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[Sundance '12]: ‘V/H/S’ Filmmaker Joe Swanberg Talks ‘Silver Bullets’, ‘You’re Next’, And His New Distribution Model

SwanbergVHS12012 [Sundance 12]: V/H/S Filmmaker Joe Swanberg Talks Silver Bullets, Youre Next, And His New Distribution Model

Joe Swanberg has been a busy guy. Immensely busy. Starting with 2005′s Kissing On The Mouth he’s directed over a dozen films including Hannah Takes The Stairs, Nights And Weekends and last year’s werewolf pic Silver Bullets. He’s also found time to act in films such as A Horrible Way To Die and You’re Next (a movie he’s absolutely hilarious in).

As one of the directors (and actors) of V/H/S – Swanberg is once again stretching his horror wings. I spoke to him recently about his dalliances in the genre, his recent acting roles, and his ideal career trajectory.

In the film, “When a group of misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire a rare VHS tape, they discover more found footage than they bargained for.

Hit the jump to check out the interview! READ MORE

[Sundance '12]: UPDATE – Does ‘West Of Memphis’ Have New Evidence In Real Life Murder Case?

MemphisLand12012 [Sundance 12]: UPDATE   Does West Of Memphis Have New Evidence In Real Life Murder Case?

UPDATE: A press release from Damien Echols’ legal team, regarding the new case information detailed in the film, is after the jump.

Premiering today at the Sundance Film Festival is a new documentary written and directed by Academy Award nominated filmmaker, Amy Berg (Deliver us From Evil) and produced by first time filmmakers Damien Echols and Lorri Davis, in collaboration with the multiple Academy Award winning team of Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. West Of Memphis tells the untold story behind an extraordinary and desperate fight to bring the truth to light. This of course is all about the (now proven in court) erroneous incarceration of the “West Memphis Three”.

Now, there are emerging reports that the documentary actually presents new evidence in the murder case. Per Deadline, “I’m hearing rumblings here in Park City that the Sundance documentary West of Memphis will include some new important evidence obtained within the last month that could have direct bearing on the future of the case… Press that screened the film in New York and Los Angeles last Friday were told that a scene was missing from the movie, but weren’t given specifics. I’m hearing the new scene will be included in the print of the film shown for the first time at Sundance this morning at 8:30 AM at a press and industry screening at the Holiday Village. The film has its official premiere today at 4:45 PM at the MARC Theater.

In the film, “starting with a searing examination of the police investigation into the 1993 murders of three, eight year old boys Christopher Byers, Steven Branch and Michael Moore in the small town of West Memphis, Arkansas, the film reveals the story from the inside. West of Memphis uncovers new evidence surrounding the arrest and conviction of the other three victims of this shocking crime – Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley; all three of whom were teenagers at the time of their arrests and all three of whom were imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.
READ MORE

[Sundance '12]: ‘The Pact’ Helps Spark Multi-Year Production Deal

 [Sundance 12]: The Pact Helps Spark Multi Year Production Deal

Nicolas McCarthy’s The Pact, which debuted at Sundance as a short some time ago, will have its feature length premiere at this year’s Sundance tonight.

The film, along with movies like The Divide has helped spark a new production deal between Content and Preferred Content. The two companies already have basically the same name, so it should be easy for them to decide upon a shingle banner.

Per Deadline, “Content Film has made a multi-year production deal with Preferred Content partners Ross Dinerstein and Kevin Iwashina. Essentially, Content will finance as many as six elevated genre films over the next two years. The latest collaboration between Content and Preferred Content is ‘The Pact’, the genre film that premieres tonight at midnight… Dinerstein would raise the under $2 million budgets, Content would sell international and Iwashina would sell North American rights. The new deal allows Dinerstein to focus on producing and not have to raise the funds.

