Movies
‘Night of the Living Dead’ Origin Story Told in 3D CGI
Zombie movie Night of the Living Dead is coming back, this time in a 3D CGI format and without the involvement of George Romero (the film is public domain). Titled Night of the Living Dead: Origins, the re-imagining is being directed by newcomer Zebediah de Soto (who has done some incredible trailer work for BD, Dread Central, Screamfest and the now extinct Horror Channel) and produced by Simon West and Simon West Productions president Jib Polhemus. You can get the full skinny on this project below (along with a look at his work), but let me tell you from my own personal experience, Zebediah de Soto is going to knock this one out of the park – and that’s a guarantee.
On the story front, De Soto, who wrote the script with David R. Schwartz, wants to update the tale partially by bringing out the characters’ backstories and make what he called “an American-style anime.”
The latter will be done by using new technology the filmmaker is inventing. De Soto, along with partner Gus Malliarodaki founded New Golden Digital, a digital effects company which develops cutting-edge hardware and software.
The duo created and designed a real-time effects system, known as ‘The Beast’, which allows filmmakers the ability to direct CG performances the same way they would direct real live actors. The aim of the process is to make tennis balls on a stick representing real people or monsters a thing of the past by allowing actors interact with CG elements as if they are tangible.
Matty Miranda and Anthony Le are executive producing. George Passakos is co-executive producing while Warren Davis and Tiffany Shinn acts as associate producers.
De Soto, who has no agent or manager, directed a short titled “War Dogs” – sort of Vietnam War set in space – that made the rounds in Hollywood late last year. West (the director of movies such as “Con Air,” “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” and the upcoming TV show “Human Target”) and Polhemus were impressed at how the short manage to look like the production had a higher budget than it actually did, and began looking for a project to partner on.
De Soto was a fan of the original “Living Dead” and once the trio realized the rights were in the public domain, zeroed in on that project.
Exclusives
‘Home Bodies’ Image & Poster Introduce Isolated Twins in Sci-Fi Nightmare [Fantasia 2026]
Sci-fi thriller Home Bodies is set to unsettle audiences at the 30th edition of Fantasia, and our exclusive image introduces a peculiar pair of twins at the center.
Home Bodies makes its World Premiere July 23, at 9:30 PM at Cinéma du Musée in Montreal, with the filmmakers and cast in attendance.
An eerie new poster created by Justin Erickson of Phantom City Creative heralds the film’s premiere.
In the film, “Red and Blue, twins raised in total isolation by an automated house, live according to the rules set by Papa, a disembodied voice behind a locked door who provides food, shelter, entertainment, and order. Their carefully controlled world is disrupted by the arrival of Pal, an enigmatic humanoid stranger whose presence begins to fracture the only life the twins have ever known.”
It’s a premise that calls another Canadian creeper to mind and has us intrigued: Pin.
Emma Ho, Ian Ho, and Ess Hödlmoser star.
Home Bodies is directed and produced by Casey Walker, who returns to Fantasia more than a decade after his horror-comedy A Little Bit Zombie screened at the festival in 2012. He’s since gone on to produce a number of defining Canadian genre films like In a Violent Nature, The Void, and Pyewacket.
“I started my career in Montreal and Fantasia has been part of my life ever since,” said Walker. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to return to where it all started and share Home Bodies on such a special anniversary of the festival.“
Karen Harnisch (Infinity Pool, Sleeping Giant) also produces. Executive producers are Todd Brown (The Raid, Mandy) and Chad Archibald (undertone).
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