Movies
Sony Pictures Locks Down ‘Dance Of The Dead’ Team For ‘Lockdown At Franklin High’
First of all, if you’ve never seen Dance Of the Dead that’s a situation you should remedy quickly. Director Gregg Bishop and Screenwriter Joe Ballarini fashioned a great, fun gory and touching John Hughes influenced yarn out of a meager budget. I recommend it highly.
Not they’re back with Lockdown At Franklin High, “about a straight edge teen girl and her rebellious, socially outcast brother as they try to escape from their prison-like high school which has been locked down and plunged into anarchy and pandemonium due to the attacks of a ravenous, supernatural monster. The inspiration is real high school lockdowns and tragedies and the intention is to use that for a dark and visceral roller coaster of intense fear and emotion.”
Platinum Dunes’ Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form are also in the mix. Per Deadline, “Sony Pictures ended the week by closing preemptive deal for Lockdown At Franklin High, a spec script by ‘Dance of the Dead’ team of Greg Bishop and Joe Ballarini. The bidding was competitive and Sony’s plan is to move quickly to get a director and put the film into production. Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form also in conversations to produce.”
It’s interesting that they’re looking for a director, since Bishop directed Dance with Ballarini getting sole writing credit. I assumed he would be directing this project as well. Looks like they collaborated on the script and are looking for someone else to helm. We’ll see how this plays out. Either way? It’s good news.
Sunrise Films has announced the official North American release of William Bagley‘s horror comedy Hold the Fort, and it’s accompanied by an energetic new trailer.
Hold the Fort debuts on digital platforms on June 23.
In the film, “Lucas and Jenny think their life is finally coming together when the couple become homeowners. Little do they know that their new house comes with a big catch. Lucas and Jenny soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when they become trapped in a battle between their Homeowners Association and an onslaught of monsters from hell. The horror-comedy takes the timely concern of home-ownership and wraps this up in an entertaining action-packed thrill ride.“
Watch the new trailer below, which introduces one wild HOA gathering during an equinox. Things get bloody fast.
Chris Mayers (Adult Swim Yule Log), Haley Leary (“The Walking Dead”), Levi Burdick, and Julian Smith star.
William Bagley writes and directs, in addition to producing with Smith, Matt Dodd, Luke Williams, and Tim Reis (Adult Swim Yule Log).
Ahead of the release, Bagley said, “My goal with this film was to make a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while also telling a great story with heart. Hopefully, through all the blood, laughs, fights, and gags, you leave the film feeling inspired to tackle whatever life throws at you.“
Hold the Fort premiered at Fantasia last summer before going on to play FrightFest London, Toronto After Dark, and Beyond Fest.
I wrote in my review, “It’s an infectiously charming assemblage of jokes and monster vignettes bound together by a barebones plot with not much on its mind beyond delivering an entertaining time.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.