Movies
‘Saw’ Director Conjures Up ‘Paranormal Activity 2’ for Historic Battle!
This is hilarious, awesome and epic all in one. Kevin Greutert, the director of Saw VI, will be getting behind the camera for Paramount Pictures’ Paranormal Activity 2. This is where it gets awesome; Paramount has slated the film for release on October 22 putting it toe-to-toe with Lionsgate’s Saw VII. The funny part is that Saw was literally pounded by Paranormal this past October, so to see the director of the sixth film jump franchises has me giggling a little bit – especially since Lionsgate decided to go back with David Hackl (who directed the lousy Saw V) instead of Greutert (who I personally thought did a remarkable job on VI) for the latest Jigsaw game in 3-D. Confused? Good. That’ll teach you. Read on for the full announcement.
From the Heat Vision Blog on THR:
“Something’s moving in the “Paranormal Activity 2” house.
Paramount has hired screenwriter Michael R. Perry and director Kevin Greutert to create the sequel to 2009’s biggest surprise hit, “Paranormal Activity,” which scared up $151 million in worldwide grosses in the fall on a shoestring $15,000 budget and a shrewd, opt-in Web marketing campaign.
Significantly, Paramount will unleash it in theaters on the pre-Halloween weekend of October 22, which sets it against that date’s reigning champion in previous years, the next installment in Lionsgate’s “Saw” series (this year would be “VII”). In a symbolic twist, Greutert made his directorial debut on the sixth “Saw” film, which grossed just $31 million worldwide, with observers thinking that the franchise may be bleeding dry.
Jason Blum and Oren Peli, who masterminded the first “Activity,” are producing the second iteration. Steven Schneider will serve as executive producer.
“These guys get it, and the fans won’t be disappointed,” said Peli of Perry and Greutert’s participation.
Unsurprisingly, the filmmakers are keeping the story line — as well as the film’s actual title — hidden in the attic.“
In the Ozploitation tradition, the upcoming Aussie flick Penny Lane Is Dead is a blood-soaked, ’80s-set horror thriller, and we’ve learned that it’s coming to Shudder this Summer.
Penny Lane Is Dead premieres August 28 on Shudder.
Watch the official trailer down below.
Set on a hot summer’s night in 1986 Australia, 17-year old Penny Lane is celebrating getting into college with her longtime girlfriends. After Penny’s jealous and troubled cousin decides a cruel prank is in order, what begins as a thoughtless spiked cupcake game spirals into a night of bloodshed and revenge.
Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn, Tahlee Fereday, Alexandra Jensen (Talk to Me), Bailey Spalding, Steve Le Marquand (Vertical Limit), Fletcher Humphrys (“Wolf Creek”), and Ben O’Toole (Hacksaw Ridge) star in Penny Lane Is Dead.
Writer-director Mia’Kate Russell makes her feature debut on the project.
Russell said in a statement, “It’s exhilarating that my feature directorial debut is being released by Shudder, one of the most fearless and bold distributors out there. The Shudder team has such a keen understanding of genre films, and are the perfect partners to unleash this powerful film with audiences.”
The film is the first outing from Sanctuary Pictures, the production arm of Umbrella Entertainment, who produces alongside Buffalo Media and in association with Cyan Films.