-Lost DeMille Silent and Sci-Fi B-Movie Classics
Chicago, IL – Olive Films, a boutique theatrical and home entertainment distribution label dedicated to bringing independent, foreign, and classic films to DVD and Blu-ray, is excited to announce that September 13th will be the release date of seven new titles, including Cecil B. DeMille’s once-lost silent The Captive (1915), monster movie gem The Monster of Piedras Blancas (1958), and beloved (but controversial among purists) Republic serial Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (1955).
THE CAPTIVE (1915) Thought to be lost for many years, this early Cecil B. DeMille feature was thankfully discovered in Paramount’s vault in 1970. Olive Films’ DVD and Blu-ray release on September 13th will mark the film’s first availability on home media. In addition to being from one of the all-time great American directors, the film was also produced by Jesse L. Lasky, who would form the prolific Famous Players-Lasky Corporation responsible for 731 features and 363 shorts from 1916 to 1919.
The film also boasts a somewhat storied production history. According to rumor, DeMille and his co-writer Jeannie MacPherson engaged in an affair during writing and shooting. If one believes this story, indications of their relationship can be found in the subtexts of the film itself. On a darker turn, an extra was unfortunately killed during filming. According to star Blanche Sweet, this was a result of real, loaded guns being used as props. More tragedy followed shortly after filming ended, as Page Peters, who was just rising to fame as an actor, drowned in 1916.
For the DVD and Blu-ray release of The Captive, Olive Films has commissioned a brand-new score by composer Lucy Duke. “The opportunity to create an original score to a DeMille silent film is a singular opportunity– a musician’s dream come true!” said composer Lucy Duke. “I hope that the music is true to the era while remaining valid in a contemporary context, shining a new light on this film.”
THE MONSTER OF PIEDRAS BLANCAS (1958)
The Monster of Piedras Blancas, previously unavailable on DVD or Blu-ray, has become a sort of Holy Grail of monster b-movies. Shot over the course of two weeks, the film was produced with a final budget of $29,000. This micro-budget necessitated a resourceful craftsmanship from the filmmakers that resulted in the endearingly campy monster flick that fans know and love. For example, the monster’s costume supposedly recycled the hands from The Mole People (1956) and the feet from This Island Earth (1955). Many people note its similarities to the Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) creature, and indeed producer Jack Kevan had a hand in the costume and makeup of both films. Science Fiction fans will also recognize prolific actor Les Tremayne (The War of the Worlds, Forbidden Planet) and pin-up queen Jeanne Carmen (The Devil’s Hand). At the time of its original release, its shocking gore earned it a place in the hearts of many young horror fans. This b-movie monster gem arrives on DVD and Blu-ray for the first time ever on September 13th.
COMMANDO CODY: SKY MARSHAL OF THE UNIVERSE (1955)
Another title coming to DVD and Blu-ray from Olive Films on September 13th is the Republic Serial Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe. A debate exists among serial purists as to whether or not it can truly be counted as part of the serial canon. Originally, its 12 episodes were intended for a weekly television series. Its premiere, however, was as a weekly theatrical serial in 1953, with it finally airing on television in 1955. Episodes do not end with the traditional cliffhanger, but they do share many other themes and even characters in common with the canonical serials. In fact, Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe can be considered a prequel to Radar Men from the Moon, in which the titular character first appeared. According to rumor, the character always wore a mask because producers wanted the actor playing him to be more dispensable.
Yours, Mine and Ours (1968)
Blu-ray debut of Yours, Mine and Ours (1968), directed by Melville Shavelson, starring Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, Van Johnson, Tim Matheson, and Tom Bosley.
The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1964)
Blu-ray debut of The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1964), directed by Robert Hampton (aka Riccardo Freda), starring Barbara Steele, Robert Flemyng, Montgomery Glenn (aka Silvano Tranquili), and Teresa Fitzgerald (aka Maria Teresa Vianello).
Note: Olive Films will be presenting the 77-minute US cut, as it is currently the only version available for licensing. Contrary to popular opinion, the US cut is not censored to be less explicit– the cuts affect mostly the pacing.
Jekyll and Hyde… Together Again (1982)
Jekyll and Hyde… Together Again (1982), directed by Jerry Belson, starring Mark Blankfield, Bess Armstrong, Tim Thomerson, Krista Errickson.
Mankillers (1987)
DVD and Blu-ray debut of Mankillers (1987), directed by David A. Prior, starring Edd Byrnes, Gail Fisher, Edy Williams, Lynda Aldon, William Zipp, Suzanne Tegmann, and Christine Lunde.
About Olive Films Olive Films is a Chicago-based boutique theatrical and home entertainment distribution label dedicated to bringing independent, foreign, documentary, and classic films to life. Its catalog boasts over 500 titles ranging from Hollywood classics to contemporary titles. More information about Olive Films may be found at olivefilms.com.
