CENTRAL PARK -- Movie Review by Porfle

Another group of annoying teens is stalked by another mysterious slasher in another forest, but this time the forest is in CENTRAL PARK (2017) and the teens are even more annoying, and dumber, than usual.

Of course, the fact that they're so annoying and their antics and dialogue so insipid actually helps the film's realism.  As for "dumb", well--they're in the heart of New York City and they still can't manage to get through to 911 on their cell phones when the gore hits the blade.

The reason they're in Central Park in the first place is to help cheer up their friend Harold (Justiin A. Davis), whose father has been caught bilking people out of about three billion dollars, throwing his family and his whole life into chaos.

Thus, time for a friendly get-together around the campfire with a few illicit substances and, since the group consists of three couples, some harmless hanky-panky.
   
But first, the exposition, and CENTRAL PARK takes its sweet time introducing us to all the characters and showing what daily high school life is like for them--a little getting in trouble with teacher in English class, a little girl talk in the girls' room, and, for Harold, some really hurtful taunting about his criminal dad.

By the time they finally make it into the park, we're about ready for a break, too.  And after some extended chit-chat, including a tense game of "Truth or Dare", first-time writer/director Justin Reinsilber brings on the carnage and doesn't let up.

 

Everything's complicated by a subplot in which a woman who lives nearby enlists her ex-husband, a plainclothes cop, to help locate her current husband who's missing after taking a bike ride into the park. 

Gorehounds may be disappointed, since much of the violence is implied (unless you count some quick shots of a guy on fire and a glimpse of a blade protruding from someone's mouth) and there really isn't that much of the old wet stuff to be seen.

The killer himself turns out to be rather intriguing after a surprise reveal late in the story in which we learn both identity and motive.  As for his victims, the more likable ones go first (that's purely subjective, of course) leaving us to rather enjoy watching the rest of them get picked off.

And speaking of "dumb" again, the first time they stumble across a body they all go screaming off into the dark woods in different directions, alone, making themselves perfect targets for the killer to dispose of at his leisure.  His techniques, we discover, are fairly ordinary as far as stalker/slashers go.

CENTRAL PARK itself is pretty standard, old-school stuff of the kind one might have rented on VHS (video stores used to be full of titles like this) or watched on Cinemax back in the 80s.  Nothing special, but perfectly passable entertainment for undemanding genre fans with some time to kill.


Premieres at Dances With Films Saturday, June 3, 2017
TCL Chinese 6
11:45 pm
6801 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028

Tickets:  https://danceswithfilms.com/central-park/

"SOUL ON A STRING" Available on VOD June 6th

FILM MOVEMENT RELEASES ZHANG YANG’S SOUL ON A STRING (PI SHENG SHANG DE HUN / 皮绳上的魂) ON VOD JUNE 6TH

“Visually stunning….The landscape of Tibet has rarely looked so striking.” – David D'Arcy, Screen Daily

May 26, 2017 (New York, NY) Film Movement, the New York-based distributor of independent, foreign and documentary films, is pleased to announce that Zhang Yang’s “Tibetan Western,” SOUL ON A STRING, will be available on cable VOD on June 6th.

SOULSOUL ON A STRING is a film about a young Tibetan wanderer’s journey to return a sacred stone to its holy origins. Director Zhang Yang (PATHS OF THE SOUL) serves up “picturesque visuals, highland-dry humor, and karmic plot twists,” notes Variety, in a film that has been described as a “Tibetan Western.”  Also called “a panoramic masterpiece (Willamette Week); “a beautiful and thought-provoking work” (The Skinny), and “richly textured” and “breathtaking” (Hey U Guys), SOUL ON A STRING won the award for Best Cinematography at the 2016 Shanghai International Film Festival.

After discovering a sacred stone in the mouth of a slain deer, Taibei, a young Tibetan wanderer, embarks on a mission to bring it back to the holy mountain of Buddha’s handprint. His journey proves to be long and difficult as black market traders seek the priceless artifact for themselves and two brothers – Kodi and Guori – seek revenge for the murder of their father. Joining him on the journey is an obstinate woman, Joan, and a psychic elf, Pu, but the trio’s earthly conflict is suddenly thrown off course by strange and mystical events.

Holdover on-demand programming in June will also include APPRENTICE, Singapore’s 2016 Academy Award submission directed by emerging Asian talent Junfeng Boo.  The critically acclaimed thriller about capital punishment was called “One of 2017’s real foreign language highlights” by Josh Brunsting of Criterion Cast.

SOUL ON A STRING will be available on June 6th on cable VOD providers Comcast, Charter Spectrum, Time Warner Spectrum, Cox Communications, Verizon and other providers.  The film will be available for digital VOD on September 12th via partners like iTunes, Amazon and Vudu.

New to On Demand this Month:
SOUL ON A STRING -- premieres June 6th, 2017– View Trailer
Directed by Zhang Yang. Written by Tashi Dawa and Zhang Yang. Produced by Zhang Yang. Starring Kimba, Qui Ciren, and Siano Dudiom. China. Drama. A Film Movement Release.

Holdover Title on Cable and Digital VOD:
APPRENTICE – View Trailer
Directed and written by Junfeng Boo. Produced by Fran Borgia, Raymond Phathanavirangoon and Fong Cheng Tan. Starring Firdaus Rahman, Wan Hanafi Su and Mastura Ahmad. Singapore. Thriller. A Film Movement Release.