Agnes Bruckner (Venom, Vacancy 2, The Woods, Kill Theory), Sam Ball (“The Event”), Haley Hudson (“Ghost Whisperer”, Killer Pad) and Kathleen Rose Perkins (“Lie to Me,” “Trust Me”) and Casper Van Dien also star in the ghost story said to be in the tradition of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, Dario Argento’s Suspiria and Hideo Nakata’s Ringu, “as a woman struggles to come to grips with her past in the wake of her mother’s death, an unsettling presence emerges in her childhood home.

Keep up with all Sundance news! READ MORE

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[Sundance '12]: ‘V/H/S’ Filmmaker Adam Wingard Talks Directing ‘You’re Next’, Dog Tranquilizers, And The ‘ABC’s Of Death’

 [Sundance 12]: V/H/S Filmmaker Adam Wingard Talks Directing Youre Next, Dog Tranquilizers, And The ABCs Of Death

Adam Wingard has made a name for himself by brining a unique directorial voice to films like Pop Skull, A Horrible Way To Die and this year’s sure-to-be breakout hit You’re Next.

As one of the directors of V/H/S – a film that breathes new life into the stagnant found footage genre – he again teams up with writer Simon Barrett to bring unhinged chaotic lunacy to the film’s wraparound piece.

In the film, “When a group of misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire a rare VHS tape, they discover more found footage than they bargained for.

Hit the jump to check out the interview! READ MORE

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[Sundance '12]: ‘V/H/S’ Filmmaker David Bruckner Talks Emerging Media, ‘The Signal, And ‘Enter The Void’ As An Influence

VHSStill311411 [Sundance 12]: V/H/S Filmmaker David Bruckner Talks Emerging Media, The Signal, And Enter The Void As An Influence

Writer/Director David Bruckner made a name for himself with 2007′s The Signal. Now, as one of the directors of V/H/S – a film that breathes new life into the stagnant found footage genre – he’s able to explore his fascination with the sociological repercussions of technological immersion in deeper, more horrific, areas.

I spoke with Bruckner recently about his interest in media, V/H/S, his new short, and what’s coming up next for him.

In the film, “When a group of misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire a rare VHS tape, they discover more found footage than they bargained for.

Hit the jump to check out the interview! READ MORE

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[Sundance '12]: ‘V/H/S’ Filmmaker Simon Barrett On ‘You’re Next’ And Found Footage Movies For People Who Hate Found Footage

 [Sundance 12]: V/H/S Filmmaker Simon Barrett On Youre Next And Found Footage Movies For People Who Hate Found Footage

A lot of horror filmmakers think their audiences are complete f*cking idiots. And the one thing I try and do the most is make movies that are fun, that we would like to see – and not assume that the people who want to see them are complete and utter fools. Because they’re not.

Simon Barrett knows a lot about making horror films that don’t condescend to their audience. As the writer behind films like A Horrible Way To Die, Dead Birds and this year’s sure to be breakout hit You’re Next he’s proven that he’s not susceptible to many of the lazy traps horror writers often find themselves falling into.

As a co-writer and producer on V/H/S – a film that breathes new life into the stagnant found footage genre – he again teams up with director Adam Wingard to simultaneously subvert and embrace genre in new and exciting ways.

In the film, “When a group of misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire a rare VHS tape, they discover more found footage than they bargained for.

Hit the jump to read a portion of our recent, epic, interview. READ MORE

[Sundance 2012] Fresh Imagery From ‘John Dies at the End’

 [Sundance 2012] Fresh Imagery From John Dies at the End

The Sundance Film Festival kicks off this week and one film I’m intensely excited for is Phantasm and Bubb Ho-Tep director Don Coscarelli’s John Dies At the End, which joins the Park City at Midnight program including V/H/S, Excision, The Pact and many more.

Bloody Disgusting has landed a trio of exclusive stills that can be enjoyed inside. Also, watch this spot for an exclusive report from our visit to the set in the coming weeks!