Los Angeles, CA - Steve Balderson's festival favorite Hell Town is now available to rent or own starting August 23rd on Dish Network, Cox, Charter, Verizon Fios, iTunes, Amazon Instant, Google Play, Vudu and more from Gravitas Ventures. Presented as three episodes of a sadistic twist on Masterpiece Theater, Balderson (Firecracker, The Casserole Club) and co-director Elizabeth Spear have carved up a serialized story filled with catfights, cliffhangers, broken hearts and murder.
Since the world premiere sponsored by the Austin Horror Society and Alamo Drafthouse, Hell Town has made audiences and critics laugh and scream, picking up awards for Best Feature at Colorado Horror-Con, as well as a Best Feature and Best Actress win for Amanda Deibert, with nominations for Best Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography, at the Crimson Scream Horror Film Festival.
Debbie Rochon (Model Hunger, Return to Nuke 'Em High, The Theater Bizarre) headlines as the hostess of the three surviving episodes of "Hell Town", following the melodramatic, small-town and potentially short-lived lives of Krysten Day, Amanda Deibert, Owen Lawless, Ben Windholz, Jennifer Grace and Balderson muse Pleasant Gehman.
Hell Town follows the melodramatic antics of high school seniors clashing over love, sex, and betrayal. In the middle of all the everyday drama of one-sided infatuations, backstabbing bitchiness, bottled-up sexuality, sibling rivalry and general small-town angst, the Letter Jacket Killer is killing students in a variety of sadistic ways. As the body count rises and the blood pools closer to home, it becomes clear that one of our main characters is the killer. Everyone, from the prom queen and shirtless jock to the nosey geek and the super bitch, are all suspects in the carnage.
VFX Artist Torey Haas Climbs into the Director's Chair The Neon Dead Available on DVD & Digital HD September 13th from Wild Eye Releasing "Imaginative, fun and strongly recommended." --Daily Grindhouse "This is the most fun I have had with a movie in a long time." --Horror Society
New York, NY - Wild Eye Releasing is flipping the switch with the DVD and Digital HD release of The Neon Dead. The directorial debut from visual effects artist Torey Haas (V/H/S Viral, Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie), The Neon Dead stars Marie Barker, Mark Ashworth (The Magnificent Seven, Cell, "Sleepy Hollow"), Greg Garrison, Dylan Schettina, Nathan DeRussy and Candace Mabry (Restoration, Too Many Cooks). The Neon Dead will be available to rent or own on DVD and Digital HD nationwide on September 13th.
An unemployed college graduate hires two paranormal exterminators to combat a monster infestation in her new home. But their prodding into an evil out of their depth unleashes an ancient demon. He and his army of monsters quickly overrun the home, intent on possessing every human they make contact with.
The DVD release of The Neon Dead (SRP $19.95) will exclusively include a feature-length commentary with director Torey Haas, bonus scenes, two monster shorts (First Date, Troll Picnic) by director Torey Haas and a creature profile
THE FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER AND DISNEY ANNOUNCE A 25th ANNIVERSARY SCREENING OF BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ON SEPTEMBER 18
Featuring original voice cast members Robby Benson, Paige O’Hara, Angela Lansbury, and Richard White in person
New York, NY (August 16, 2016) – The Film Society of Lincoln Center and Disney are pleased to announce a 25th anniversary screening of Beauty and the Beast, presented Sunday, September 18 at Alice Tully Hall.
In September 1991, two months before its theatrical release, Disney’s animated masterpiece Beauty and the Beast screened as a “Work in Progress” at the 29th New York Film Festival in Alice Tully Hall. Even though a third of the film consisted of storyboard art and black-and-white animation tests, the screening garnered a standing ovation.
When it was released, it became an instant classic. Visually lavish and musically exuberant, the fairy-tale adaptation was one of the first Disney features to incorporate elements of computer-generated imagery with hand-drawn animation, and it would be the first animated film to garner an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, winning awards for best score and original song.
In anticipation of the 54th New York Film Festival, Beauty and the Beast returns to Alice Tully Hall for a special 25th anniversary screening for Film Society members to celebrate the film and its vibrant cultural legacy.
“One of the most vivid memories I have of a rousing New York Film Festival evening was the 1991 screening of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” said Wendy Keys, former NYFF Selection Committee member and FSLC Executive Producer. “Because we showed it in a somewhat unfinished form—we saw animation in all its different phases—we were invited to examine the process without losing any of the narrative power or emotional impact. Astonishing!”
Original voice cast members Robby Benson (Beast), Paige O’Hara (Belle), Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts), and Richard White (Gaston) will appear in person for an extended introduction.
