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[Review] TIFF ’11: ‘The Awakening’ Carries Zero Scares

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on September 17, 2011 @ 5:42pm
Category: Movies / News

Acquired by the Cohen Media Group out of the Toronto International Film Festival, Bloody Disgusting didn’t see why everyone was in love with Nick Murphy’s period horror The Awakening, which failed to meet expectations.

“Even the strong performances by Hall and West can’t overcome the dramatic finale that bloated with exposition and ZERO scares.”

Click the title for the entire review or here for all of your TIFF news and reviews.
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TIFF ’11: WWE Takes Apocalyptic ‘The Day’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on September 16, 2011 @ 11:05pm
Category: Movies / News

WWE Studios announced today it has acquired all US distribution rights to the Toronto International Film Festival cult hit The Day, Doug Aarniokoski’s visceral action thriller. The film screened to sold-out crowds in the Midnight Madness section of the Festival.

Aarniokoski is currently directing the Lionsgate film Nurse 3D. The Day is a nightmarish 24 hour look into the lives of a band of survivors fighting to stay alive in a post-apocalyptic world.

The Day stars Shawn Ashmore (X-Men Trilogy, Mother’s Day), Ashley Bell (The Last Exorcism), Michael Eklund (Watchmen, 88 Minutes), Cory Hardrict (Battle Los Angeles, Gran Torino), Dominic Monaghan (“Lost,” Lord of the Rings), and Shannyn Sossamon (One Missed Call, A Knight’s Tale, Road to Nowhere). The film features music by Rock Mafia.

The film was written by Luke Passmore and produced by Guy A. Danella.

TheDay070911 TIFF 11: WWE Takes Apocalyptic The Day

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on September 16, 2011 @ 4:09pm
Category: Movies / News

Out of all of the films premiering at TIFF, the one I was expecting to be blown away by was Francis Ford Coppola’s Twixt, which ended up being one of the biggest duds of the year.

“It is with great displeasure in reporting back that ‘Twixt’ is an absolutely horrible film. The 3-D experience is beyond pointless, and no matter how many edited versions Coppola has up his sleeve it can’t be salvaged. ‘Twixt’ a bland, cheesy, poorly shot snoozer that’s not even fun as a midnight movie.”

Click the title for the entire review or here for all of your TIFF news and reviews.

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on September 15, 2011 @ 4:16pm
Category: Movies / News

Just acquired for US release by Cohen Media Group, an international trailer has been released for 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.

“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.”

Awakening091311 TIFF 11: International Trailer for Period Horror The Awakening

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on September 15, 2011 @ 3:42pm
Category: Movies / News

John Sloss and Bart Walker’s Cinetic Media has inked U.S. and Canadian rights to Cuban helmer Alejandro Brugues’ Juan de los Muertos (Juan of the Dead), the Cuban zombie comedy that world premiered at TIFF, reports Variety.

According to “Dead’s” Spanish producer Gervasio Iglesias, the Cinetic Media deal went down after “Dead’s” first Toronto fest screening on Saturday. Avalon has Spanish distribution rights and will release “Dead” in January.

“Dead” toplines Cuba’s Alexis Diaz de Villegas as Juan, a 40-year-old slacker, who notices that people are beginning to turn violent. As a zombie epidemic spreads through Havana, Juan decides to make a quick buck, offering to slay people’s infected relatives.

But as the zombie plague reaches national proportions, with people desperately trying to leave the island, Juan has to concentrate on sheer survival.”

“‘Dead’ works as comedy, but it’s also a metaphor for Cuba’s 50 years of revolution,” Iglesias said.

TIFF 11: Cinetic Media Acquires Juan of the Dead for US Release

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on September 11, 2011 @ 5:53pm
Category: Movies / News

Just getting back to my hotel at TIFF, sitting in front of my door was package featuring a creepy postcard with a symbolic pin driven through a horse’s head, alongside a clip. Looking through the genre films at the fest, it became clear to me that the viral goodies were from Lovely Molly, Blair Witch Project co-creator Eduardo Sanchez’s horror film starring Johnny Lewis and Alexandra Holden. Inside you’ll find the clip that appears to discover a lair where the worship of Baphomet had taken place. Baphomet is an imagined pagan deity, revived in the 19th century as a figure of occultism and Satanism.