On the street, they call it “soy sauce.” It’s a paranormal, psychoactive drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. Its users drift across time and dimensions, but some who come back are devoid of all humanity. While most of Earth’s inhabitants remain blissfully oblivious to its threat. Make no mistake, an otherworldly invasion is under way, and mankind needs to be saved. Enter John and David, a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs. How can these guys possibly be expected to rescue mankind from certain destruction?

The festival runs January 19 through 29 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. READ MORE

[Sundance 2012] ‘West of Memphis’ Trailer, Poster

Premiering at next week’s Sundance Film Festival is a new documentary written and directed by Academy Award nominated filmmaker, Amy Berg (Deliver us From Evil) and produced by first time filmmakers Damien Echols and Lorri Davis, in collaboration with the multiple Academy Award winning team of Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. West Of Memphis tells the untold story behind an extraordinary and desperate fight to bring the truth to light.

Starting with a searing examination of the police investigation into the 1993 murders of three, eight year old boys Christopher Byers, Steven Branch and Michael Moore in the small town of West Memphis, Arkansas, the film reveals the story from the inside. West of Memphis uncovers new evidence surrounding the arrest and conviction of the other three victims of this shocking crime – Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley; all three of whom were teenagers at the time of their arrests and all three of whom were imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.

With the fest just a week away, we got our hands on the film’s official trailer and poster. READ MORE

[Sundance 2012] ‘John Dies At The End’ Festival One-Sheet Displays The Bible Belter

 [Sundance 2012] John Dies At The End Festival One Sheet Displays The Bible Belter

One of my personal most anticipated Sundance Film Festival selection is Phantasm and Bubb Ho-Tep director Don Coscarelli’s John Dies At the End, which joins the Park City at Midnight program including V/H/S, Excision, The Pact and many more.

In addition to the following plot crunch, AICN landed the official festival poster that displays the “Bible Belter.” Awesome.

On the street, they call it “soy sauce.” It’s a paranormal, psychoactive drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. Its users drift across time and dimensions, but some who come back are devoid of all humanity. While most of Earth’s inhabitants remain blissfully oblivious to its threat. Make no mistake, an otherworldly invasion is under way, and mankind needs to be saved. Enter John and David, a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs. How can these guys possibly be expected to rescue mankind from certain destruction?

The festival runs January 19 through 29 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. READ MORE

[Sundance 2012] Stylish and Eye-Catching ‘Excision’ One-Sheet

 [Sundance 2012] Stylish and Eye Catching Excision One Sheet

One of the films I’m most excited for at this month’s Sundance Film Festival is Richard Bates, Jr.’s Excision, which looks insanely bloody. We’ve just now landed the official festival one-sheet that’s a trip. Dig on it below.

Starring AnnaLynne McCord, Traci Lords, Ariel Winter, Roger Bart, and John Waters, the flick will premiere as part of the Park City at Midnight program next January.

A disturbed and delusional high school student with aspirations of a career in medicine goes to extremes to earn the approval of her controlling mother.READ MORE

[Sundance 2012] One Final Sneak Peak at ‘V/H/S’!

 [Sundance 2012] One Final Sneak Peak at V/H/S!

On Sunday, January 22, 2012 the Sundance Film Festival will hold the World Premiere of V/H/S, our found footage horror film that features the works of Adam Wingard (You’re Next, A Horrible Way to Die, Pop Skull), Simon Barrett (You’re Next, Dead Birds, Read Sands), Ti West (The House of the Devil, The Roost, The Innkeepers), David Bruckner (The Signal), Joe Swanberg (Silver Bullets), Glenn McQuaid (I Sell the Dead), and Radio Silence. The horror flick will be playing as part of the Park City at Midnight program at 11:45PM.

Here’s the plot: “When a group of misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire a rare VHS tape, they discover more found footage than they bargained for.