About Film Movement
Celebrating its 15th year, Film Movement is a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City.  Film Movement has released more than 250 feature films and shorts culled from prestigious film festivals worldwide, and last year it had its first Academy Award-nominated film, Naji Abu Nowar’s THEEB. Film Movement’s theatrical distribution strategy has evolved to include promising American independent films, documentaries, and an even stronger slate of foreign art house titles.  Its catalog includes titles by directors such as Hirokazu Koreeda, Maren Ade, Jessica Hausner, Andrei Konchalovsky, Andrzej Wajda, Diane Kurys, Ciro Guerra and Melanie Laurent. In 2015, Film Movement launched its reissue label Film Movement Classics, featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on Blu-ray and DVD, including films by such noted directors as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway, Bille August, Marleen Gorris, Takeshi Kitano, Arturo Ripstein, and Ettore Scola. For more information, please visit www.filmmovement.com.

"A CURE FOR WELLNESS" - Available on Blu-ray & DVD June 6th

WELCOME TO THE CURE, IT’S WONDERFUL HERE

“Gore Verbinski has created a ravishing spectacle” –Kyle Smith, New York Post

Gore Verbinski’s Visually Stunning, Critically Acclaimed Psychological Thriller
A CURE FOR WELLNESS Arrives on Digital HD May 30 and on Blu-ray™ & DVD June 6

From the director of The Ring comes this psychological thriller and “fantastically creepy experience” (Kyle Smith, New York Post) about an ambitious young executive sent to retrieve his company’s CEO from a remote and mysterious “wellness center.”  When he begins to unravel the retreat’s terrifying secrets, his sanity is tested, as he finds himself diagnosed with the same curious illness that keeps all the guests there longing for the cure.

 

Featuring hauntingly mesmerizing performances from Dane DeHaan (Chronicle), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter films) and Mia Goth (Everest), the Blu-ray and DVD includes a deleted sequence, a behind-the-scenes look at the scoring of the film and individual meditations from the wellness center.

Digital HD, Blu-ray & DVD Special Features Include
⦁    Deleted Sequence: “It’s Wonderful Here”
⦁    Meditations
⦁    Water is the Cure
⦁    Air is the Cure
⦁    Earth is the Cure
⦁    The Score
⦁    Trailers
⦁    Theatrical trailer
⦁    Red Band trailer
⦁    International trailer

A CURE FOR WELLNESS Disc Specifications
Street Date:         June 6, 2017
Prebook Date:    May 3, 2017
Screen Format:     Widescreen 16:9 (1.78:1)
Audio:         English 7.1 DTS-HD-MA / Spanish 5.1 DD / French 5.1 DD (Blu-ray)
English 5.1 DD / Spanish 2.0 Surround DD / French 2.0 Surround DD (DVD)
Subtitles:        English / French / Spanish (Blu-ray & DVD)
Total Run Time:    Approximately 146 minutes
Rating:        R
Closed Captioned:     Yes

 

ABOUT TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film. TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions as well as all third party distribution partners on DVD, Blu-ray™, 4K Ultra HD, Digital HD, and VOD (video-on-demand). Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets and digital stores throughout the world.

Enter the Mind of a Madman with the Psychological Thriller "WICHITA" on DVD/Digital HD from Candy Factory Films 6/20

SOMETHING PSYCHO THIS WAY COMES...

A CHILDREN'S TV DIRECTOR SPIRALS INTO INSANITY IN A DARK PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FROM CANDY FACTORY FILMS

WICHITA

Street Date: June 20, 2017

A Provocative Play on the Horror Genre, this Official Selection of the
Santa Fe Film Festival Will be Available on DVD and Digital HD Platforms Including iTunes, Amazon and Google Play

Official WICHITA Trailer


PROGRAM SYNOPSIS
Something psycho this way comes in the deep, suspenseful psychological thriller, WICHITA.  When Jeb (Trevor Peterson) leads a writing retreat to Aspen with a team of young writers intending to save his failing kids' TV show, it becomes a new opportunity for his hidden cameras - and hidden rage. 

This Official Selection of the 2016 Santa Fe Film Festival will be available on DVD and Digital HD on June 20, only from Candy Factory Films.

Directed by Matthew Ward and Justyn Ah Chong, and starring Peterson (Sky), Caitlin Gerard (The Social Network, Magic Mike) and Persia White ("The Vampire Diaries"), WICHITA explores the pain of a modern mass killer on a frighteningly familiar level.  As the voyeuristic director struggles to find dignity in a cruel world that has alienated him to the point of no return, this taut, provocative play on the horror genre leads to a disturbing, emotional climax.

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Type: DVD//Digital HD (iTunes, Amazon, Google Play) 
Running Time: 85 mins.
Rating: N/A
Genre: Horror
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audio: 5.1 Surround Sound

 

 

About Candy Factory Films
Candy Factory Films is a forward-thinking, filmmaker-friendly multimedia company dedicated to producing and distributing high impact, unique and compelling films.  Embracing emerging distribution trends to successfully promote releases, Candy Factory is at the forefront of a new vanguard of independent distributors maximizing profit by reaching distinct audiences in numerous ways.  With a catalog stocked with award-winning and acclaimed films across every genre, they're committed to creating and fostering communities around independent and progressive cinema.  Avenues for distribution include all leading digital platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, iTunes and the national Video on Demand platform on cable television.

"BLACK BUTTERFLY" - Now Playing In Theaters, On Demand and Digital HD

"BLACK BUTTERFLY"
LIONSGATE PREMIERE

Watch the Trailer

Outside a mountain town grappling with a series of abductions and murders, Paul (Antonio Banderas), a reclusive writer, struggles to start what he hopes will be a career-saving screenplay.

After a tense encounter at a diner with a drifter named Jack (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), Paul offers Jack a place to stay – and soon the edgy, demanding Jack muscles his way into Paul’s work. As a storm cuts off power to the isolated cabin, the two men begin a jagged game of one-upmanship that will bring at least one tale to an end.  

Antonio Banderas ( Desperado , Haywire , The Skin I Live In ), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Match Point , Mission: Impossible III , “The Tudors”) and Piper Perabo ( The Prestige , Looper ) star in this riveting adaptation of the acclaimed French thriller, Papillon Noir . Directed by Brian Goodman and written for the screen by Justin Stanley & Marc Frydman, BLACK BUTTERFLY will be in theaters and on demand on May 26th.

