Saturday 31 October 2020

Willy's Wonderland - Official Teaser Starring Nicolas Cage

Willy's Wonderland (originally titled Wally's Wonderland) is an upcoming American horror film written by G.O. Parsons and directed by Kevin Lewis.

The film stars Nicolas Cage, Emily Tosta, Beth Grant, Caylee Cowan, and Ric Reitz.

A quiet drifter stranded in a remote town agrees to work as a night-shift janitor at Willy's Wonderland, a once-successful abandoned family entertainment center. However, his tasks suddenly become an all-out fight for survival when the facility's eight animatronic characters come to life and try to kill him. Now, teaming up with a group of teens who also find their way into the building, he is forced to defend himself in a desperate race to survive until morning.

Jackie Chan's Vanguard Trailer and Behind the Scenes Featurette



Vanguard is a 2020 Chinese action adventure spy-thriller drama film written and directed by Stanley Tong, starring Jackie Chan, Yang Yang and Miya Muqi. The film was scheduled to be released on 25 January 2020 in China but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is Jackie Chan's seventh film with director Stanley Tong.

An accountant is threatened by the world's deadliest mercenary organization and Covert security company Vanguard is the last hope of survival for him.

Jackie Chan as Tang Huanting

Yang Yang as Lei Zhenyu

Ai Lun as Zhang Kaixuan

Miya Muqi as Mi Ya

Zhu Zhengting as Shendiao

Fady Zaky as The Bodyguard

Xu Ruo Han as Fareeda



VANGUARD - "Director Stanley Tong" Featurette - Behind the Scenes (2020) Jackie Chan Movie

Tuesday 27 October 2020

Gritty British drama My Day from director Ibrahim Miiro arrives on digital 7th December

A darkly gripping drama shedding light on the grim realities of street life, My Day, the feature debut from one-to-watch South London director Ibrahim Miiro premiered at Raindance Film Festival 2019 to critical acclaim and is set for its UK digital release on 7 December 2020 courtesy of Patriot Films.

Life isn't easy for Ally (Hannah Laresa Smith), a deprived young woman living between an East London Estate and the streets of London, but she tries her best to makes ends meet by delivering drugs, keeping her head down and staying out of trouble…That is until what starts out as a normal day quickly turns sour when a customer takes advantage of her, leaving her hurt, humiliated, and in deep trouble.

Now she owes money to unforgiving dealer Carol (Sallyann Fellowes) and dangerous mob boss Ilyas (Gediminas Adomaitis). With the sharks circling, Ally searches for help from those close to her – can she rely on her street-savvy friend Josie (Lisa Sheerin), Carol's son Kevin (Karl Jackson), who she has recently bonded with, or could there be someone else looking out for her in the most unlikely of places?


Heist Comedy Finding Steve McQueen set for UK Release - Starring Travis Fimmel, William Fichtner, Rachael Taylor & Forest Whitaker

The Movie Partnership have announced that their heist comedy, Finding Steve McQueen will be released in the UK on 16th November.

The film stars Travis Fimmel (Raised by Wolves), Rachael Taylor (Jessica Jones), William Fichtner (Armageddon) and Academy Award winner, Forest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland) and is directed by Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil, Ghost Rider).

Based on the true story of the Youngstown mob, President Richard Nixon, the FBI, and the biggest bank heist in US history! In 1972, a gang of likeminded thieves plan a heist to steal $30 million in illegal campaign contributions from the President's secret fund.

Available on Apple TV at

Monday 26 October 2020

RELIC - In Cinemas & on Digital Friday - Starring Emily Mortimer

A deeply unsettling psychological horror, Relic is the unforgettable debut feature from writer and director Natalie Erika James who brings a fresh and profoundly human twist to the genre. Following its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it terrified audiences & received widespread critical acclaim – the film is set to thrill UK & Irish viewers this Halloween.

Relic is produced by Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw of Carver Films alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Riva Marker of Nine Stories Productions. The film is executive produced by The Russo Brothers AGBO Films'. The film will be released by Signature Entertainment in partnership with the Frightfest Presents Label.

When elderly mother Edna (Robyn Nevin, The Matrix, Top of the Lake), inexplicably vanishes, her daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer, Mary Poppins the Returns, The Party & Shutter Island) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote, The Neon Demon) rush to their family's decaying country home, finding clues of her increasing dementia scattered around the house in her absence. After Edna returns just as mysteriously as she disappeared, Kay's concern that her mother seems unwilling or unable to say where she's been clashes with Sam's unabashed enthusiasm to have her grandma back. As Edna's behaviour turns increasingly volatile, both begin to sense that an insidious presence in the house might be taking control of her.