“When newlywed Molly Reynolds returns to her long-abandoned family home, frightful reminders of a nightmarish childhood begin seeping into her new life. She soon begins an inexorable descent into evil that blurs the lines between psychosis and possession.”

TIFF 11: Lovely Molly Viral Clip and Creepy Image Tease Return of Baphomet

Exclusive

[Interview] TIFF ’11: Bobcat Goldthwait Goes Bonnie and Clyde on Your Ass With ‘God Bless America’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on September 10, 2011 @ 10:58pm
Category: Movies / Exclusives

In God Bless America: “Loveless, jobless and possibly terminally ill, Frank has had enough of the downward spiral of America. With nothing left to lose, Frank takes his gun decides to off the stupidest, cruelest and most repellent members of society with an unusual accomplice: 16-year-old Roxy, who shares his sense of rage and disenfranchisement. From stand-up comedian and director Bobcat Goldthwait comes a scathing and hilarious attack on all that is sacred in the United States of America.”

Premiering at the Midnight Madness portion of TIFF, director Bobcat Goldthwait briefly chatted with Bloody Disgusting about the flick explaining that it dabbles in cruelty of Americans and is not quite a horror film, although it is inspired by the 1967 Bonnie and Clyde, a somewhat romanticized account of the career of the notoriously violent bank robbing couple and their gang.

In addition, Bobcat breaks the news that he is in fact writing a horror film as we speak!
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Content Selling ‘The Day’! Will It Be Better Than ‘Solarbabies’?

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 07, 2011 @ 8:05pm
Category: Movies / News

Many of the TIFF pics are actively looking for distribution and the post apocalyptic thriller The Day is one of them.

Per Content, “[we are] representing international rights and Kevin Iwashina of Preferred Content is handling North American rights. THE DAY will have its world premiere screening at TIFF in the Midnight Madness section.”

The Day stars “Shawn Ashmore (‘X-Men trilogy’), Ashley Bell (‘The Last Exorcism’), Michael Eklund (‘The Divide’), Cory Hardrict (‘Battle Los Angeles’, ‘Gran Torino’), Dominic Monaghan (‘The Lord of the Rings’, “Lost”), Shannyn Sossamon (‘A Knight’s Tale’, ‘Rules of Attraction’, ’40 Days & 40 Nights’) and is executive produced by Aarniokoski, Michael Finley, Tim James, Antonina Armato and Ross M. Dinerstein (‘The Pact’, ‘The Divide’, ‘The Killing Room’).”

Check out the trailer again after the jump!

TheDay070911 Content Selling The Day! Will It Be Better Than Solarbabies?

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on September 07, 2011 @ 11:24am
Category: Movies / News

Formerly Incident at Sans Asylum, The Ring remake producer Roy Lee is behind Alexandre Courtes’ The Incident, a violent new thriller starring Rupert Evans, Kenny Doughty, Unax Ugalde, Dave Legeno, Anna Skellern, Richard Brake, Eric Godon, Joseph Kennedy and Marcus Garvey.

Having its world premiere at the Midnight Madness portion of the Toronto International Film Festival (full lineup), Bloody has scored new hi-res looks at the “rock band in peril”-survival thriller.

“George, Max and Ricky are in a rock band and waiting for their big breakthrough. Between small gigs and rehearsals they work in the kitchen of a high-security asylum for good pay at minimum risk – they have no physical contact with the inmates. One night just before dinnertime, a big storm shuts down the security system, the doors open and the lunatics break loose. Help is on its way and should soon arrive… they just have to survive until it does.”

TIFF 11: More Rockin New Imagery from The Incident

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 31, 2011 @ 9:28pm
Category: Movies / News

Toronto residents take note: we’ve got a pair of tickets to the world premiere of Lovely Molly, Blair Witch Project co-creator Eduardo Sanchez’s horror film starring Johnny Lewis and Alexandra Holden.

Premiering next month at the “Midnight Madness” portion of TIFF, the event take place Wednesday, September 14 at 11:59PM at the Ryerson Theater (43 Gerrard St. East).