 

 

 #BlackButterfly
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Genre:     Thriller  
Rating:  Rated R for language
U.S. Release Date:   May 26, 2017 (In Theaters and On Demand)
Run Time:   93 minutes 

Cast:  Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Piper Perabo 

Directed by: Brian Goodman  Screenplay by:  Justin Stanley & Marc Frydman  Produced by: Silvio Muraglia, Andrea Iervolino, Monika Bacardi, Alexandra Klim, Marc Frydman, Rod Lurie, Alberto Burgueño, Juan Antonio García Peredo

"BEING BLACK ENOUGH OR (HOW TO KILL A BLACK MAN)" Premieres at Dances With Films June 10th

Devin Rice's Being Black Enough Premieres at Dances With Films
World Premiere at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres June 10th
   
Los Angeles, CA - Devin Rice Studios is honored to announce the World Premiere of Devin Rice's Being Black Enough or (How to Kill a Black Man) at the 20th Dances With Films Festival.  Based on writer-director-star Devin Rice's youth in Los Angeles, the semi-autobiographical drama touches on what it means to "be Black", how race is seen through the eyes of different people and groups and the consequences of these perspectives.  Being Black Enough will premiere at Dances With Films at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters June 10th.

On the genesis of his directorial debut, Rice said, "Being Black Enough is a very personal film, laced with my own life experience. All throughout my childhood, even up to today, I was made fun of for not being 'Black Enough'. This, based on the clothes I've worn, the way I speak, my interests in life. Not just from White or Black people, but from people from all walks of life. Everyone seems to have this idea of what it means to be 'Black'. This unspoken thing that's understood all throughout America. It's like self-perpetuating slavery without chains."

 

Rice felt the need to make this project after he saw the increasing news coverage of Black men being shot by the police. "It made me frustrated and very angry...What if that was me who got shot by the police?" Shortly after Rice wrote the script and he and his producing partner Jacqueline Corcos crowdfunded the film. They ended up making it for a meager budget and wore nearly all the filmmaking hats themselves, inspired by films like El Mariachi and Clerks.

Tickets:  https://danceswithfilms.com/being-black-enough/

Dances With Films:
Saturday, June 10, 2017
TCL Chinese 6
7:15 pm
6801 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028

A young Black man, raised in a predominantly white neighborhood and ridiculed for not being "Black enough", decides to go to the hood to hang out with his gangster cousin and discover what it really means to be "Black." He eventually faces the harsh realities of gang violence, drugs and police confrontation.

Watch the Trailer

Take the Bus "FROM HOLLYWOOD TO ROSE" in Theaters June 16th

"From Hollywood to Rose" Takes the Bus to Beverly Hills
Festival Favorite Comedy Opens in Limited Release June 16th
   
Los Angeles, CA - Following an acclaimed run on the festival circuit, From Hollywood to Rose is making its limited theatrical release in Los Angeles.

The film world premiered at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, where it took the prize for Best Comedy Film and went on to screen at the Manhattan Film Festival, winning Best Comedic Screenplay.  From Hollywood to Rose will open in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Music Hall on June 16th for a weeklong run.

 

Eve Annenberg (writer-director of Romeo and Juliet in Yiddish) stars as the focal point of a group of interconnected eccentric strangers over the course of one long night on the LA Metro system.  Annenberg leads a talented cast of Angeleno artists, including Bradley J. Herman, Maxx Maulion, stage actress Nija Okoro, local standup Isadora O'Boto, MMA champion Krzysztof Soszynski (Logan), Linda Bisesti and Chia Chen. Liz Graham and Matt Jacobs directed from a script by Jacobs.

June 16th Theatrical Release:
Laemmle Music Hall 3
9036 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

In the city of Angels, everyone is on a quest.  A disheveled, middle-aged woman in a bridal gown boards a Metro bus on Hollywood Blvd in the middle of the night. As the bus heads further west, she meets an assortment of eccentrics and social outcasts who make her question where she's been and where she's going.  Each person she meets is at their own personal crossroads, who in turn shape the course of her bizarre journey.

Watch the Trailer

"INHERITANCE" Unlocks Dark Family Secrets in World Premiere at Dances With Films June 2nd

Tyler Savage's "Inheritance" Premieres at Dances With Films
Psychological Thriller Twists the Question of Nature vs. Nurture
World Premiere at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres June 2nd

Watch the Trailer 
   
Los Angeles, CA - Portola Pictures has announced the World Premiere of Tyler Savage's Inheritance at the 20th Dances With Films Festival.  Savage directed from his own script, putting a chilling twist on the universal feeling of being trapped by your family history, for better or worse.  He makes his feature film debut alongside executive producer Nicholas Gonda (Tree of Life), cinematographer Drew Daniels (Krisha, It Comes At Night) and producers J.P. Castel (Krisha), Dash Hawkins (Party Crashers), and Chase Joliet (It Comes at Night), who also leads the cast.  Inheritance will premiere at Dances With Films at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters June 2nd.

Joliet is joined onscreen by Sara Montez ("Pitch"), Tim Abell (Sniper: Special Ops), Kate Norby (The Devil's Rejects), Dale Dickey (Hell or High Water, "True Blood"), Krisha Fairchild (Krisha) and Drew Powell ("Gotham").  The film was shot on location along the California coast and LA-based indie pop band Mini Mansions provided the score.