While we’ve already shared two images with you guys, we’ve given the boys over at Radio Silence the green light to sneak out a look at their segment, making this the final look before the screening. Radio Silence, formerly known as “Chad, Matt and Rob”, are YouTube sensations that I’ve been a huge fan of for years. Become a fan too on their newly launched Facebook page. READ MORE

[Sundance 2012] ‘Red Lights’ to World Premiere, New Imagery!

 [Sundance 2012] Red Lights to World Premiere, New Imagery!

It was announced today that Rodrigo Cortes’ Red Lights, the supernatural thriller starring Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, and Cillian Murphy, will have its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this coming January in Park City, Utah. Check out some new stills inside and watch for a review next month.

In the film, De Niro stars as Simon Silver, a legendary psychic, perhaps the most famously gifted of all time, who returns after thirty years of mysterious absence to become the world’s greatest challenge to orthodox science and professional skeptics.

Meanwhile, paranormal fraud investigator Tom (Murphy) begins to develop a dense obsession Silver, whose magnetism is enhanced dangerously with each new manifestation of inexplicable phenomena.READ MORE

[Sundance 2012] ‘The Pact’ To Deliver Wide-Eyed Terror?

 [Sundance 2012] The Pact To Deliver Wide Eyed Terror?

Nicolas McCarthy’s The Pact, which debuted at Sundance as a short, will have its feature length premiere at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival in January.

Gearing up for the big debut, Bloody Disgusting was provided with the first ever still from the film featuring a tight shot of star Caity Lotz (“Death Valley,” “Mad Men”).

Agnes Bruckner (Venom, Vacancy 2, The Woods, Kill Theory), Sam Ball (“The Event”), Haley Hudson (“Ghost Whisperer”, Killer Pad) and Kathleen Rose Perkins (“Lie to Me,” “Trust Me”) and Casper Van Dien also star.

In the ghost story said to be in the tradition of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, Dario Argento’s Suspiria and Hideo Nakata’s Ringu, “as a woman struggles to come to grips with her past in the wake of her mother’s death, an unsettling presence emerges in her childhood home.

Keep up with all Sundance news! READ MORE

[OMFG] Our Film ‘V/H/S’ Will Premiere at Sundance 2012, First Look!

 [OMFG] Our Film V/H/S Will Premiere at Sundance 2012, First Look!

It still hasn’t even sunk in…

Our film V/H/S is going to have its world premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival as part of their Park City at Midnight program on Sunday, January 22nd! It’s insane to be mentioned in the same breath as Saw, High Tension, Open Water, The Signal, The Woman and even The Descent. INSANE.

I’ve always been sort of an oddball when it comes to setting life goals. While most people I know shoot for the stars, I always shoot towards happiness. For example, Bloody Disgusting was never meant to be as successful as it is. When Tom and I started the site back in January 2001 we did it out of the pure love of the genre, and because doing things with your friends is not only cool, but also fun. While the site continues to blossom, everything I do continues to be about personal happiness as opposed to making a dollar.

This bleeds into my side projects. I Associate Produced A Horrible Way to Die, which was a friend “experiment”, a way to see if a group of friends could work together to create a great piece of art. I’m proud of the final product and what my buddies were able to achieve. After that, both Tom and myself were fortunate enough to get two more projects off and running – Under the Bed and V/H/S – both of which we’re Producers on. And with both, the aim wasn’t to reach the stars, it was to have a memorable experience with a group of people I respect and love.

This is why I can’t wrap my head around the idea of V/H/S being accepted into Sundance. While the goal is always to make a great movie, personally I just wanted to share an experience with some of the most talented filmmakers I think the world of… READ MORE

[Sundance 2012] Blood-Soaked ‘Excision’ Stills

 [Sundance 2012] Blood Soaked Excision Stills

The most left-field announcement in the upcoming Sundance Film Festival is Richard Bates, Jr.’s Excision, which looks insanely bloody.