If you can 100% attend the event (to be fair to others, please only enter if you can go) all you have to do is send YOUR NAME with the subject “TIFF LOVELY MOLLY PREMIERE to [email protected]. Winner will be contacted on how to retrieve their tickets. They might also get lucky and meet the cast!

TIFF 11: Score a Pair of Tickets to the Midnight Madness Premiere of Lovely Molly!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 29, 2011 @ 11:54pm
Category: Movies / News

Having premiered last night on Dread Central, we’ve now got the official one sheet for Lovely Molly, Blair Witch Project co-creator Eduardo Sanchez’s horror film starring Johnny Lewis and Alexandra Holden. It will premiere next month at the “Midnight Madness” portion of TIFF.

TIFF 11: A Symbol of Terror in Lovely Molly One Sheet

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 29, 2011 @ 3:14pm
Category: Movies / News

Formerly known as The Possession, inside you’ll find four new stills from Lovely Molly, Blair Witch Project co-creator Eduardo Sanchez’s horror film starring Johnny Lewis and Alexandra Holden. It will premiere next month at the “Midnight Madness” portion of TIFF.

When newlywed Molly Reynolds returns to her long-abandoned family home, frightful reminders of a nightmarish childhood begin seeping into her new life. She soon begins an inexorable descent into evil that blurs the lines between psychosis and possession.

TIFF 11: Meet Lovely Molly in Latest Stills

Exclusive

Brooding Imagery Evokes a Feeling of Impending Doom in ‘Kill List’ Clip

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 26, 2011 @ 6:24am
Category: Movies / Exclusives

World Exclusive: Bloody Disgusting has been provided with an exclusive look at Ben Wheatley’s absolutely shocking Kill List (review), which will be screening at the “Midnight Madness” portion of the TIFF next month, while also opening in UK cinemas on September 2.

Not a whole lot happens in the clip, but it’s extremely representational of the brooding imagery and deep feelings of impending doom that viewers will experience. Kill List is truly a film lover’s treat.

Are you on the Kill List? Follow @ kill_list_movie to find out if you are a target! You can also keep up with the flick by becoming a Facebook fan.

“Eight months after a disastrous job in Kiev left him physically and mentally scarred, ex-soldier turned contract killer, Jay, is pressured by his partner, Gal, into taking a new assignment. As they descend into the dark and disturbing world of the contract, Jay begins to unravel once again – his fear and paranoia sending him deep into the heart of darkness.”

Brooding Imagery Evokes a Feeling of Impending Doom in Kill List Clip

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 25, 2011 @ 3:49pm
Category: Movies / News

IFC has unveiled a new red band clip from Ben Wheatley’s absolutely shocking Kill List (review), which will be screening at the “Midnight Madness” portion of the TIFF, while also opening in the UK on September 2.

The clip isn’t violent or anything – so it’s odd that it’s red band – but it does feature an intricate plot point that sort of revs the film into action mode. I still implore you to avoid watching or reading anything until it’s released.

“Eight months after a disastrous job in Kiev left him physically and mentally scarred, ex-soldier turned contract killer Jay, is pressured by his partner Gal, into taking a new assignment. As they descend into the dark, disturbing world of the contract, Jay begins to unravel once again – his fear and paranoia sending him deep into the heart of darkness.”

Red Band Kill List Clip Gets Back in the Game

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 16, 2011 @ 2:53pm
Category: Movies / News

While I continue to beg for you to avoid looking at anything related to the film until it hits theaters, some of you may want to gaze upon a hideous UK quad for Ben Wheatley’s absolutely shocking Kill List (review), which will be screening at the “Midnight Madness” portion of the TIFF, while also opning in the UK on September 2.

In addition to the quad, inside you’ll find the first official clip that features our contract killers making a fresh payday. Will it be worth coming out of retirement?

TIFF 11: A Fugly UK Quad, Contract Signed in First Clip From Kill List

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 15, 2011 @ 2:58pm
Category: Movies / News

Just added to to the line up for the Toronto International Film Festival is Randall Cole’s 388 Arletta Avenue , the Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Splice) produced horror flick starring Nick Stahl, Mia Kirshner and Devon Sawa. Inside you’ll find the first ever images, one of which brings Final Destination and Idle Hands star Sawa back to our genre!