 

 

 Tickets:  https://danceswithfilms.com/inheritance/

Dances With Films:
Friday, June 2, 2017
TCL Chinese 6
9:30 pm
6801 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028

Ryan Bowman has just inherited a $2.5 million beach house on the central California coast from his biological father, a man he's never known and thought long dead. Arriving in the charming town with his pregnant fiancé, Ryan's curiosity about his father soon leads him into an introspective investigation. As a looming family presence tightens its grip on him, Ryan pushes away his adoptive family and expectant fiancé. When he finally discovers the horrifying truth about his birth parents, he might be too late to stop himself from repeating a similar pattern...

Get Lost in the Trees at the World Premiere of "CENTRAL PARK" at Dances with Films June 3rd

Justin Reinsilber's "Central Park" Premieres at Dances With Films

The World's Most Famous Park Becomes a Hunting Ground
A Killer Stalks the Children of Manhattan's Elite
   
Los Angeles, CA - Feast and Bourbon Films has announced the World Premiere of Justin Reinsilber's Central Park at the 20th Dances With Films Festival.  Set and shot in the titular 843 acre park, the film stars a group of exciting young actors as the unwitting prey of a vengeful madman.  Central Park will premiere at Dances With Films at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters June 3rd.

Justiin A. Davis ("Boardwalk Empire", Catfight), Ruby Modine ("Shameless", Half to Death), Grace Van Patten (Tramps, Under the Silver Lake), Malika Samuel ("Orange is the New Black", "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"), Guillermo Arribas (The Awakening, Preppie Connection) and Deema Aitken (The Sisterhood of Night, Nerve) headline the cast as privileged teens blowing off stress in the park.  Reinsilber, a long-time actor, makes his directorial debut with his own script and producing partner Melissa Chamberlain.

Tickets:  https://danceswithfilms.com/central-park/

Dances With Films:
Saturday, June 3, 2017
TCL Chinese 6
11:45 pm
6801 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028

 

 

When a New York billionaire is disgraced by the collapse of his Ponzi scheme, the devoted friends of his teenage son rally around him.  As the doors of their gilded world shut to him, they set out for an epic night in Central Park to blow off some steam. Little do they know the consequences of his father's crimes will go far beyond his client's bank accounts.  A vengeful soul waits in the trees, and the sins of the father will soon be visited on all the children with the help of a sharp blade.

"MUSTARD PANCAKES" Breaking Glass Revives Beloved Children's TV Series In Anticipation Of Full-Length Feature Release

BREAKING GLASS SERVES MUSTARD PANCAKES

Children’s Television Series VOD Roll-Out Begins This May
Feature Film Sequel to Hit-Series in Pre-Production for 2018 Release

Philadelphia, PA, May 16, 2017--Breaking Glass Pictures has acquired World Rights to the award-winning children’s series MUSTARD PANCAKES starring beloved children’s entertainer Courtney Campbell. Breaking Glass acquired World Rights to the series in a deal negotiated between Breaking Glass CEO Rich Wolff and producer Joel Wertman. Breaking Glass will be re-releasing the 39 episodes of this successful series on Amazon Prime in anticipation of the upcoming feature film revival of the concept. Breaking Glass will be bringing the entire series to market for the Marche du Film at the Cannes Film Festival.

MUSTARD PANCAKES is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Dove “Family Approved” Seal, and the Dove “Faith Approved” Seal. The show had also been rated #1 by Nielsen Ratings.

Along with Campbell, MUSTARD PANCAKES also stars Frank Meschkuleit, Trish Leeper, and Lee Armstrong The series’ production team includes Producers Karen Wong, and Executive Producers Liza Perel and Joel Wertman.

MUSTARD PANCAKES features renowned children’s entertainer Courtney Campbell, and her cat and dog puppet friends as they experience everyday life situations, and illustrate, through a gentle and humorous manner, how children can resolve or appreciate each situation. The series promotes the wonder and excitement of everyday life with positive themes and messages for young viewers.

Courtney Campbell is an award-winning singer, songwriter, master storyteller, writer, and musician. She travels world-wide giving concerts and workshops for children, families, teachers, and parents. Courtney is also the creator, co-writer, and star of the award-winning children's TV/DVD series Mustard Pancakes.

“We are extremely happy to bring Mustard Pancakes to the digital community after its successful run on PBS”, said Rich Wolf, CEO of Breaking Glass. “A new generation of young fans will delight in the songs and antics of the characters. A MP feature film is in development which will have a theatrical launch.”

“Mustard Pancakes has always been, and continues to be to this day, a labor of love”, said producer Joel Wertman. “The goal of this series is to make a difference in the lives of children, and I am proud to bring this venerable series to a new generation.”

Saturn Awards Special Achievement Citations Unveiled -- Lee Majors ("Six Million Dollar Man") Among Honorees

Lee Majors, Akiva Goldsman, Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, KJ Apa and Heavy Metal Magazine                    
Special Honorees at The 43rd Annual Saturn Awards!


LOS ANGELES – May 23, 2017 – The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films today announces special achievement awards to be presented at the 43rd Annual Saturn Awards in June along with the best and brightest in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror motion pictures and television.

This year the Life Career Award will be presented to TV’s legendary “Six Million Dollar Man” himself, Lee Majors.  In this era of omnipresent superheroes, Lee Majors’ Colonel Steve Austin was ahead of his time, The Fall Guy continued his Hollywood bounty hunting, and his star power continues to shine on the hit Starz TV show “Ash Vs Evil Dead.”

Writer/director/producer Akiva Goldsman is recipient of this year’s Visionary Award.  Goldsman has written such blockbuster films as: “I, Robot,” “Cinderella Man,” “I Am Legend,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “Angels & Demons,” “Insurgent,” the Oscar-winning “A Beautiful Mind” and the upcoming “The Dark Tower” and “Firestarter” (as director).   On TV, he’s worked on “Fringe,” “Childhood’s End,” WGN’s original drama series “Underground,” and the upcoming “Star Trek: Discovery” and Warner Bros. Television and DC Entertainment live action drama series “Titans.”