Starring AnnaLynne McCord, Traci Lords, Ariel Winter, Roger Bart, and John Waters, the flick will premiere as part of the Park City at Midnight program next January.

A disturbed and delusional high school student with aspirations of a career in medicine goes to extremes to earn the approval of her controlling mother.

Check out all of the blood-stained imagery inside. READ MORE

[Sundance 2012] Park City at Midnight Announced!

 [Sundance 2012] Park City at Midnight Announced!

Sundance Institute announced today the films selected to screen in the 2012 Sundance Film Festival out-of-competition sections Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, NEXT < => and New Frontier. The Festival takes place from January 19 through 29 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

Trevor Groth, Director of Programming for the Sundance Film Festival, said, “In many ways, the extremes of the Festival’s program are most readily apparent in our out-of-competition sections, which showcase the wildest comedies, the most terrifying horror films and uncompromised visions from singular voices springing up from around the country and the world. We hope audiences experiment with their film selections to an equal degree as these filmmakers have experimented with their storytelling.

After the break you’ll find the full list of Park City at Midnight genre titles, along with a few other horror-themed movies sneaking around the fest. READ MORE

Finally a Batch of Images UK Supernatural Thriller ‘The Awakening’

awakening110311 Finally a Batch of Images UK Supernatural Thriller The Awakening

Recently acquired for US release by Cohen Media Group is Nick Murphy’s period supernatural thriller, The Awakening, which stars Rebecca Hall, Dominic West and Imelda Staunton. Finally a official poster and stills have been released. Click above for the entire gallery. Check out clips and a trailer inside.

The film world premiered at TIFF (read my review here) and is opening in UK cinemas on November 11.

Haunted by the death of her fiancé, Florence Cathcart is on a mission to expose all séances as exploitative shams. However, when she is called to a boys’ boarding school to investigate a case of the uncanny, she is gradually forced to confront her skepticism in the most terrifying way, shaking her scientific convictions and her sense of self to the very core.READ MORE

Taste the Atmosphere in French-Language Trailer for ‘Livid’!

 Taste the Atmosphere in French Language Trailer for Livid!

Bloody Disgusting ready “Fabien” has a little Halloween treat for you as he discovered the French-language trailer for Inside directors Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo’s nightmarish Livid (review) is now online and brooding after the break.

‘Livid’s true gift is its creative madness, a film that’s drenched in imagery that will resonate with viewers for decades,” I stated in my review out of TIFF this past July. David Harley was also a huge fan stating that it “demands that its audience watch it through Fulci-tinted glasses as it weaves a fantasy horror tale heavy rooted in nightmare logic and Hammer aesthetics, a style that really hasn’t been replicated to this extent since the Godfather of Gore passed away in the 90′s.

Arriving in theaters next year from Dimension Films, the pic is a horror fairytale set during Halloween night when three youths decide to burglarize an old lady’s desolate house, but what awaits them is no ordinary house… Do NOT expect another Inside and I believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised. READ MORE

Indie

Toronto After Dark Film Festival Event Report: Day 6

 Toronto After Dark Film Festival Event Report: Day 6

Tonight’s screening of The Divide is a sell-out. Audiences were treated to the appearances of such genre favorites, Michael Biehn (Terminator & Aliens) and Milo Ventimiglia (“Heroes”). So far, this was the most enthusiastic crowd response at this year’s Toronto After Dark.

BLIND SPOT

A single take 6-minute short about a guy so caught up with settling an issue with a travel agent, he doesn’t realize some serious shit is going down all around him. While the film lacks a punchy ending, the visual effects are pretty impressive.