Tickets are $20 and on sale now at filmlinc.org. This special event is available exclusively to Film Society members and patrons. Learn more about Film Society membership at filmlinc.org/membership.
ABOUT BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Walt Disney Pictures’ magical animated classic Beauty and the Beast captures the magical journey of Belle, an independent and intelligent modern-day heroine who’s taken prisoner by a hideous Beast in his castle. Despite her precarious situation, Belle befriends the castle’s enchanted staff—a teapot, a candelabra, and a mantel clock, among others—and ultimately learns to see beneath the Beast’s exterior to discover the heart and soul of a prince.
ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY SIGNATURE COLLECTION The Walt Disney Signature Collection includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. Each release will offer special features for every member of your family plus a unique digital experience.
ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS For over 90 years, the Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which the Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music, and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!
FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER The Film Society of Lincoln Center is devoted to supporting the art and elevating the craft of cinema. The only branch of the world-renowned arts complex Lincoln Center to shine a light on the everlasting yet evolving importance of the moving image, this nonprofit organization was founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international film. Via year-round programming and discussions; its annual New York Film Festival; and its publications, including Film Comment, the U.S.’s premier magazine about films and film culture, the Film Society endeavors to make the discussion and appreciation of cinema accessible to a broader audience, as well as to ensure that it will remain an essential art form for years to come.
The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from American Airlines, The New York Times, HBO, The Kobal Collection, Variety, Loews Regency Hotel, Row NYC Hotel, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts. For more information, visit www.filmlinc.org and follow @filmlinc on Twitter.
Stephen David Brooks Invites Audiences Into Flytrap Available Now on Amazon Instant Video Available August 23rd on iTunes and Vudu
"A hint of Kubrick, a soupçon of Tarkovsky, all expertly mixed into an intoxicating cocktail by master barman and writer/director Stephen's very own intriguing brand of dark humour and clever writing. All extremely well lit, shot and acted - Jeremy Crutchley and the rest of the cast are brilliant." -- International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema London
Los Angeles, CA - My Man Productions has announced the rollout release of Stephen David Brooks' Flytrap on Digital HD. Following an impressive year on the international film festival circuit, Flytrap is now streaming on Amazon Instant Video and Google Play. It will be available to rent or own starting August 23rd on iTunes, Vudu and more.
Since its debut on the film festival circuit, Flytrap has consistently won acclaim and awards around the world. Among the awards won are Best Non-European Indie Feature at the European Independent Film Festival in France, Best Low Budget Feature at Worldfest Houston, Special Jury Prize at the Chelsea Film Festival as well as Best Feature, Best Supporting Actor (Jonah Blechman) and Best Ensemble at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival.
Jeremy Crutchley ("Salem", "Black Sails") centers the film as a stranger in a strange land held at the whims of peculiar housemates Ina-Alice Kopp (Big Gay Love), Jonah Blechman (This Boy's Life, Another Gay Movie), Gabrielle Stone (Cut!) and Jason Duplissea ("Parks and Recreation").
On the day he arrives in the U.S. to teach at UCLA, paranoia roots itself into James Pond, a reserved English astronomer, who is seduced and quickly trapped in a suburban Los Angeles house by the mysterious and alluring Mary Ann and her equally bizarre housemates. Are these people in a doomsday cult? What do they want? Are they even human? This psychological, sci-fi thriller hybrid unfolds as James attempts to escape his freakishly foreign captors. Even if he could escape, would the world believe his crazy story?
From the Creators of "The Evil Dead" "DON'T BREATHE" Coming August 26, 2016
A trio of friends breaks into the house of a blind recluse confident of an easy score only to find themselves in a terrifying life-or-death struggle in Don’t Breathe, the second feature film from writer and director Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead) and legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi. In his sophomore feature, Alvarez goes for the jugular with an unapologetically brutal and twisted horror-thriller that pits a trio of thieves against an unexpectedly dangerous adversary.
Determined to escape her abusive mother and save her younger sister from the dead-end existence that seems inevitable for them both, Rocky (Jane Levy) will do whatever it takes to get away. She and friends Alex (Dylan Minnette) and Money (Daniel Zovatto) have pulled off a series of elaborately planned burglaries in order to come up with enough cash to escape their dire Detroit hometown. Their petty crimes have netted meager rewards, however, so when the trio learns that a blind man (Stephen Lang) living in an abandoned neighborhood has a small fortune stashed in his house, they agree to go for their biggest and final heist.
But their plan goes dangerously wrong when their intended victim turns out to be more frightening than they ever anticipated. As he stalks them relentlessly through his heavily fortified house, they are horrified to discover that he has more than just money hidden away. Shocking and enthralling, Alvarez’s masterful, visually stunning thriller maintains a frenzied pace to the last chilling minute.