The Filmmakers Showcase Award will be bestowed to the dynamic writing/producing team of Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.  Together, they’ve worked on such successful genre films as: “The Hand that Rocked the Cradle,” “Relic,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “Jurassic World,” and this summer’s “War for the Planet of the Apes.”  Upcoming is Disney’s live-action “Mulan” and “Avatar 3.”

The Breakthrough Performance Award goes to KJ Apa, who stars as the iconic Archie Andrews on The CW’s hit show “Riverdale” from Berlanti Productions.   KJ’s “Archie” brings a whole new dimension to the classic Archie’s Comics character and opened up its pages to a new generation of fans. 

Receiving the Special Recognition Award will be Heavy Metal Magazine.  Celebrating its 40th Anniversary, the name “Heavy Metal” has become synonymous with cutting edge stories and art, and continues to be the world's premier illustrated magazine for science fiction, horror and Fantasy for the new millennia and beyond.

The Academy was founded in 1972 by noted film historian Dr. Donald A. Reed to honor and recognize films often overlooked by mainstream awards.  Over the years, the Academy has expanded its reach to include recognizing excellence in television and home entertainment, as well as other genres, including adventure, thriller and action. 

This year’s Saturn Awards will be presented on Wednesday June 28, in Burbank.  For a complete list of nominations and more information about the Academy, visit www.saturnawards.org, www.youtube.com/c/OfficialSaturnAwardsChannel, and @SaturnAwards1

"GILBERT" -- Gilbert Gottfried Documentary Acquired By Gravitas Ventures and Submarine For September Release

GRAVITAS VENTURES AND SUBMARINE DELUXE HAVE ACQUIRED ‘GILBERT’ FOR A SEPTEMBER THEATRICAL RELEASE AND FOURTH QUARTER RELEASE ON DEMAND AND DVD

Iconic Comedian Gilbert Gottfried Profiled in Neil Berkeley’s Documentary Which Recently Debuted At The 2017 Tribeca Film Festival

NEW YORK (May 23, 2017) — Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to Gilbert, the wildly funny and unexpectedly poignant portrait of the life and career of one of comedy's most iconic figures, Gilbert Gottfried. Coming off its critically acclaimed showing at the Tribeca Film Festival, they have slated it for a theatrical release in September as well as a VOD and DVD release in 4Q. Gottfried is joined throughout the film by a who’s who of comedy icons including Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Belzer, Lewis Black, Susie Essman, Arsenio Hall, Anthony Jeselnik and many more.

Legendary comedian Gilbert Gottfried has had quite the career. Rocketing to fame in the 1980s, he was thrust into the public consciousness almost immediately thanks to his brash personality, unique worldview, and off-kilter comic timing. Now, foul-mouthed and unapologetic after decades of flying solo in both his work and in his personal life, Gilbert has shockingly reinvented himself…as a family man.

Gilbert reveals an unexpected side to the iconic comedian. The film peeks behind the larger-than-life persona at a more personal story about growing up in Brooklyn and becoming a husband and father late in life. Gottfried’s singular outlook on life and his ability to bring humor to even the darkest situations has, at times, gotten him into trouble. Still he soldiers on, an expert craftsman at bringing his audience to the edge -- and sometimes pushing them over. Gilbert strips the comedic character away to reveal the man behind it,.

“With Gilbert, Neil Berkeley has given us access to a side seldom seen of this comedic icon,” stated Gravitas Founder and CEO Nolan Gallagher. “Watching Gottfried out of ‘character’ is surprisingly refreshing and relatable.”

Berkeley shared that "Gilbert is a labor of love made by a very small group of passionate people.  For a film like this to find a partner like Gravitas is a real thrill and we're very excited to be working with them.  Our hope has always been to make a movie that shows the world an unexpected side of Gilbert and we think Gravitas Ventures is the perfect team to help make that happen."

Gilbert is the third film from Director Neil Berkeley (Beauty Is Embarrassing, Harmontown). Berkeley produced with David Heiman, Maggie Contreras and James Andre Leche, with whom he also co-wrote. The Executive Producers are Eddie Schmidt, Clay Tweel and Bart McDonough

The deal for Gilbert was negotiated by Nolan Gallagher on behalf of Gravitas and by Josh and Ben Braun of Submarine on behalf of the filmmakers.

ABOUT GRAVITAS VENTURES
Gravitas Ventures is a leading all rights distributor of independent cinema. Founded in 2006, Gravitas connects independent filmmakers and producers with distribution opportunities across the globe. Working with more than 500 content partners, Gravitas Ventures has distributed thousands of films into over 100 million homes. Recent releases include Elián from Academy Award® winning Executive Producer Alex Gibney, Katie Holmes’ feature directorial debut, All We Had, Jonathan Hock’s Fastball, Colin Hanks’ All Things Must Pass, Being Evel from Academy Award  winning director Daniel Junge and producer Johnny Knoxville, Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of, and For The Love of Spock from Director Adam Nimoy.

For more information, please visit gravitasventures.com, and sign up for the e-newsletter, follow @GravitasVOD on Twitter and @gravitasventures on Instagram.

ABOUT SUBMARINE
Submarine Entertainment, based in New York City was founded in 1998 by twin brothers Dan and Josh Braun, has become one of the leading sales, distribution, and production companies for independent documentaries and feature films. Submarine has been involved in the sale and distribution of 5 Academy Award® winning documentaries — Citizenfour, 20 Feet From Stardom, The Cove, Man on Wire and Searching for Sugar man.