3.5/5 Skulls

THE DIVIDE

As of late, audiences have been treated to a seemingly never-ending stream of post-apocalyptic titles such as, I Am Legend, The Road and The Book Of Eli, to name a few. The Divide is yet another entry. I came into this film with minimal expectations. The opening moments of mass destruction soon changed all that. Director, Xavier Gens (Frontier(s) & Hitman) brings us a vision that’s both equally beautiful and horrifying. READ MORE

A Guest Adds Himself to Class Photos in Second ‘Awakening’ Clip

 A Guest Adds Himself to Class Photos in Second Awakening Clip

Recently acquired for US release by Cohen Media Group is Nick Murphy’s period supernatural thriller, The Awakening, which stars Rebecca Hall, Dominic West and Imelda Staunton.

The film world premiered at TIFF (read my review here) and is opening in UK cinemas on November 11. We already shared with you one clip that took you to the attic and inside a creepy dollhouse, now watch as Hall talks with West about a haunting series of images that display an added “guest”.

Haunted by the death of her fiancé, Florence Cathcart is on a mission to expose all séances as exploitative shams. However, when she is called to a boys’ boarding school to investigate a case of the uncanny, she is gradually forced to confront her skepticism in the most terrifying way, shaking her scientific convictions and her sense of self to the very core.READ MORE

Screamfest Horror Film Festival Winners

 Screamfest Horror Film Festival Winners

The Screamfest Horror Film Festival is now completed bringing a whopping 10 days of horror to a close. The festival shared some incredible films with the Hollywood crowd, along with quite a few stinkers. Some of the most talked about films ranged from Rites of Spring to The Innkeepers, Rabies, Madison County and of course Livid. The harsh words came out for flicks like Sector 7, Rosewood Lane, Stormhouse and Vamperifica.

The awards ceremony was held Saturday night and was privvy to a slew of surprise victories that had the room in chatter. Nicholas Humphries’ gorgeous “The Little Mermaid” was the winner of BEST SHORT. The Kickstarter-funded The Tunnel won BEST SFX (Sam Loxton & David Sander). Jeff Grace won BEST MUSICAL SCORE for his work on Ti West’s The Innkeepers. Crawl was the most buzzed-about feature winning BEST DIRECTOR (Paul China), BEST ACTRESS (Georgina Haig) and BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Brian J. Breheny). The overrated Urban Explorer rounded out the awards taking home BEST EDITING (Andy Fetcher), BEST MAKEUP (Waldemar Pokromski) BEST ACTOR (Klaus Stiglmeier) and BEST PICTURE. READ MORE

Indie

Toronto After Dark Film Festival Event Report: Day 5

 Toronto After Dark Film Festival Event Report: Day 5

Promised chills, is the focus of tonight’s double bill. Hell, we even got official Toronto After Dark diapers with a ratings system attached to it. Both films are rated 5 out of 5 diapers!

NOWHERE ELSEWHERE

Beautiful cinematography is the standout in this haunting 15-minute short about a woman coming to grips about having to face her ailing mother.

3.5/5 Skulls READ MORE

Indie

Toronto After Dark Film Festival Event Report: Day 4

 Toronto After Dark Film Festival Event Report: Day 4

The turnout for the earlier screenings on Day 4 of Toronto After Dark was quite impressive. Today’s line-up is packed with more low-key, potential hidden gems that include Anamnesis, Some Guy Who Kills People, The Theatre Bizarre and much, much more.

Read on for the fourth day at the illustrious Toronto After Dark Film Festival. READ MORE

Editorials

Toronto After Dark Film Festival Event Report: Day 3

tadday3102211 Toronto After Dark Film Festival Event Report: Day 3

I’ve been really looking forward to today’s line-up. Considering how strong the shorts have been to this point, anticipation was high for this afternoon’s Shorts After Dark program. Tonight was particularly special considering it was Zombie Appreciation Night in which we got two back to back zombie flicks which includes the World Premiere of War Of The Dead. It was really cool that After Dark was donating a dollar for every ticket sale from tonight’s closer to the Toronto Zombie Walk which happened to be this afternoon. Also, anyone who dressed up as one of the undead, saved an extra $2 for either of the zombie films. Very cool indeed. Both screenings were pretty packed. READ MORE