Don’t Breathe stars Jane Levy (Evil Dead), Dylan Minnette (Goosebumps), Daniel Zovatto (It Follows) and Stephen Lang (Avatar, the upcoming Avatars 2, 3 and 4). Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead) directs from a script co-written with Rodo Sayagues (Evil Dead). Producers are Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Fede Alvarez. Nathan Kahane, Joe Drake, Erin Westerman, J. R. Young, and Mathew Hart are the executive producers. Director of photography is Pedro Luque (The Silent House). Production designer is Naaman Marshall (The Visit). Editors are Eric L. Beason, ACE, and Louise Ford (The Witch). Composer is Roque Baños (Evil Dead). Costume designer is Carlos Rosario (Boulevard). Casting by Rich Delia, CSA.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION In 2013, writer and director Fede Alvarez made his mark in the horror movie world with a bone-chilling reboot of Sam Raimi’s classic, Evil Dead. In his new film, Don’t Breathe, he explores different but equally terrifying territory in a shocking, suspense-driven tale. Alvarez once again joins forces with producers Raimi and Rob Tapert of Ghost House Pictures for a homeinvasion story that blurs the line between horror and thriller.
“It has elements of both,” says the director. “I wouldn’t call it a hundred percent horror or thriller. But it has a bunch of very scary moments for sure.”
In Don’t Breathe, three friends who commit a string of perfectly planned robberies decide to pull off one final heist when they hear about a blind man living alone in a deserted Detroit neighborhood. “But they are missing some crucial information,” Alvarez says. “This man is unusually resourceful and completely ruthless, to the point where he seems almost superhuman. He’s not going to let them get the money without a fight to the finish.”
Making Evil Dead, his first full-length feature, with Raimi and Tapert’s guidance was an unforgettable experience, says Alvarez. “So we decided to do it again. Sam has been a great mentor. He is not just a great director and producer. He is really a fanboy himself with a firm grasp of his audience.”
Raimi says Alvarez is not only a visionary director, but a consummate collaborator as well. “He possesses a rare combination of great storytelling instincts and the craftsmanship to execute his ideas,” says the prolific filmmaker, whose directing credits include the blockbuster Spider-Man trilogy as well as A Simple Plan, Drag Me to Hell, and the original Evil Dead Trilogy. “When he brought us this project, we jumped at the opportunity to work with him again. From the beginning, Fede had a distinct vision of an edgy, character-driven thriller for a modern audience. And introducing a blind character opened doors for him to build tension through both visuals and sound design.”
Alvarez and his co-writer, Rodo Sayagues, set out to script a movie that was nail-bitingly suspenseful, but without an abundance of blood or gore. “Horror is a genre that I love,” the director says. “But this is more complex. The scares are one hundred percent based on the situation and on things that could really happen. To me, that’s much more frightening.”
The script’s three fully fleshed-out protagonists appealed to executive producer Mathew Hart. “They are each at a dead end and desperate to change their lives,” he says. “That leads them to a house where they believe there is enough money to help them do that. In a sense it’s a morality play about decision making set in a great thriller environment.”
None of the characters is completely admirable, and that is by design, says Alvarez. “I don’t like it when filmmakers force me to pick a side. A lot of the stories I see are very manipulative. I don’t need to be spoon-fed who is good or bad. Let me choose who I like. We show you an array of characters and let you decide. No one is a saint here. Everyone has shady motives. You have to pick the one that you connect with.”
Working with a co-writer with skills that complemented Alvarez’s was key to the creative process. The director estimates that he and Sayagues agree about 50 percent of the time. “That means that another 50 percent we do not, which works great for us. He goes places I would never think of and vice versa. That creates unique material. I create order and he brings in the anarchy. The goriest, most over-the-top moments always come from Rodo.”
Alvarez’ collaborators all agree that the filmmaker gives every idea due consideration. “Because he is also the writer, he knows the beats of the story intimately,” says Hart. “He seems to effortlessly get the right performances out of the cast, and he’s never indecisive or unsure. But he welcomes input and quite often will incorporate other people’s ideas. And he is always very quick to give credit. It’s a great environment to work in.
Directed by Fede Alvarez
Written by Fede Alvarez & Rodo Sayagues
Produced by Sam Raimi Rob Tapert Fede Alvarez
Executive Producers Nathan Kahane Joe Drake Erin Westerman J.R. Young Mathew Hart
Cast Jane Levy Dylan Minnette Daniel Zovatto and Stephen Lang
The film has a running time of 88 minutes.
This film is rated R by the MPAA for the following reasons: terror, violence, disturbing content, and language including sexual references.
I love high-octane, breakneck-paced flicks as much as the next guy, but there's also a place in my heart for a good slow burn suspense yarn with the smoky sheen of a modern noir. Like BLOOD IN THE WATER (2015), for example.