Titles sold by Submarine include Weiner, Life, Animated, Tickled, Mavis!, Dior & I, Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict, Muscle Shoals, Miss Sharon Jones!, The Music of Strangers:YoYo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, Presenting Princess Shaw, Troublemakers: the Story of Land Art, Burden: a Film about Artist Chris Burden, Finding Vivian Maier, The Wolfpack, Meru, Yayoi Kusama: a Life in Polka Dots, 3-1/2 Minutes, Best of Enemies, City of Gold, Batkid Begins, Tangerine, Nas: Time is Illmatic, Blackfish, Danny Says, Last Man on the Moon, Houston We Have a Problem, Accidental Courtesy, Lo and Behold, Zero Days, Lovers and the Despot, Cameraperson, among many others.

Submarine includes theatrical releasing & DVD imprint, Submarine Deluxe; genre label, Torpedo Pictures; a German distribution imprint with NFP Film called NFP Submarine Doks; and Submarine 360, a museum distribution imprint, and a pan-Scandinavian imprint Non-Stop Submarine. Submarine principals also represent comic book libraries Creepy and Eerie, which are being developed across all platforms. www.submarinedeluxe.com

ABOUT FUTURE YOU PICTURES
Future You Pictures is a Los Angeles based film and television production company founded in 2009 by producer/director, Neil Berkeley and executive producer, Bart McDonough.  The documentary Gilbert (2017) is the company's third feature length production following the Emmy nominated Beauty Is Embarrassing (2012) and Harmontown (2014). The company is currently developing several television and film projects.

Universal Pictures Unveils "DARK UNIVERSE" With Name, Mark, and Musical Theme For Its Classic Monster Series of Films

UNIVERSAL PICTURES UNVEILS “DARK UNIVERSE” WITH NAME, MARK AND MUSICAL THEME FOR ITS CLASSIC MONSTERS SERIES OF FILMS

Brand Logo to Debut in Theaters on The Mummy with All-New Musical Theme Composed by Four-Time Academy Award® Nominee Danny Elfman
 
Oscar® Winner Bill Condon Confirmed as Director of Bride of Frankenstein, the Next Dark Universe Film, to be Released in February 2019

Dark Universe Reshapes Enduring Cinematic Characters for Today’s Audiences

Universal City, CA, May 22, 2017—Universal Pictures announced today that its series of films reviving the studio’s classic monster characters for a new generation will be known as “Dark Universe.”  The motion logo for the new initiative features a musical theme composed by Danny Elfman and will debut in theaters preceding The Mummy, which will be released on June 9.  The announcement includes details of the enterprise relaunching Universal’s iconic characters into modern cinema, as well as confirmations of superstar cast and that Academy Award® winner Bill Condon will direct Bride of Frankenstein. 
   
Dark Universe was begun by core creatives Alex Kurtzman, who also serves as director and producer of The Mummy, the inaugural film in the new classic monster series, and The Mummy producer Chris Morgan, who recently saw The Fate of the Furious, the sixth film he wrote for the Fast & Furious franchise, claim the biggest opening in history at the global box office when it opened on April 14.  Also joining the enterprise to inspire and entertain a new generation are such visionary talents as Oscar winner® Christopher McQuarrie (Mission: Impossible series, The Usual Suspects) and David Koepp (War of the Worlds, Jurassic Park).
 

“We take enormous pride in the creativity and passion that has inspired the reimagining of Universal’s iconic monsters and promise audiences we will expand this series strategically,” said Donna Langley, Chairman, Universal Pictures.  “The enterprise masterfully developed by Chris and Alex will allow each subsequent chapter the right time to find the perfect cast, filmmakers and vision to fulfill it.  As we launch Dark Universe with Danny’s provocative theme before The Mummy and collaborate with a brilliant filmmaker like Bill to weave the story of a very modern woman in a very classic tale, we feel confident we’re off to a tremendous start.”

“When Universal approached us with the idea of reimagining these classic characters, we recognized the responsibility of respecting their legacy while bringing them into new and modern adventures,” said Kurtzman and Morgan.  “The studio and our fellow creative collaborators have championed and challenged us as we’ve begun to spin the web of Dark Universe.  It’s our hope these movies will engross longtime fans and spark the imaginations of brand-new ones.”

From his first score on Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and his iconic theme for The Simpsons—not to mention his collaborations with filmmakers including Ang Lee, David O. Russell, Sam Raimi, Rob Marshall, Guillermo del Toro, Joss Whedon and Peter Jackson—four-time Academy Award® nominee Danny Elfman’s inimitable compositions have vaulted him into one of the most versatile and accomplished composers in history. 

“I grew up on monsters,” said Elfman.  “Monsters were my life, and these iconic Universal monsters were almost like my family.  I simply wouldn’t be the same without them.  When I got the opportunity to compose a theme for the Dark Universe logo, of course I jumped at it.  What could be more fun than connecting to this world that has always been so deeply imbedded in my psyche?  I tried to find something that was new but still had some connections with the past—the origins—at least in a subtle way.  Something that was looking forward to a creative, fertile, imaginative future that Dark Universe will enter, and at the same time saluting the heritage of the tragic heroes (or anti-heroes) of my childhood.  To the Monsters!!!!” 

In another exciting development, Oscar® winner Bill Condon will follow his worldwide smash Beauty and the Beast, one of this year’s biggest hits—which crossed $1 billion at the global box office and became the most successful musical of all time—by directing Bride of Frankenstein, from a screenplay by Koepp.  The next film from Dark Universe, Bride of Frankenstein will be released on Thursday, February 14, 2019. 

In a related move, Universal announced that it will not release a Dark Universe film as previously planned for April 13, 2018, and that Bride will instead be the next chapter in the unspooling series of movies following this year’s The Mummy.  The actress chosen to play the lead role in Condon’s version of this timeless story will be announced soon.

“I’m very excited to bring a new Bride of Frankenstein to life on screen, particularly since James Whale’s original creation is still so potent,” stated Condon.  “The Bride of Frankenstein remains the most iconic female monster in film history, and that’s a testament to Whale’s masterpiece—which endures as one of the greatest movies ever made.”

