Exclusives
Dafoe Talks Dean Koontz’ ‘Odd Thomas’
Willem Dafoe has spoken out about his part in the movie version of Dean Koontz’ best-selling novel Odd Thomas. Anton Yelchin stars in the supernatural thriller as a clairvoyant short-order cook who encounters a mysterious man with a link to dark forces. Fifteen minutes of behind the scenes footage and finished scenes were showed at the Australian International Movie Convention earlier in the year and demonstrated director Stephen Sommers’ quirky horror film approach.
Although Dafoe said he hasn’t seen any of the footage himself, he has high hopes. The two-time Oscar-nominated star talks exclusively to Australian stringer Maria Lewis (@moviemazz). Story inside. “You know, I haven’t seen any of it but I’m glad you’ve seen it and it looks good,” he said.
“There are many interesting things about that but what I’m really struck by is how good this young actor Anton Yelchin is.
“He’s fantastic, very bright, and he’s a really talented guy.”
Dafoe said he plays a “supporting role” in Odd Thomas along Addison Timlin, Patton Oswalt, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Nico Tortorella. Sommers, who’s best know for his big budget blockbusters such as The Mummy franchise, Van Helsing and G.I. Joe: Rise Of The Cobra, is directing and adapted the screenplay from the first novel in Koontz’ popular series.
Featuring Satanic plots, demons, and psychics, Dafoe said the scariest thing about the shoot was Sommers.
“Stephen is very energetic, he’s scary,” he said.
“But it makes him a lot of fun to be around.
“That experience was interesting because it’s not his normal kind of movie.
“He’s made a lot of really huge effects movies and while this does have effects in it, it’s a smaller movie.
“It has a lot of dramatic and touching type scenes.
“It was one of those cases where he fell in love with the book and it’s a very personal movie for him.”
Dafoe said he was “happy to be onboard” and, like the rest of the crew, was a big fan of the novels.
Odd Thomas is slated with a 2012 release.
Exclusives
New Documentaries Explore the Cult Legacies of ‘The Keep’ and ‘Wolfen’; Watch the Trailers Now [Exclusive]
Undersung werewolf gem Wolfen and Michael Mann’s The Keep get the spotlight in a pair of feature documentaries acquired by Antenna Releasing.
A World War II Fairy Tale, which covers the infamous production of and reception to The Keep, will receive a limited theatrical release in October, followed by a TVOD release on Apple/Amazon. The Keep will also screen as a double feature for some showings.
For Uncovering Wolfen, Antenna eyes a limited theatrical release for 2027. Both films are currently available for booking via Antenna prior to their theatrical and digital releases.
Both documentaries are directed by Stewart Buck, who co-helms with Stéphane Piter on A World War II Fairy Tale.
“We at Antenna are obsessed with film history,” said Chief Acquisitions Officer Billy Ray Brewton. “Stewart has done such a remarkable job of really diving into the deepest recesses of how these films were made and, in doing so, has created the definitive histories of both projects.”
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Antenna Releasing!” said director Buck. “It’s refreshing to see a filmmaker-friendly approach to distribution with people who know what it’s like to be in the trenches with independent projects that struggle to find a home in the crowded marketplace.”
Check out our exclusive trailer and poster reveal of both documentaries below.
Released in 1983, Michael Mann’s The Keep was a notorious box office bomb, critically lambasted and all but forgotten for years, save for the fascination with Tangerine Dream’s iconic score. In recent years, the film has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence and is widely considered a cult classic, though director Michael Mann and many cast members refuse to acknowledge it.
Wolfen, on the other hand, was critical success but was overshadowed heavily by its flashier 1981 siblings An American Werewolf in London and The Howling. It’s also a trailblazer for socio-political horror, and the doc will explore that via the craftspeople who made it.
Look for them both in theaters soon. Stay tuned for more as it arrives.
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