Interviews
David R. Ellis Latest Name Attached to ‘Clock Tower’
With nine projects currently in-development, Shark Night 3D director David R. Ellis is a busy man. Although a live-action adaptation of anime Kite is his next project, Ellis has revealed details about two horror films on his “To Do List.”
Sara Paxton is attached to star in The Briar Lake Murders and Ellis, who’s directing, told Australian stringer Maria Lewis (@moviemazz) that the film follows a traditional killer in the woods storyline.
“It’s a movie about these kids that go on vacation and there’s a serial killer out there,” he said. “It’s got a good script and good people involved; I’m just not sure how soon that’s going to happen.”
The more interesting of the two sounds like The Thing-inspired Clock Tower which Ellis said is a “cool” supernatural horror. (Editor’s note: The project has been in development for over 6 years now and this is the first time it has been reported that Ellis is attached.) “Clock Tower is about a spirit force that takes over peoples bodies and makes them do really horrific things,” he said.
“It kind of goes from body to body searching for people with an elevated heartbeat.
“At the right time it gets in there and people go crazy and start killing other people.
“It’s really well written and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The project has been in development for years and concerns a young woman who receives a disturbing phone call from her estranged mother warning her not to come home. When she investigates, she uncovers a terrible supernatural truth from her past. Martin Weisz was previously attached as was Jorge Olguin back in 2006.
Both films are slated with a 2012 release but you can expect that to be pushed back considering the “big budget” nature of Kite, which is currently in pre-production. Set to film in South Africa, Ellis revealed in September that he was going after Blake Lively or Jennifer Lawrence to star as the heroine in the edgy thriller set in a post-apocalyptic Japan.
Note: reference to article where he revealed casting hopes.
As the inaugural season of Apple TV+’s stellar new series “Widow’s Bay” barrels toward its finale in two weeks, the latest episode gives Kate O’Flynn the spotlight as her character revisits her trauma with the Boogeyman.
“Your Baggage“, directed by Andrew DeYoung (Friendship), sees O’Flynn’s scene-stealing Patricia once again renew her fight with the Michael Myers-like stalker that slaughtered her peers during her adolescence. Thrillingly, it makes for one extended chase sequence that sees Patricia trying to warn others, while evading the undead killer.
In short, this episode’s incredible riff on Halloween and the slasher subgenre transformed Patricia into a fierce Final Girl.
“Well, that felt like a bucket list that I didn’t know was on my bucket list until I did it, but when I did it, I just lapped up every minute,” O’Flynn tells Bloody Disgusting of her triumphant turn this episode. “It felt fantastic for her to get that moment where she is becoming a badass. That was amazing.”
The actress turned to a few notable references for her performance. “Horror-wise, I go back to my youth, which was referenced in some of the episodes: Wicker Man, Carrie, and Rosemary’s Baby, that sort of thing is my kind of vibe.”
O’Flynn also notes how the series’ unique tone allows for so much creative freedom to make bold swings. “There’s something very freeing about it. Every moment is up for grabs, so it’s like we don’t have to totally land in one direction or another. It keeps it alive.“
Patricia is the eccentric assistant to Matthew Rhys‘ Mayor Tom Loftis, who’s at the forefront of trying to solve the island’s pesky curse predicament. Rhys felt the same about “Widow’s Bay” and its rare ability to make you laugh and scream in equal measure, stemming from series creator Katie Dippold.
“The mandate was, ‘It’s a real world with real people. You play for real.’ There’s no playing for comedy or horror,” Rhys echoes O’Flynn’s sentiments on how freeing the series’ tone has been.
New episodes will release every Wednesday through June 17 only on Apple TV+.
Kate O’Flynn in “Widow’s Bay,” now streaming on Apple TV.
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