Dark Universe films will be distinguished by performances from some of the most talented and popular global superstars stepping into iconic roles, as well as electric new talents whose careers are starting to break through.  While previously announced, the stars of both imminent and future Dark Universe projects are gathered for the first time in the attached photo: The Invisible Man and Frankenstein’s Monster will be played by, respectively, blockbuster icon Johnny Depp and Academy Award® winner Javier Bardem, who appear together later this summer in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.  Those actors join superstar Tom Cruise as soldier of fortune Nick Morton and Oscar® winner Russell Crowe as Dr. Henry Jekyll, who lead the all-star cast of The Mummy, along with Sofia Boutella, the actress who embodies the title role in that film.  The print-ready version of the image is available here.

For your use, Universal has also attached a rendering of the new Dark Universe logo, while the print-ready version is available here.  Both the graphic and the motion logo were created by five-time Academy Award®-winning visual effects facility Weta Digital (The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar). 

At its organizing principle, Dark Universe films are connected by a mysterious multi-national organization known as Prodigium.  Led by the enigmatic and brilliant Dr. Henry Jekyll, Prodigium’s mission is to track, study and—when necessary—destroy evil embodied in the form of monsters in our world.  Working outside the aegis of any government, and with practices concealed by millennia of secrecy, Prodigium protects the public from knowledge of the evil that exists just beyond the thin membrane of civilized society…and will go to any length to contain it.  To learn more about Dark Universe and Prodigium, visit www.DarkUniverse.com and www.WelcometoProdigium.com.

Welcome to a new world of gods and monsters.  Welcome to Dark Universe.

About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com).  Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal.  NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.  NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks.  NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

ON THE ROAD, SOMEWHERE -- DVD Review by Porfle

Three boys graduate from high school and into real life in the pleasantly diverting road-trip story ON THE ROAD, SOMEWHERE, aka "Algún lugar" (2015).  That is, they think a lot about "real life" and what they're going to do with theirs. 

Oliver (Arnold Martínez) initiates the journey because he wants to travel to where his girlfriend Veronica is visiting her grandmother before moving to the United States.  The plan is to get there in time to say goodbye and spend one last bittersweet evening with her.

His friends Moises and Hemingway come along for the fun.  Moises (Javier Grullón) wants to be a photographer so he looks forward to getting some great shots during their trip through the countryside. Hemingway (Victor Alfonso) aspires to be a writer and wants to record their story in colorful prose.

Setting off in Oliver's broken-down station wagon, they criss-cross the Dominican Republic in a slice-of-life kind of adventure that's so low-key and true-to-life that, for awhile, it seems as though not much is really happening. 

They cut up, enjoy the view (the film is very picturesque), snap photos, and meet interesting people.  Their conversations never get much deeper than the ones any of us had at that age, although they do have their pensive moments in which the future seems like a dense fog of uncertainty.

Complications arise, not through tortured plot twists but from the expected everyday stuff.  There's engine trouble, of course, and the boys find themselves hitchhiking or taking public transportation from town to town, bringing them into contact with people both friendly and hostile.
 


Inevitably, relations between the boys themselves become strained as their circumstances become more difficult.  Beneath such tensions is the growing fear that they'll never realize their potential and their lives won't ever go anywhere.

All of this, however, is presented in such a natural way, devoid of the usual melodrama and contrived situations or dialogue, that I found myself getting caught up in it all and rooting for them to make it to where they were going.  (I mean that both literally and, like, symbolically.)

Director Guillermo Zouain and his co-scripter Wendy Muniz have a knack for an easygoing kind of realism that gently holds our attention even during the scenes when watching the road trip starts to feel like being on a road trip. 

Zouain also has a good eye for choosing pleasing shots, just as Moises aspires to do.  The film is consistently easy to look at, and clearly the work of someone with an artist's taste and sensibilities. 

The DVD from Indiepix Films is in widescreen, Spanish language with English subtitles.  Extras consist of a teaser and a trailer.  Running time is a short-but-sweet 71 minutes.

Not exactly the sort of party-time viewing that some road trip flicks are, ON THE ROAD, SOMEWHERE is best watched while in the kind of pensive mood that strikes our heroes when they realize that they have their whole scary, uncertain lives ahead of them.  We don't exactly see them "come of age" here--instead, we witness them beginning to realize that, sooner or later, they're going to have to.

Buy it at Amazon.com

Saban Films acquires U.S. Distribution Rights To “SPEED KILLS” Starring John Travolta

Saban Films acquires U.S. DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS TO “SPEED KILLS” STARRING JOHN TRAVOLTA

CANNES (May 19, 2017) – Saban Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights from Hannibal Classics to John Luessenhop’s (Takers, Texas Chainsaw 3D) Speed Kills, which will star Academy Award® Nominee John Travolta (Pulp Fiction, Grease), Academy Award® Winner Mira Sorvino (Romy and Michele's High School Reunion), Katheryn Winnick (“Vikings”), Jordi Molla ( “Blow” ), James Remar and Kellan Lutz (the Twilight franchise).  The action thriller will be produced by Richard Rionda Del Castro for Hannibal Classics, Blue Rider Entertainment and Oscar Generale.

Penned by Luessenhop and David Aaron Cohen, Speed Kills follows the true story of speedboat racing champion and multimillionaire Don Aronow (Travolta), who leads a double life that lands him in trouble with the law and drug lords. The film will begin principal photography at the end of the month in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley said: “John Travolta has the uncanny ability to transform into true, larger than life characters. This high octane, high end action thriller is the perfect showcase for John's profound acting prowess.

Hannibal Films’ Richard Rionda Del Castro said: “We have a long history of success with Saban as our Domestic partner and we anticipate a runaway hit with Speed Kills”.

Speed Kills marks Saban Films’ third collaboration with Richard Rionda Del Castro of Hannibal Classics following USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage, starring Nicolas Cage and I Am Wrath, which also starred Travolta.

