Movies
Full ‘Hypothermia’ Cast, Start of Principal Photography
Dark Sky Films is pleased to announce this week marks the first week of principal photography and production on James Felix McKenney’s feature Hypothermia, while also confirming our scoop from last week that Michael Rooker (SLiTHER, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer) will be topling. Beyond the break you’ll find the official release with new info and cast.
HYPOTHERMIA, written and directed by McKenney, stars Michael Rooker, who has had a long career in film that launched with his chilling performance as the titular character in HENRY: THE PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER. HYPOTHERMIA co-stars Blanche Baker who starred in SIXTEEN CANDLES, HBO’s TAKING CHANCE and the horror indie THE GIRL NEXT DOOR. Also in the cast are Greg Finley (THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER), and McKenney regulars Don Wood (THE OFF SEASON, AUTOMATONS, SATAN HATES YOU), Ben Forster and Amy Chang. The film will be produced in partnership with Larry Fessenden’s Glass Eye Pix.
The story takes place in Maine in the dead of winter. Ray Pelletier and his wife Helen have been ice fishing the frozen expanse of Lake Noyade for over two decades but this year something is different: no fish bite. Is it their new neighbors on the ice — Stevie Jr. and his overbearing Dad — with their high-tech gear and over-sized rig that is driving the fish away? Or is it something else? The answer comes in an onslaught of ferocious attacks that unites the two families against a mysterious creature from under the ice.
Producers on the film are 2010 Spirit Award nominee and horror director Larry Fessenden and his partners Peter Phok and Brent Kunkle, along with Dark Sky Films producer Derek Curl (THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, HATCHET 2). The Co-Producer is Jacob Jaffke (THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, Bafta nominated short OFF SEASON).
The film is produced in association with Offhollywood Pictures, which brings up-to-the minute technical innovation to the production. HYPOTHERMIA is one of the first feature films to be lensed in 4K on RED ONE digital cinema cameras updated with the new, high-dynamic range Mysterium-X sensor alongside David Fincher ‘s SOCIAL NETWORK and Steven Soderbergh’s KNOCKOUT.
Says Fessenden: “It is very gratifying to have the support of such a cool company as Dark Sky so we can keep making these auteur-driven genre films we call Scareflix. Having Michael Rooker headline the cast in a role like this is especially exciting because it is a different side of Rooker we’ll be exploring. I know the fans will be gratified to spend some real screen time with him in this rugged and sympathetic role.”
The monster has been created by effects veteran Chris Bridges who has lent his talents to such films as DIARY OF THE DEAD, 300, SILENT HILL, SAW III and MAX PAYNE. since his on-set debut on MIMIC. Stunt and movement artist Asa Liebmann will be inside the suit. Gore effects will be handled by Brian Spears (PLAGUETOWN, I SELL THE DEAD, BITTER FEAST, STAKE LAND).
Movies
Christopher Landon to Helm Feature Adaptation of Grady Hendrix’s ‘The Final Girl Support Group’
A new feature adaptation of author Grady Hendrix‘s slasher book The Final Girl Support Group is now on the way from Paramount Pictures, and Deadline reports that it’s found its director in Christopher Landon (Drop, Happy Death Day).
The two previously collaborated on My Best Friend’s Exorcism.
In The Final Girl Support Group, “Lynette is a real-life final girl who survived a massacre. For more than a decade, she’s been meeting with five other final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, working to put their lives back together. Then one woman misses a meeting, and their worst fears are realized—someone knows about the group and is determined to rip their lives apart again, piece by piece.”
“But the thing about final girls is that no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up.”
I wrote in my novel review for BD, “Hendrix puts his characters through the absolute wringer. It’s a bloody, vicious voyage for the flawed heroine, both physically and emotionally. In terms of action and horror, Support Group delivers breakneck pacing and thrills.”
Five years ago, Andy Muschietti & Barbara Muschietti (Mama, It, It Chapter Two) were attached to produce a planned series adaptation for HBO Max alongside Charlize Theron. While Theron is no longer producing, the Muschiettis remain on board under their Double Dream label.
Paramount Pictures is also developing Hendrix’s sci-fi novella, BadAsstronauts.
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