“Shot from the point of view of hidden cameras, the film follows a thirty-something couple, James and Amy Deakin, as they are secretly videotaped 24/7 by a mysterious stalker in their home, on the streets and at their workplace. The stalker uses information gleaned from the footage to subtly manipulate the unsuspecting couple and cracks in their relationship surface. When Amy suddenly vanishes, James is not sure whether she has been abducted or has simply left him. As the acts of the tormentor become more twisted and violent, James desperately tries to figure out who is behind the terror in order to save his wife. But it seems the stalker is always one move ahead…”

TIFF 11: See Devon Sawa and Nick Stahl in First Ever 388 Arletta Avenue Imagery!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 12, 2011 @ 7:54pm
Category: Movies / News

Premiering at the “Midnight Madness” portion of the Toronto International Film Festival premieres (full list) is You’re Next!, a fresh spin on the home invasion subgenre that reteams A Horrible Way to Die director Adam Wingard with writer Simon Barrett (Dead Birds, Red Sands).

Having already revealed some images from the slasher that brings ’80s scream queen Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, From Beyond, Castle Freak, Puppet Master and even Chopping Mall) out of retirement, we’ve scored a fresh still featuring one of the masked assailants.

Sharni Vinson (Bait), Nick Tucci (Undocumented, Choose), Wendy Glenn (11-11-11), AJ Bowen (House of the Devil, Hatchet II, The Signal), Joe Swanberg, Margaret Laney, Amy Seimetz, Ti West (director of The Innkeepers, House of the Devil, The Roost), Calvin Reeder (director of The Oregonian), Larry Fessenden (Glass Eye Pix producer, director of The Last Winter, Habit), Kate Lyn Sheil (Silver Bullets), and Rob Moran also star.

“In ‘You’re Next’ the Davison family comes under attack from a terrifying group of sadistic murderers during a family reunion getaway. Barricaded in their secluded vacation home, they fight off a barrage of axes, crossbows and machetes from both inside and outside the house. However, the masked killers didn’t count on Erin (Vinson), the young girlfriend of the eldest Davison son whose mysterious past has made her very difficult to kill.”

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 04, 2011 @ 4:46pm
Category: Movies / News

Out of all of the Toronto International Film Festival premieres (full list), the one I’m most excited for is You’re Next!, a fresh spin on the home invasion subgenre that reteams A Horrible Way to Die director Adam Wingard with writer Simon Barrett (Dead Birds, Red Sands).

Having its world premiere at the “Midnight Madness” portion of TIFF, we scored some remarkable first official hi-res stills, while we also discovered that one of the “teaser” images (lo-res screengrab, sorry guys) features ’80s scream queen Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, From Beyond, Castle Freak, Puppet Master and even Chopping Mall)!!

TIFF 11: Stalkers Declare Youre Next: See Scream Queen Barbara Crampton!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 04, 2011 @ 4:33pm
Category: Movies / News

Having its world premiere at the Midnight Madness portion of the Toronto International Film Festival (full lineup), Bloody has scored a hi-res look at the first three images featuring the “rock band in peril”-survival thriller.

TIFF 11: Meet the Rock Band in Peril in Hi Res The Incident Stills

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 04, 2011 @ 4:13pm
Category: Movies / News

It was announced yesterday that TIFF’s Midnight Madness will play host to the world premiere of Doug Aarniokoski’s The Day, a new indie action thriller described as an “apocalyptic siege warfare film.”

Aarniokoski, a Robert Rodriguez protege, best know for his second unit director work on Takers, Resident Evil: Extinction and even Once Upon a Time in Mexico, is behind the camera for the flick featuring an all-star cast including Shawn Ashmore (X-Men, Frozen, Mother’s Day, The Ruins), Ashley Bell (The Last Exorcism), Cory Hardrict (Gran Torino, Battle: Los Angeles), Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings, “Lost”) and Shannyn Sossamon (Catacombs, One Missed Call)!

