Endless Media announced ahead of EFM that Michael Bonvillain, the cinematographer behind numerous hit feature film and TV series such as Cloverfield, Zombieland and “LOST,” will direct the darkly comedic horror feature Teddy Bears Are For Lovers, Bloody Disgusting learned.
The film, set during a campus-wide Valentine’s Day party, follows college playboy Collin and his current head-over-heels girlfriend Sarah as they are targeted by a group of bloodthirsty, but adorable teddy bears who come to life seeking revenge for the broken hearts of Collin’s ex-girlfriends. Together, the couple must evade the teddy bears and earn the forgiveness of these begrudged and wildly different ex-girlfriends before the sun rises in order to break the curse — all while confronting whether their current relationship is meant to be.
The script was penned by David Ernesto Vendrell, from a story by Vendrell, Matthew Hawksworth and Almog Avidan Antonir, and is based on their award-winning short film. The film is set to be Produced by Endless Media and Executive Produced by the legendary Joe Dante (Gremlins, Small Soldiers). Endless is also in talks with Peter Jackson’s Weta Workshop, the Academy Award-winning special effects company, to design and build the malevolent teddy bears and special effects for the film!
“It’s rare to find a project with the right balance of humor, scares and emotions that can make a film entertaining on so many various levels,” says Bonvillain. “This project, which at its heart is a love story, builds so many different layers on top of it to create an absolutely horrifying and hilarious thrill ride that keeps you entertained from start to finish. Having been involved as a cinematographer on a number of great films over the years that blended elements of horror and thriller with comedy.”
Bonvillain won a Primetime Emmy Award for his Cinematography on “Alias,” and has since lent his skills to an impressive slate of film and television projects including the upcoming third season of Sundance TV’s “Hap and Leonard,” HBO’s “Westworld,” “Lost,” Cloverfield, Zombieland, Wanderlust, and American Ultra. Teddy Bears Are for Lovers will mark Bonvillain’s feature-length directorial debut.