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Magnolia Picks Up ‘Emergo’, Film Avoids Getting A Red Light Or Being Buried,

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Emergo, a haunted house flick directed by Carles Torrens and written by Buried and Red Lights helmer Rodrigo Cortes has been picked up by Magnolia and will hit VOD prior to a theatrical run.

Per Variety, “Magnolia has acquired U.S. rights to “Emergo,” the latest genre pic from Rodrigo Cortes and Adrian Guerra, the team behind Sundance players “Buried” and “Red Lights.”

Using the same release strategy as on “Melancholia,” Magnolia will bow “Emergo” via its Magnet label with the early VOD release timed for April 27 and theatrical six weeks later on June 1… The English-language ‘Emergo’ turns on a team of high-tech parapsychologists who investigate anomalous phenomena in an old, eerie house.

‘Emergo’ cost under $3 million, aided by a Spain shoot, with Barcelona doubling for California, and 90% interiors, Guerra said. Nevertheless, it uses 200 vfx, while 90% of effects are physical, he added.

An earlier press release we reported on in November stated “All types of cameras are used – video, HD, 8mm, 16mm, and 35mm – as we follow scientists’ footsteps through a haunted house, casting a frightening spell over the audience. Brace yourself for this terrifying experience!

Sounds like it could be interesting. It’s also encouraging that the film managed to get through post production with the whole “90% practical effects” thing intact.

Kai Lennox, Michael O’Keefee, Gia Mantegna, Rick Gonzalez, Fionna Glascott, Francesc Garrido all star.

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‘Abigail’ on Track for a Better Opening Weekend Than Universal’s Previous Two Vampire Attempts

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In the wake of Leigh Whannell’s Invisible Man back in 2020, Universal has been struggling to achieve further box office success with their Universal Monsters brand. Even in the early days of the pandemic, Invisible Man scared up $144 million at the worldwide box office, while last year’s Universal Monsters: Dracula movies The Last Voyage of the Demeter and Renfield didn’t even approach that number when you COMBINE their individual box office hauls.

The horror-comedy Renfield came along first in April 2023, ending its run with just $26 million. The period piece Last Voyage of the Demeter ended its own run with a mere $21 million.

But Universal is trying again with their ballerina vampire movie Abigail this weekend, the latest bloodbath directed by the filmmakers known as Radio Silence (Ready or Not, Scream).

Unlike Demeter and Renfield, the early reviews for Abigail are incredibly strong, with our own Meagan Navarro calling the film “savagely inventive in terms of its vampiric gore,” ultimately “offering a thrill ride with sharp, pointy teeth.” Read her full review here.

That early buzz – coupled with some excellent trailers – should drive Abigail to moderate box office success, the film already scaring up $1 million in Thursday previews last night. Variety notes that Abigail is currently on track to enjoy a $12 million – $15 million opening weekend, which would smash Renfield ($8 million) and Demeter’s ($6 million) opening weekends.

Working to Abigail‘s advantage is the film’s reported $28 million production budget, making it a more affordable box office bet for Universal than the two aforementioned movies.

Stay tuned for more box office reporting in the coming days.

In Abigail, “After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.”

Abigail Melissa Barrera movie

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