In cinemas and digital 30th October
With previews in Showcase Cinemas on 29th October
Certificate 15 / Running time 89 Minutes


COMPETITION: Win Monsoon on Blu-ray

Monsoon - released on DVD and Blu-ray 2nd November 

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on Blu-ray to give away.

Synopsis
Directed by Hong Khaou (Lilting), MONSOON is a visual and emotional tour de force with a tender performance from Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians, The Gentlemen). The film is a rich and poignant exploration of the struggle for identity in a place where the past weighs heavily on the present.  

Kit (Henry Golding, Crazy Rich Asians, The Gentlemen) returns to Ho Chi Minh City for the first time since he was six years old when his family fled the country in the aftermath of the Vietnam-American war. Struggling to make sense of himself in a city he’s no longer familiar with, he embarks on a personal journey across the country that opens up the possibility for friendship, love and happiness. 

Buy From Amazon at
https://amzn.to/3kvhXEM

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED


Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 09-11-20
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

Saturday 24 October 2020

REVIEW: Paranormal comedy DEAD

Review by Jon Donnis
As the leading expert in all things Paranormal in the UK, I am clearly the best person to review any film that comes under the Paranormal genre, I am also incredible humble. So when I got asked to review a film about a "psychic" who teams up with a dead cop to solve crimes, I have to say I rolled my eyes, here we go, another clichéd film, within a genre that has been done to death (pun intended), HOWEVER this film is anything but a cliché, in fact it is one of the most original films I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot of films.

We start off with Marbles (played by the excellent Thomas Sainsbury), a man who enjoys to smoke what I believe the youth call "the weed", he also has found a way to see ghosts, by injecting himself with a mixture of his dad's medication and Cannabis, he finds himself helping the dead cross over by passing on their messages to their loved ones, typical psychic stuff so far, but he finds himself being annoyed by a dead cop called Tagg (Hayden J. Weal), Tagg has been murdered and needs help to find the serial killer. Reluctantly Marbles agrees after a promise of a big insurance pay out to buy his family house and the adventure begins.

I would best describe this film as a comedy horror, there are quite a few laugh out loud moments, one between Marbles and Tagg's sister Yana (played by the gorgeous Tomai Ihaia) really got me. But this film does not just play for laughs, there are some really good proper horror moments, suspenseful moments and even some fun action scenes. 

I enjoyed this film, it was not what I expected, it is a completely original take on the genre, and deserves your attention.

The Good
All the characters are like-able, you really do want Marbles to succeed, and there is even a fun after credits scene as well.

The Bad
Perhaps a few scenes could have been tightened up a bit to reduce the run time, but that really is nit picking.

Overall
I enjoyed this film, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the comedy horror genre. Support Indie Films and watch this! NOW

8/10

DEAD will be available on Digital Download from 27th October
DEAD will also be at Frightfest on 22nd October (UK Premiere) & Soho Horror Fest on 6th November

Review By Jon Donnis

iTunes:
More ways to watch at

  

Friday 23 October 2020

JIU JITSU | UK Trailer | Starring Nicolas Cage, Tony Jaa, Frank Grillo and Alain Moussi

YOURS TO OWN DECEMBER 21

NICOLAS CAGE is back and this time he's got a sword and an alien invasion knocking at his door!

The future hangs in the balance as a being from another world returns to Earth to face off against the best warriors the human race has to offer. From special ops soldiers to the best in MMA, this epic battle for the survival of Earth will place humanity on the brink of extinction.

An all-star action packed cast lead the fight. JIU JITSU stars FRANK GRILLO (Captain America: Winter Soldier), ALAIN MOUSSI (Kickboxer: Retaliation) and TONY JAA (Ong-Bak).

Alain Moussi as Jake Barnes
Frank Grillo as Harrigan
JuJu Chan as Carmen
Tony Jaa as Keung
Nicolas Cage as Wylie
Rick Yune as Captain Sand
Marie Avgeropoulos as Myra[


ONCE UPON A SNOWMAN | Disney+ Trailer | Official Disney UK

The previously untold origins of Olaf, the innocent and insightful, summer-loving snowman who melted hearts in the Academy Award®-winning 2013 Disney animated feature, Frozen, and its acclaimed 2019 sequel, are revealed in the all-new Walt Disney Animation Studios animated short, Once Upon a Snowman. The film follows Olaf's first steps as he comes to life and searches for his identity in the snowy mountains outside Arendelle.

