Story revolves around a man who has been ridiculed his entire life for having a father who claims to be a monster hunter. But when his father dies and he takes over the unusual business, he learns it may not be a lie after all.
Story revolves around a man who has been ridiculed his entire life for having a father who claims to be a monster hunter. But when his father dies and he takes over the unusual business, he learns it may not be a lie after all.
In this side-splitting horror send-up, a theater troupe takes a trip to a country cabin, but its nearby lake is full of lunar radiation, and one of the troupe members is straight-up crazy. Put them together and you get one psycho thespian! Full of bloody, fun-filled kills, a deaf-mute chick, and some big boobs, Hysterical Psycho is a helluva trip.
A new horror comedy said to be in the vein of classics such as The Exorcist and Ghostbusters. Taking place in modern day New York, a team of holy men (consisting of ministers and priests) battle the forces of evil.
The Burrowers director JT Petty‘s Hellbenders premiered to a positive response at TIFF in September, and I’ve been eagerly waiting to see something from it. That wish gets granted today! This trailer is everything I wanted from the movie, fun and gory with just a hint of that special seasoning I call “Don Coscarelli.” Thanks to BD reader Invisigoth for the heads up.
“Hellbenders, an R-rated 3D exorcism comedy, follows the Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints (Brooklyn Parish), highly secretive and profoundly blasphemous men of God, as they battle demonic forces too terrible to be cast out by traditional Vatican-approved methods. Cast includes Clancy Brown, Clifton Collins Jr., Robyn Rikoon and Andre Royo.”
Still waiting on a release date for this one. Check it out below! READ MORE
Lionsgate Home Entertainment and Film Arcade are going to hell, as they’ve acquired varying rights to J.T. Petty’s horror comedy movie Hellbenders for North America and select foreign territories, reports Variety. We reviewed the film out of this past September’s TIFF.
Film Arcade plans a US theatrical release with the release date announcement expected to come shortly. Meanwhile, Lionsgate Home Entertainment will be handling the post-theatrical release of the film in the US, Canada and India.
“It follows the exploits of the Brooklyn-based Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints — known as Hellbenders, a team of lewd and blasphemous ministers who live in a constant state of debauchery in order to be ready so they can drag the worst of demons back to Hell. Their faith of the Hellbenders is tested when one of the foulest demons possess one of their own and threatens the existence of both Brooklyn and the world.”
Hellbenders stars Clancy Brown, Clifton Collins Jr., Andre Royo, Robyn Rikoon, Macon Blair and Dan Folger. The film was shot in digital 3D. READ MORE
Burrowers director JT Petty returns to Midnight Madness with Hellbenders, a truly entertaining horror comedy that may have been a bit too ambitious. While filled with laughs, and some incredible creature effects, ultimately it’s a bit fragmented from what feels like budgetary constraints.
The first act of Hellbenders is incredibly strong as Petty introduces the viewer to the motley crew of modern exorcists. In short, this collection of men and women are supposed to sin as much as possible in order to deliver demons back to hell. The idea is that if they get possessed, they can commit suicide and drag the demons down to Hell with them. Hence, the audience is blasted with profanity as they watch an array of disturbing acts and consistent verbal abuse. Watching a bunch of ordained priests act like jerks in absolutely hilarious, but what makes this work is that the audience knows they’re “good people” at heart. Likability is extremely important it making Hellbenders an entertaining flick. Clancy Brown reunites with Petty and delivers quite a standout performance as the drunken leader. Unfortunately, Dan Fogler – who I absolutely love – was underused, and barely even had a reason to be in the film.
Once acclimated to the group, a few of them are sent off to handle a new case, one that ends in disaster. This is the pinnacle of Hellbenders as it taps into to the vein of The Evil Dead and Ghostbusters with its sound design, humor, scares, and FX work. It’s a haunting moment that sets the bar so high that the rest of the film struggles to reach the same level.
From here on out much of the second act is muddled with exposition and a subplot where the new Pope has shut down their division. The final moments, while enjoyable, felt the choking sensation of budgetary constraints. The audience is teased that the gates of Hell are to be opened, but by the time the gang arrives, all of the chaos has already erupted; it’s a bit frustrating, as the viewer deserves to see the madness occur.
Hellbenders is highly ambitious filmmaking that works just enough to make it worth a view. There are quite a few gut busting laughs, creative scares, and even more gore for the horror junkie. Unfortunately, it just runs out of steam by the finale.
Genre favorite J.T. Petty (The Burrowers, Soft for Digging, S&Man, Mimic: Sentinel) is now in production on his fifth horror-themed project, Hellbenders, a horror comedy said to be in the vein of classics such as The Exorcist and Ghostbusters.
Clifton Collins (“The Event”), Clancy Brown (The Burrowers, A Nightmare on Elm Street) and Dan Fogler (Hysterical Psycho) were announced just last night and this evening we already have a slew of behind-the-scenes imagery, one of which features what appears to be a possessed old man.
“‘Hellbenders’ is about a secret group of elite demonologists in a Brooklyn diocese who battle a terrifying supernatural force that threatens their lives and faith.”
Click the displayed image for the entire gallery:
If you haven’t heard of J.T. Petty, you haven’t been paying attention. The NY native became a genre force after Lionsgate released The Burrowers, but his infamy comes behind the incredible Soft for Digging and S&Man, which finally got a release last year thanks to Magnet. Also known for directing the Rear Window-inspired Mimic: Sentinel, Petty is gearing up for his fifth genre effort that’ll put your faith to the test.
The crazy badass Clifton Collins (The Experiment, “The Event”) is set to star in Petty’s supernatural pic Hellbenders, which is about a secret group of elite demonologists in a Brooklyn diocese who battle a terrifying supernatural force that threatens their lives and faith. The horror comedy is said to be in the vein of classics such as The Exorcist and Ghostbusters.
The 3D film also stars Clancy Brown (The Burrowers, A Nightmare on Elm Street) and Dan Fogler (Hysterical Psycho) and goes into production next week.
The pic is based on a graphic novel written by Petty, who recently sold his spec, “Zombies vs. Robots” to Sony.
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