Ness Saban and Bill Bromiley negotiated the deal on behalf of Saban Films with Richard Rionda Del Castro on behalf of Hannibal handling Worldwide sales.

At Cannes, Saban Films just announced acquiring U.S. distribution rights to Brian Smrz’s upcoming thriller 24 Hours to Live, starring Academy Award® Nominee Ethan Hawke, Chinese actress Xu Qing, Paul Anderson, Liam Cunningham, and Golden Globe® Winner Rutger Hauer.

Saban Films also recently acquired the North American distribution rights to: Ric Roman Waugh’s Shot Caller starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Lake Bell; John Stockwell’s Armed Response starring Wesley Snipes and Anne Heche; Alexandros Avranas’ True Crime starring Jim Carrey; Small Town Crime starring John Hawkes, Anthony Anderson, and Octavia Spencer; FilmNation’s sci-fi film Kill Switch starring Dan Stevens and Bérénice Marlohe; and Roland Joffé’s The Forgiven starring Forest Whitaker and Eric Bana.

About Saban Films
Saban Films, an affiliate of Saban Capital Group (“SCG”), is a film acquisition and distribution company which acquires high-quality, feature films to distribute in North America. Focusing on commercial, talent driven films, the company looks at projects in all stages of production for release across multiple platforms, including a day and date theatrical/VOD release strategy. Based in Los Angeles, Saban Films was established by Haim Saban, SCG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and is led by Bill Bromiley who serves as president, Shanan Becker, Chief Financial Officer and Ness Saban, Director of Business Development.

Since the company’s launch in 2014, Saban Films has released 23 films.  The 2017 Saban Films slate includes: John Michael McDonagh’s War on Everyone starring Michael Peña, Alexander Skarsgård, Theo James, and Tessa Thompson; Colm McCarthy’s critically acclaimed apocalyptic thriller The Girl with All the Gifts starring Glenn Close, Gemma Arterton and Paddy Considine; Walter Hill’s The Assignment starring Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, Anthony LaPaglia; Jonathan Mostow’s The Hunter’s Prayer starring Sam Worthington and Odeya Rush; and Sean Penn’s The Last Face starring Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem.

About Hannibal Classics
Hannibal Classics, founded in 2010 by Richard Rionda Del Castro, specializes in the production, financing and distribution of feature length Theatrical Motion Pictures with large budgets.

Its most recent films include Vengeance: A Love Story, USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage, I Am Wrath and Heist. Upcoming projects include the $60M budget disaster epic Tsunami L.A., the action films Red Squad, Zander, The Old Rifle, The Quarterback and a reboot of the 1997 cult French film Dobermann entitled Dobermann: Cops’ Blood Never Dries. 

Horror Film "TRUTH OR DOUBLE DARE" Makes the Game's Stakes High

Horror Film Truth or Double Dare Makes the Game's Stakes High

Atlanta, Ga. (May 18, 2017) – A high-stakes game of truth or double dare centers around a 10-year high school reunion as a backdrop of a new horror/slasher film baring the same name – Truth or Double Dare. Fans of pop culture horrors and slashers will not be disappointed. They can expect to be kept on the edge of their seats as old grudges from the past come to light.

Truth or Double Dare follows four friends -- Claudia, Egypt, Alex and Rashad -- as they return to their hometown for their high school reunion. They reunite with old classmates Jonathan and Michelle where they find themselves playing a harmless game of truth or double dare. Because of old buried secrets, someone at the party makes the stakes high. Now it's a game for their lives.

The film is produced by Atlanta-based independent film company L.O.U.D. Films and stars a diverse cast: Austin Chunn (Oxygen's Snapped: Killer Couples), Gina Hiraizumi (Investigation Discovery's Deadly Sins; ABC's Castle; FOX's Quintuplets), Maia Kavchak(go90's RePlay) and Drew Stephenson (BET's The Quad; CW's Vampire Diaries). Truth or Double Dare also features Caleb J. Spivak (FOX's 24: Legacy; TNT's Good Behavior) and Alyx Libby (BET's Being Mary Jane; Oxygen's Snapped: Killer Couples).

Watch a sneak peak of Truth or Double Dare here:
 


In the preview, actor Drew Stephenson, who plays Rashad, explains the rules of the game to friends Jonathan (Caleb J. Spivak) and Michelle (Alyx Libby) as an old childhood friend Alex (Austin Chunn) gets a refresher course.

Truth or Double Dare is executive produced by Marcus Collins and produced by Jamal Mcwhorter and Shaquita Smith (CBS' NCIS: New Orleans; VH1's Daytime Divas), who also serves as director. This production marks the directorial debut for Smith, as she is the latest director to bring new blood to horror films.

Truth or Double Dare is expected to be released later this year in October 2017. So grab your invitation and get ready for a reunion that's to die for! Are you ready to play TRUTH OR DOUBLE DARE (TODD)?

 

 

Photo Credits courtesy of LOUD Films: (top) Austin Chunn with Gina Hiraizumi; (middle) Maia Kavchak; and (bottom) Alyx Libby with Caleb J. Spivak in Truth or Double Dare.

Social Media:
Instagram - todd_film
Facebook- Truthordoubledare
Hashtags - #TODD; #TODDthemovie

About L.O.U.D. Films
L.O.U.D. Films is an independent film production company founded in Atlanta, Ga. by three cinematic visionaries. Marcus Collins, Jamal McWhorter, and Shaquita Smith formed the company in 2014 as a platform for their unique film ideas. L.O.U.D. (which stands for Living Out Ur Dreams) specializes in dramas and comedies that feature compelling characters and intriguing stories. As a collective, the team has experience in film production, music production, screenwriting, casting, directing, and distribution. To learn more: http://www.loudfilmsinc.com/