Thursday 22 October 2020

New Trailer for Ryan Murphy's THE PROM

Directed By | Ryan Murphy

Based  On | The Broadway Musical by Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin and Matthew Sklar, originally produced for the stage by Bill Damaschke, Dori Berinstein and Jack Lane, and based on an original concept by Jack Viertel

Starring | Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Jo Ellen Pellman, Ariana Debose, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Chamberlin, Mary Kay Place, Nico Greetham, Logan Riley, Nathaniel J. Potvin, Sofia Deler, and Kerry Washington

Dee Dee Allen (three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman (Tony Award winner James Corden) are New York City stage stars with a crisis on their hands: their expensive new Broadway show is a major flop that has suddenly flatlined their careers. Meanwhile, in small-town Indiana, high school student Emma Nolan (newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman) is experiencing a very different kind of heartbreak: despite the support of the high school principal (Keegan-Michael Key), the head of the PTA (Kerry Washington) has banned her from attending the prom with her girlfriend, Alyssa (Ariana DeBose). When Dee Dee and Barry decide that Emma's predicament is the perfect cause to help resurrect their public images, they hit the road with Angie (Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman) and Trent (Andrew Rannells), another pair of cynical actors looking for a professional lift. But when their self-absorbed celebrity activism unexpectedly backfires, the foursome find their own lives upended as they rally to give Emma a night where she can truly celebrate who she is.

Directed by Ryan Murphy and also starring Tracey Ullman, Kevin Chamberlin, Mary Kay Place, Nico Greetham Logan Riley, Nathaniel J. Potvin and Sofia Deler, The Prom is the spectacular, big-hearted film adaptation of Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin and Matthew Sklar's award-winning, Tony-nominated Broadway musical. Screenplay by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin; the film is produced by Ryan Murphy, Alexis Martin Woodall, Adam Anders, Dori Berinstein and Bill Damaschke.

First look at poster & trailer for VHS Retro Horror 'RENT-A-PAL' starring Wil Wheaton

Set in 1990, a lonely bachelor named David (Brian Landis Folkins) searches for an escape from the day-to-day drudgery of caring for his ageing mother (Kathleen Brady). Whilst seeking a partner through a video dating service, he discovers a strange VHS tape called Rent-A-Pal. Hosted by the charming and charismatic Andy (Wil Wheaton – Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Big Bang Theory, Stand By Me), the tape offers him much-needed friendship. But it comes at a cost.

Rent-A-Pal will be released on Digital Download from November 16 Pre-order here!
https://apple.co/3oiweXs


Wednesday 21 October 2020

Chilling Spanish Horror, Ropes, set for UK release on 19th November

Smart Dog Productions have announced that their latest Spanish horror thriller, Ropes, will be released on Digital Download from 19th November.

It was recently screened at Manchester's Grimmfest, where it won Best Feature Film and Best Actress.

With her sister's death still very recent, Elena, a young quadriplegic, has retired to a country house along with her father. There she has the help of Author, a Belgian Shepherd service dog. But the animal who is supposed to be her best friend has contracted a strange disease… and has turned into her worst enemy.

Smart Dog's Dom Williams commented on the release: 
"There are some outstanding genre titles are coming from Spain right now. Horror is an international language and the themes in Ropes are universal – so we're thrilled that this title will get the UK release it deserves.".
 
Ropes will be on Digital Download from 19th November

Director: Jose Luis Montesinos
Cast: Paula Del Rio, Miguel Angel Jenner, Jordi Aguilar
Runtime: 87 Mins


Tuesday 20 October 2020

A Brand New Retelling of 'A Christmas Carol', Coming to Cinemas and Theatres from November 27th

A Christmas Carol, a brand new retelling of the classic family Christmas tale, will be coming to both cinemas and select theatres nationwide from November 27th, as Scrooge looks to help save Christmas.
 
Simon Russell Beale, Martin Freeman, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Kaluuya and Andy Serkis lend their voices to the tale, whilst dance performances are led by former Royal Ballet soloist and BalletBoyz founder Michael Nunn as Scrooge, Jakub Franasowicz, Russell Maliphant, Karl Fagerlund Brekke, Mikey Boats, Grace Jabbari and Dana Fouras.
 