The Cummings brothers, writer-directors Orson and Ben, have given their film a smart but not too complicated script and a keenly modern yet almost art deco visual sensibility that I think will age well.
Not only that, but the performances are as fun to watch as they are capable. Willa Holland (LEGION, STRAW DOGS) and Alex Russell (CHRONICLE, CARRIE) star as Veronica and Percy, a young unmarried couple who have been house-sitting in the most amazing contemporary mansion in the Hollywood Hills with a swimming pool and a to-die-for view of Los Angeles.
But shortly before they're scheduled to leave and return to New York, a mutual friend named Freegood (Miguel Gómez, THE DOMINO EFFECT) shows up to catch up on old times.
Two important historical tidbits: Freegood is not only Veronica's ex-boyfriend, but he holds an old debt over Percy on which he has come to collect. And as you might guess, it involves drugs, guns, bad guys, lots of ill-gained cash, and the fact that Percy was a chemistry major.
That the film begins with Freegood having been murdered and a naggingly inquisitive detective named Cortez (David S. Lee) interrogating a battered Veronica and Percy about it lets us know that things didn't go so well the night before.
Blood does indeed flow in that womblike pool (the cradle of life and death?) before this yarn is done, but just whose it is and how it happens is what keeps the viewer on edge while watching BLOOD IN THE WATER.
Romantic tensions reach a fever pitch--suffice it to say that Freegood definitely has designs on Veronica, who begins to doubt her commitment to Percy--while suspense builds throughout Percy's harrowing brush with the dark illicit drug culture of L.A.
Dialogue is sharply-written and never overly cute or quirky, and the Cummings brothers know how to direct pleasing visuals that have a nice flow to them. While most of the story takes place in that one location, it never drags or gets boring.
Best of all, BLOOD IN THE WATER has a nifty little surprise ending that resolves the story in satisfying fashion without the need for a mind-blowing twist or final burst of action. Like a stiff drink, it feels good going down and then gives you a warm glow in the pit of your stomach.
Limited Theatrical & Digital Release 8/26/16 Will be available on iTunes, Amazon, DirecTV, Time Warner Cable, Comcast Xfinity, Vudu, Hoopla, Google Play, etc. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BloodintheWaterMovie/
Fans can fully immerse themselves in “The Force Awakens” through breathtaking 3D, new bonus features and collectible packaging!
BURBANK, Calif. (August 10, 2016) — This fall, Star Wars fans around the world, will experience a galaxy far, far away—up close and in eye-popping 3D—through the highly anticipated “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” 3D Collector’s Edition, rolling out beginning Oct. 31 and arriving in the United States and Canada on Nov 15.
For the first time—and just in time for the holidays—viewers can bring home Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in 3D, encased in stunning, collectible packaging. The exclusive four-disc 3D Collector’s Edition contains the original theatrical release on Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray™, Digital HD and DVD, along with originally released bonus features and brand-new bonus material, including additional deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes conversations with cast and crew and revealing, never-before released audio commentary by director J.J. Abrams*.
*Collector’s Edition configuration may vary by territory
Upon its debut last December, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” received rave reviews from both critics and audiences, and shattered box office records with over $936 million domestic and $2 billion worldwide. The film has since been nominated for five Academy Awards® and took home the BAFTA Award for Special Visual Effects. “The Force Awakens” re-ignited the Star Wars franchise and fans eagerly await the next installment, arriving in theaters Dec. 2017, as well as the first in a series of standalone films, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” premiering on Dec. 16, 2016.
Bonus features include*: 3D COLLECTOR’S EDITION BONUS FEATURES: ⦁ Audio Commentary with J.J. Abrams – Enter the mind of visionary director J.J. Abrams as he reveals the creative and complex choices made while developing the first film in the new Star Wars trilogy. ⦁ Foley: A Sonic Tale – Foley artists, consisting of old pros and new talent, unite to bring the world of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” alive through the matching of sound to action. ⦁ Sounds of the Resistance – Hear how the epic sound design of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” moves the Star Wars legacy forward. ⦁ Deleted Scenes – View never-before-shared scenes that didn’t make the film’s final cut. ⦁ Dressing the Galaxy – Costume Designer Michael Kaplan reveals how the costumes of the original Star Wars movies were re-envisioned for a new generation. ⦁ The Scavenger and the Stormtrooper: A Conversation with Daisy Ridley and John Boyega – The two new stars share the thrill of working together on the adventure of a lifetime and becoming part of the Star Wars legacy. ⦁ Inside the Armory – Take a fascinating tour through the design and creation of the weaponry in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” ⦁ Classic Bonus Features – These offerings from the April release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” include the complete story behind the making of the film, an unforgettable cast table read, insights from legendary composer John Williams and deleted scenes, as well as features that dig deeper into the creation of new characters such as BB-8, the design of the climactic lightsaber battle between Rey and Kylo Ren, the film’s remarkable digital artistry and the Star Wars: Force for Change global aid initiative.
* Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer. New bonus content is available in the 3D Collector’s Edition package only.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” 3D Collector’s Edition global release dates include: Australia Nov. 9 Holland Oct. 31 Spain Nov. 2 Brazil Nov. 16 Italy Nov. 2 Sweden Oct. 31 France Oct. 31 United Kingdom Oct. 31 Germany Nov. 24 United States & Canada Nov. 15
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” saw the eagerly anticipated reteaming of original Star Wars stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill, along with Anthony Daniels, the only actor to have been in all seven Star Wars films, and Peter Mayhew. The returning cast was joined by newcomer Daisy Ridley, who beat out fierce competition to take the principal role of Rey; BAFTA Rising Star Award winner John Boyega (“Attack the Block,” “Imperial Dreams”) as reluctant stormtrooper Finn; Emmy® nominee Adam Driver (“Lincoln,” “Girls”) as the villainous Kylo Ren, and Golden Globe® winner Oscar Isaac (“Inside Llewyn Davis,” “The Bourne Legacy”) as Resistance pilot Poe Dameron.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt. Lucasfilm president and eight-time Academy Award® nominee Kathleen Kennedy and J.J. Abrams, along with his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, are the film’s producers.
Having established a musical legacy with his iconic scores for the previous six films in the Star Wars saga, acclaimed composer John Williams returned to score “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” ultimately garnering his 50th Oscar® nomination for it.
DISC SPECIFICATIONS: FEATURE RUN TIME: Approximately 136 min. RATING: PG-13 in U.S.; PG in CE; G in CF ASPECT RATIO: Blu-ray Feature Film = 2.40:1 DVD Feature Film = 2.40:1 AUDIO: Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks DVD = English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio Language Tracks LANGUAGES: English, French & Spanish SUBTITLES: English SDH, French & Spanish
ABOUT “STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS”: Lucasfilm and visionary director J.J. Abrams join forces to take you back again to a galaxy far, far away as Star Wars returns to the big screen with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The screenplay is written by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt.
ABOUT LUCASFILM LTD. Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company's activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.
ABOUT DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE (DMA): Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) is an engaging and family-friendly cloud-based digital movie service that makes it simple to buy your favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies once and watch them anywhere. With DMA you can explore Disney’s library of over 450 eligible digital movies, discover hours of new and exclusive short-form content, and watch your digital movies from the comfort of the living room or across multiple mobile devices. You can add the free DMA app to a multitude of devices including iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android mobile phones and tablets, Android TV, Amazon’s Fire tablets, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Roku, and Xbox 360. Then, connect your DMA account with participating providers including iTunes, Amazon Video, VUDU, Google Play, and Microsoft Movies & TV and your eligible movies will be shared across all your connected platforms. In addition, you can redeem Digital Copy codes found in Disney, Pixar and Marvel Blu-rays and DVDs, as well as earn Disney Movie Rewards points with every digital purchase.
ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS: For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!
"Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse" Shakes Up the Austin Film Festival This October Comedy Duo Stars Alongside Barry Bostwick, Armin Shimerman, Jonathan Silverman, Janet Varney, Harry Groener, Kirsten Vangsness
"Impending doom will be a hoot." - Nerdist "The apocalypse just got 100% funnier." - The Mary Sue
Los Angeles, CA - Diani & Devine Productions is honored to announce the world premiere of their latest feature, Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse, at the Austin Film Festival this October. The premier film festival recognizing writers' and filmmakers' contributions to film, television, and new media, AFF recently unveiled the first slate of films included in the 2016 lineup.
Written by and starring Gabriel Diani and Etta Devine (The Selling, "Huck Finn [Robotic Edition]"), Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse is a catastrophic comedy about two struggling comedians who discover that surviving the end of the world is almost as difficult as surviving Hollywood.
Barry Bostwick (Rocky Horror Picture Show, "Spin City"), Harry Groener ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Dear John), Arye Gross ("Castle"), Robert Pine ("CHiPs"), Armin Shimerman ("Star Trek: Deep Space 9," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Jonathan Silverman (Weekend at Bernie's), Amir Talai (Harold & Kumar, Kung Fu Panda), Janet Varney ("The Legend of Korra", "Burning Love," "Key and Peele") and Kirsten Vangsness ("Criminal Minds") round out the cast of this end of the world laugh riot.
