Synopsis

The film will feature clips from the horror film subgenre, which has experienced a popular resurgence in recent years. Produced by Screamfest LA Founder/Festival Director Rachel Belofsky and Rudy Scalese. Going To Pieces: The Rise and Fall of The Slasher Film will premiere on Starz October (Friday the) 13th at 9pm (ET/PT), followed by a 24-hour horror marathon. The documentary will be repeated on Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT) and Oct. 31 at 11 p.m. (ET/PT). Going to Pieces provides a comprehensive look at the importance, prominence and newfound legitimacy of the horror film genre, specifically "slasher" films. The feature-length documentary contains interviews with pre-eminent actors, directors and producers, special effects masters, composers and experts, many of whom are considered founders and gurus of the genre, including Wes Craven, John Carpenter, Rob Zombie, special effects legend Tom Savini, Stan Winston, Joseph Stefano, and Betsy Palmer, just to name a few. Interspersed in the film are some of the most memorable scenes from classic films of the genre, as well as many current box-office favorites. The documentary is based on the book of the same title by Adam Rockoff.

Official Review

On Friday the 13th (and two weeks before Halloween), the Starz movie channel will premiere its documentary, “Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film”. Based on the book of the same name by Adam Rockoff, “Pieces” is as exhaustive a study of this subgenre as you can get without actually taking it seriously. It’s loaded with gory clips, interviews with various artists who have made their names and careers in the genre (as well as a few who haven’t), and fantastic old promotional materials, but it stops short of actually cutting slashers open and seeing what makes them tick. If you’re looking for a comprehensive look at the slasher movie and the place it holds in our cultural history, you’re not going to find it here; but if you’re looking for a “Boogeymen”-type compendium of kills with a few amusing interviews mixed in, pop the popcorn and pull up a seat. …Read More