“In a post-apocalyptic future, an open war against humanity rages. Five survivors wander along rural back-roads, lost, starving and on the run. With dwindling food stocks and ammunition, an attempt at seeking shelter turns into a battleground where they must fight or die.”

Check out the first two hi-res images below and become a fan on Facebook.

TIFF 11: Hi Res The Day Still Introduces Motley Crew

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 03, 2011 @ 5:34pm
Category: Movies / News

It took nearly three hours but we’ve now compiled trailers, stills and posters for all of the announced genre films that will be premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival from September 8=18. Earlier this morning we announced just the “Midnight Madness” titles, now inside you’ll find a list of EVERYTHING genre that will blast the screen next month in Canada.

I’ve already seen Kill List and implore you to see it when you get a chance, it’s brilliant. I’m also very excited for You’re Next, the home invasion horror from Simon Barrett and Adam Wingard that stars horror legend Barbara Crampton! The Inside directors are returning with Livid, which promises to be a bloodfest. It’s completely overwhelming, but that just means 2012 is going to be jam-packed with new horror!

TIFF 11: ALL Genre Films Announced; Dozens of First Ever Stills!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 03, 2011 @ 2:12pm
Category: Movies / News

While most people vacation during the holidays, my own person break (that I work intensely through) is every September when I fly up to Canada for the annual Toronto International Film Festival, which always plays host to an amazing array of genre premieres (remember High Tension, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, REC 2, Inside, Martyrs and even Frontier(s)?) through its illustrious “Midnight Madness” sidebar.

Running from September 8-18, this year is no exception as TIFF will play host to some outrageous premieres: Inside directors Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo return with the world premiere of Livid; A Horrible Way to Die duo (writer Simon Barrett and director Adam Wingard) return to the fest with the world of their home invasion slasher You’re Next; Ben Wheatley is going to shock the thousands of audience members with Kill List; lastly comes an out of left field shocker from Bobcat Goldthwait entitled God Bless America (~~featuring the Carrie-esque phot released the other night.~~ We were asked to remove this image is it’s “not representational” of the film).

Check out the full list of ten films, and don’t forget that TIFF will also be presenting Twixt, Melancholia and The Skin I Live In.

TIFF 11: Astounding Midnight Madness Lineup Revealed!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 03, 2011 @ 4:24am
Category: Movies / News

After revealed a handful of image clues late last night, the official Midnight Madness Twitter was updated tonight with an announcement of the first three films playing as part of the Toronto International Film Festival from September 8-18.

So how epic will the event be? We’ve only got three films and already I’m excited out of my mind.

The first is the absolutely fantastic Kill List, which David Harley raved about out of the SXSW Film Festival this past March. Toronto audiences are going to literally lose their sh*t over this. It’s on my own person top 10 of 2011 thus far. IFC acquired the horror film about a group of demobbed soldiers turned contract killers who run up against a devil-worshipping coven.

Also playing is Doug Aarniokoski’s The Day, which stars Shawn Ashmore, Ashley Bell, Cory Hardrict, Dominic Monaghan, Shannyn Sossamon and Andrew Coutts. You’ve read a lot about the film here on Bloody, now I’m sure there’s plenty more in the pipeline leading up to its premiere!

The other film isn’t horror, but that means tomorrow you’ll wake up to FOUR more genre film announcements. Also showing is Katsuhito Ishii’s Japanese action comedy Smuggler, which you’ll find details on inside.
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TIFF ’11: Eight Images Tease ‘Midnight Madness’ Portion of Fest!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 02, 2011 @ 5:40am
Category: Movies / News

The best genre festival around is gearing up to announce their ten films, but before they do we’re all going to have to play a little guessing game.

Colin Geddis, programmer of the illustrious “Midnight Madness” portion of the Toronto International Film Festival, has spent the evening unloading “teaser images” from 8 of the 10 film lineup that will take place September 8-18. He also teases via the official Midnight Madness TIFF Twitter: “Here are the stats for Midnight Madness #TIFF11: 2/10 are comedies; 2/10 are action; 6/10 are horror.”

Inside you’ll find the handful of bloody images. What films do you think they are? I’m pretty sure I’ve figured out three of them but I’m going to let you guys have some fun before everything is revealed!