Two comedians. One apocalypse. When all power and communication systems mysteriously shut off, down on their luck comedians Gabriel Diani and Etta Devine pack up their things and hit the road in search of a safe haven to wait out the possible extinction event. Accompanied by their trusty dog Watson and their miserable cat Mrs. Peel, the duo must struggle against the mundane realities of the collapse of civilization while retaining their decency and rationality as the rest of humanity starts getting really, really weird.
Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse (Official Trailer)
"We are thrilled to be making our world premiere at the Austin Film Festival," stated producer/actor Etta Devine. "We are excited to attend the festival and experience all that it has to offer, including Migas tacos, we can't forget the tacos."
Gabriel Diani and Etta Devine are award-winning filmmakers, actors, and writers. Their first film, The Selling, premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival, played at over 30 film festivals, was in the Top 10 of About.com's Best Horror Movies of 2012, and received rave reviews from The Huffington Post, Ain't It Cool News, and Filmthreat. Written by Diani, the duo produced and starred in the feature. In addition to Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse, the comedy pair have recently recorded voices for the popular cartoon "Bee and Puppycat."
Blood Father stars Mel Gibson as John Link, an ex-convict who fights to protect his estranged daughter from the drug cartel that is hunting her down. In this thrilling action film, John must use his connections from his past life and his skills as an ex-criminal to keep him and his daughter alive. Blood Father also stars Erin Moriarty, Diego Luna, Michael Parks, and William H. Macy. Blood Father will be released by Lionsgate Premiere in theaters August 12, 2016.
Lionsgate Premiere presents in association with Why Not Productions and Wild Bunch, a Wild Bunch and Why Not Productions film.
John Link (Mel Gibson) hasn't seen his daughter Lydia in years. He keeps her "MISSING" poster on the wall of his shabby RV, part memento and part talisman. The broken down RV is his home; it’s also his tattoo parlor, where he uses one of his more legal skills to try and make a living. He's two years sober, one year out of prison and, as he tells his AA group and AA Sponsor Kirby (William H. Macy), all he can do about his regrets is not drink. John’s daughter, Lydia (Erin Moriarty), has been living off-the-radar and off-the-map ever since she ran away from home years ago. These days, she’s girlfriend to cartel member Jonah (Diego Luna), and her life is a blur of feel-good drugs and bad behavior. Jonah operates stash houses where straight-seeming people rent homes and store cash and product in the walls.
While visiting one of his stash houses, Jonah tries to force Lydia to go from accomplice to accessory by making her hold the stash house's occupants at gunpoint and telling her that murdering the residents on his order will prove her obedience. A slip of the trigger finger means that a bad situation becomes worse, forcing Lydia to run from Jonah's lieutenants and employers both.
When Lydia calls John from a pay phone in Santa Monica with fear in her voice and asking for help after years of unexplained absence, he's scared – and desperate to help. Once John picks up Lydia, takes her in, and ransacks her things to find her pack loaded with guns and bullets and drugs, he's even more scared for Lydia – and himself. However, the chance to reunite with his daughter, even in the current circumstances of danger that could destroy them both, is too important for John to not take the risk.
Soon, it becomes apparent that Lydia is in more than just trouble, as Jonah’s underlings find her and riddle John's trailer with bullets. Running for their lives, Lydia and John realize that there's also a Cartel hitman with fearsome skills and dark intent on their tail.
John reaches out to old criminal confederates Arturo Rios (Miguel Sandoval), a Mexican ganglord he knew in jail, as well as a Preacher (Michael Parks) who moonlit as a biker gang leader with a lucrative sideline in selling Nazi memorabilia, for help and guidance against the Cartel. John and Lydia grow closer in the high-stakes context of their flight from danger even as their long-hoped-for reunion seems more and more like a gauntlet of violence with no escape. When Lydia is finally captured by the Cartel chasing her, John will need every bit of the man he is, both past and present, to try and rescue the daughter he barely knows from death.
The director of photography is Robert Gantz, ASC (Mindhunters, Assault on Precinct 13). Production design is by Robb Wilson King (MacGruber, Rush Hour). Editing is by Steven Rosenblum, ACE (Braveheart, Get the Gringo). Costume design is by Terry Anderson (Inception, A Million Ways to Die in the West). The original music is composed by Sven Faulconer (The Huntsman: Winter's War, Nightcrawler), with music supervision by Bruce Gilbert. Casting by Carmen Cuba, CSA (The Martian, Stranger Things). Lionsgate Premiere presents in association with Why Not Productions and Wild Bunch, a Wild Bunch and Why Not Productions film, Blood Father.
Watch the Trailer
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
CRIME AND FAMILY
For director Jean-François Richet, Blood Father isn't just another crime film. Adapted from Peter Craig's novel, screenwriters Craig and Andrea Berloff write a thriller that takes on deeper meaning and more desperate stakes. Ex-con-in-recovery John Link (Mel Gibson) gets an unexpected reunion with his long-lost daughter Lydia (Erin Moriarty) as she runs for her life from the cross-border drug runners and cartel killers her dealer boyfriend works with. Can the father Lydia barely knows protect her? And can John trust a daughter in danger who he hasn’t seen in years?
