[Sundance '12]: ‘V/H/S’ Sells To Magnolia, Three Of The Film’s Producers Poisoned!

VHSLandscape12612 [Sundance 12]: V/H/S Sells To Magnolia, Three Of The Films Producers Poisoned!

Let this be a lesson. One that encourages you to pursue your dreams, but to avoid Dick Clark’s in the Salt Lake City Airport while doing so.

I’m sure you Bloody-Disgusting readers are as caught up as you need to be on what V/H/S is. My interviews with seven of the filmmakers were all published last week, leading many of you to wonder aloud, “how many people directed this d*mn thing?” And, “Does Joe Swanberg play Dexter?” If you’re not familiar with the film, feel free to click on that red title and learn all about it.

And then hit the jump for the epic story that unfolded because of it. READ MORE

[Sundance '12]: Spanish Language Trailer For ‘Red Lights’ Is More Confusing Than ‘Inception’! At Least If You Don’t Speak Spanish!

 [Sundance 12]: Spanish Language Trailer For Red Lights Is More Confusing Than Inception! At Least If You Dont Speak Spanish!

Rodrigo Cortes’ Red Lights, the supernatural thriller starring Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, and Cillian Murphy, had its world premiere last week at the still ongoing Sundance Film Festival. The film also sold to Millenium entertainment last night.

While some reviews are negative, including Ryan Daley’s take here, there’s still quite a bit of buzz for the project.

Now we have a Spanish language trailer for the film, which actually looks pretty cool but doesn’t clear much up. Even though I took Spanish in both high school and college, I apparently can’t speak a word.

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 (Cillian Murphy) begins to develop a dense obsession Silver, whose magnetism is enhanced dangerously with each new manifestation of inexplicable phenomena.

Hit the jump for the Spanish Trailer!
READ MORE

[Sundance '12]: ‘Red Lights’ Picked Up By Millenium

 [Sundance 12]: Red Lights Picked Up By Millenium

Rodrigo Cortes’ Red Lights, the supernatural thriller starring Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, and Cillian Murphy, had its world premiere last week at the still ongoing Sundance Film Festival.

While word of mouth on the film was mixed, it seemed to have no problem selling to Millenium Entertainment.

Per Variety, “Millennium Entertainment has “Red Lights” in its sights, as CEO Bill Lee’s distribution company has closed a deal to acquire U.S. rights to Rodrigo Cortes’ paranormal thriller. Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

‘We are thrilled with ‘Red Lights’ and excited to distribute the film,’ said Lee. ‘This definitely has theatrical potential and we plan to give it a standard theatrical platform release, with ancillaries coming 90-100 days later. We came to Sundance with the intention of buying ‘Red Lights’ if it was good, and we thought Rodrigo did a fabulous job with the film. UTA was teriffic to deal with, and we’re both thrilled and proud to distribute the film.’ READ MORE

[Sundance '12] Review: ‘Grabbers’ Is A Fun Diversion That Ends Up Showing Too Much

 [Sundance 12] Review: Grabbers Is A Fun Diversion That Ends Up Showing Too Much

Pegged as Waking Dead meets Tremors, with tentacles, Jon Wright directs the Irish horror comedy Grabbers. Richard Coyle, Ruth Bradley and Russell Tovey in the film that takes to “a sleepy Irish fishing village forced to fend off a blood-sucking sea creature.

The film premiered at the ongoing Sundance Film Festival and now BD’s Ryan Daley writes in with his review. I’ve been hearing good things about the movie and while Daley liked it well enough, I hope I like it just a little bit more.

I realize it sounds like I’m beefing with a completely enjoyable monster flick, and what’s my problem, right? Why not just leave it alone, let it be what it is? Because a monster movie can be both fun and scary. Don‘t get me wrong, I liked the hell out ‘Grabbers’, but if it had revealed its monster just a little less often, and been just a little more menacing in its approach, it could have transcended mere likeability on the way to horror greatness.

Click here for the review. READ MORE

[Sundance '12] Review: ‘Red Lights’ Is A Misguided And Boring Waste Of Potential

 [Sundance 12] Review: Red Lights Is A Misguided And Boring Waste Of Potential

Playing the Sundance Film Festival this week is Red Lights, Rodrigo Cortes’ followup to Buried.

BD’s Ryan Daley writes in from the festival with his review and to say he didn’t care for the film would be putting it mildly.

What’s most frustrating about Red Lights is that it’s one of those movies that seems like it’s going to get better at any given second. The performances are great; you can tell the entire cast believes in this thing. But ultimately, the movie serves as the perfect example of an excellent idea, poorly executed. Even the final twist is poorly conceived, packing far less of a punch than Cortes probably intended––sort of an “anti-payoff”, in the words of one colleague.

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 (Cillian Murphy) begins to develop a dense obsession Silver, whose magnetism is enhanced dangerously with each new manifestation of inexplicable phenomena.

Click here for the review. READ MORE

[Sundance '12]: Go On A Stakeout In This New ‘Red Lights’ Clip!

 [Sundance 12]: Go On A Stakeout In This New Red Lights Clip!

Rodrigo Cortes’ Red Lights, the supernatural thriller starring Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, and Cillian Murphy, had its world premiere last week at the still ongoing Sundance Film Festival.

Word of mouth on the film is mixed, with Mr. Disgusting coming down on the side of not being a fan. A new clip from the film emerged today so you can now watch Elizabeth Olsen and Sigourney Weaver in a car scoping people, if that’s how you want to spend the next 90 seconds of your day.

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.

Hit the jump for the clip! READ MORE

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[Sundance '12]: ‘V/H/S’ Filmmaker Glenn McQuaid On Found Footage And ‘I Sell The Dead’ Vs. ‘Burke And Hare’

 [Sundance 12]: V/H/S Filmmaker Glenn McQuaid On Found Footage And I Sell The Dead Vs. Burke And Hare

Writer/Director Glenn McQuaid has been a part of the horror community for a long time but made his first big splash in 2008 with his Dominic Monaghan, Ron Perlman starring I Sell The Dead.

Now, as one of the directors of V/H/S – a film that breathes new life into the stagnant found footage genre – he stretches his wings outside of period horror comedy and into the more brutal slasher world.

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’ Filmmakers Radio Silence Talk About Holding The Interest Of An Online Audience And Their Feature Premiere!

VHSStill311411 [Sundance 12]: V/H/S Filmmakers Radio Silence Talk About Holding The Interest Of An Online Audience And Their Feature Premiere!

Radio Silence, formerly known as “Chad, Matt and Rob”, have become YouTube sensations over the past few years with their clever, action (and visual effects) packed shorts. They’re also the writers and directors of one of the segments of V/H/S – a film that breathes new life into the stagnant found footage genre.

I recently sat down with the guys to discuss maintaining the interest of an online audience, how they found their voice as a collective, and what new projects await them after V/H/S.

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

Exclusive

[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

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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

Exclusive

[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] 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

[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