According to director Richet, the dynamic between John and Lydia – a repentant father trying to atone for his sins and a daughter whose committed crimes she can't conceive of how to put right – is the core of the film: "The dramatic conflict between father and daughter was already in place, because of the different backgrounds to which they belong."
Actress Erin Moriarty, explains the plot as a re-connection between two people who don't really know each other at all but still feel a fierce need to try and protect each other. "Blood Father is about a young woman, Lydia, and her estranged father, Link, coming together under disastrous circumstances. Upon meeting her, Lydia is a strung out, trouble-seeking teenager who is a witness to a brutal murder. Link, an ex-con and former Hell's Angel, is just gaining stability in his life with his newfound sobriety and tattoo parlor business when Lydia enters to shake things up. Lydia's tumultuous relationship with her mother causes her to initially see her father as her only hope – however, I think subconsciously she also knows that her father is the only person who she can connect with, and vice versa. She's whip-smart and extremely curious – both attributes that she gets from her dad. The circumstances of the movie force the two to develop a fierce bond, one that may have otherwise gone unfound."
The gulf between John Link and his daughter – a man who has forsaken drugs and a young woman inescapably tangled up in selling them – is incredibly stark in the film; Richet, for his part, saw it as an important part of accurately filming the novel. "I read the novel before I read the script. I'd found it amazing as it portrayed a shaken America, wealthy kids indulging in drugs and orgies, and the glamorization of gangster rule – as opposed to working-class America, to people who work hard to feed their kids, to immigrant workers picking oranges, to the Link character who finds redemption through work."
WORKING WITH MEL GIBSON
Mel Gibson plays John Link and for Richet, working with Gibson turned out to be a revelation, with hard work in the present moment erasing even Gibson's impressive prior work. As Richet observes, despite Gibson's iconic past playing hard-bitten loners in desert settings fighting to survive, "Mad Max never, ever, crossed my mind during the making of the film. I agree that there must in fact be similarities – the film takes place in the desert, you can see bikes and cars – but had it not been for Mel, no one would have linked the two. What makes you think about it is the fact that most of us have grown up watching Mad Max and Lethal Weapon. I've rarely worked with someone so humble and self-composed."
Richet explains that even though he admires Gibson’s directorial work, that didn’t get in the way of a good working relationship: "To me, Mel is one of the greatest living filmmakers – he's up there on my list of top directors along with Michael Mann. And yet he never interfered with my work. As far as I'm concerned, I always try to be on talking terms with cast members. I would be stupid not to embrace what actors have to say – whenever it's relevant. I hate the idea that a director only has to press a button or that he’s directing traffic."
Richet may have hired Gibson as an actor, but over time he gained a very real sense of appreciation for Gibson's working process in the moment – and the filmmaking insights his star suggested and worked to find. "Mel is only interested in one thing, and in the end it’s the most important thing – what drives the character in each and every scene. That's why he is a great actor and that's why he is a great director. He can't be bothered with trifles – all he thinks about is the character's deep motivations. Mel has such an acute sense of drama. We changed the whole ending an hour before we shot it when Mel got the impression it didn't feel right. We then sat down with Mel and Peter Craig. Mel churned out a hundred ideas a minute; he's like Vincent Cassel (the star of Richet's Mesrine Parts 1 & 2) – he's the same kind of animal. They bring everything down to the character's motivations: That's the key to good drama."
Newcomer Erin Moriarty, for her part, also notes that when Mel Gibson was on-set her own intimidation factor disappeared in the face of her co-star's openness and the desire to play the best possible version of the scene: "One of the most common questions I'm asked regarding my experience with Mel was the level of intimidation I felt throughout the process. The only intimidation I felt was during the time between booking the role and meeting him in New Mexico. As soon as we started working on set together, the intimidation dissipated a lot quicker than I had expected. Mel's combination of having decades of experience as an actor and his tremendous talent for directing lends itself to his ability to sense what an actor needs from him, scene by scene. For example, there were scenes in which he would intentionally surprise me with a new choice in his own performance to garner a more organic response in mine. He would adjust himself according to what I needed without sacrificing his own performance. I felt such a major sense of gratitude for him coming out of the film."
BLOOD FATHER LIONSGATE PREMIERE
Genre: Action Rating: Rated R for strong violence, language throughout and brief drug use. U.S. Release Date: August 12, 2016 Run Time: 90 minutes
Cast: Mel Gibson, Erin Moriarty, Diego Luna, Michael Parks and William H. Macy