A Christmas Carol follows a Victorian family as they prepare a toy-theatre for their annual performance of A Christmas Carol. The audience enters the imagination of one of the children and quickly the cardboard stage transforms to reveal a magical world containing real dancers and stylised sets.  The tale unfolds on screen in a rich tapestry of highly absorbing, haunting and theatrical drama with characters portrayed by dancers and voiced by an eclectic cast of incredible actors. The mix of danced action and spoken narration brings a completely new and exciting dimension to Dickens' characters whilst remaining true to the beauty of his original narrative.


CHRONICAL: 2067 | UK Trailer | Sci-Fi | Starring Ryan Kwanten, Kodi Smit-McPhee

YOURS TO OWN DECEMBER 7
An extinction event has begun and the human race just hit the endangered species list.

With air so polluted that the only way to breathe is through manufactured air canisters, the human race is on its knees until a message from the future gives one of the biggest corporations on Earth hope.

A reclusive young man named Ethan is to be the saviour of the human race but what he discovers in his journey through time is an unthinkable conspiracy that could lead him to change the course of his timeline forever.

Would you save humanity if you knew humanity may not be worth saving after all?


The Last Shift - Official Trailer - At Cinemas November 13

The Last Shift is an American story about two men struggling in the same town, while worlds apart. Stanley (Richard Jenkins), an aging fast-food worker, plans to call it quits after 38 years on the graveyard shift at Oscar's Chicken and Fish. His last weekend takes a turn while training his replacement, Jevon (Shane Paul McGhie), a talented but stalled young writer whose provocative politics keep landing him in trouble. These two who share little in common are brought together through circumstance.  Stanley, a high school dropout who has watched life pass by his drive-through window, proudly details the nuances of the job. While Jevon, a columnist who's too smart to be flipping patties, contends their labour is being exploited. A flicker of comradery sparks during the long overnight hours in a quiet kitchen.

Saturday 17 October 2020

Interview with Matt Harris

Matt Harris is a UK based director of photography and creative director based just outside London in the UK. He is the director and cinematographer of the new upcoming documentary "Rom Boys: 40 Years of Rad", released by 1091 Pictures in October and which recently won best feature documentary at the 2020 Paris Surf and Skate Film Festival. Rom Boys is the first feature length documentary to look at the early skate and BMX scene in London. Now married with two children (and three Staffordshire Bull Terriers), Matt began his visual image making career in the early 90's whilst living in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean and the Marshall Islands in the Pacific shooting underwater stills and video of big wildlife and WWII shipwrecks. Now he runs a digital marketing and production agency but also shoots and directs anything from documentary to branded content, commercial and music videos for various production houses and brands around the globe. His first feature length film, Rom Boys: 40 years of Rad follows the story of the world's only historically recognised skatepark and the eclectic group of skaters and riders who have kept it thriving for the past forty years. Following a devastating fire the story then highlights the struggle a dogged group of old school skaters, BMX riders and street artists undertake as they team together to fight to keep the park open. The film also looks at the wider influence the skate world has had on UK urban culture from street art to fashion, music and graffiti with interviews from some of the worlds' biggest names in skate, BMX and street art from past and present from the UK and USA.


How did you break into the business, sir?

I'm still not sure I have broken into the business. I'm completely self taught. I didn't go to film school, I was working as a dive instructor in the Pacific when I picked up a stills camera and then taught myself photography above and underwater (back in the day when it was all on 35mm film). Then when the internet came along I began learning web design , graphic design, Photoshop then video editing  and eventually switching to filming on video when the cameras became more accessible price wise. I've never worked for anyone but myself for the last 20 years and I'm still trying to break in.

 

And have you been juggling a day-time job at the same time?

Yes, there's no way I could have worked on this for five years without any pay. I run a small digital marketing and production agency and also do freelance DP work for corporates, TV and small Indy productions around the UK, Europe and have done shoots for US companies in Africa as well in recent years.

 

What was the first thing you shot?

The very first commercial filming that I can really remember was some underwater video footage of WWII wrecks in the Western Pacific – I was working as a dive instructor in the Marshall Islands and was given an underwater film camera to shoot 'B' roll for a Brazilian TV crew.

 

And was that also the first time you realized "hey, this filmmaking thing is working!?"?

Not really. I was more a stills photographer at the time and didn't really get moving image, I was all about the art of composition and the single frame. It was much, much later that I made the switch from stills to the moving image.

 

How much do you have riding on the doco?

Everything!  This has been five years in the making – when you give that much of yourself to something then it literally takes over your life. I've lost track of what success looks like for this film and for me, off the back of this but I'm hoping it opens some new interesting doors and at the same time closes some not so interesting ones !

 

Is it a personal project?

Whilst it started life as a personal project but then at some point in the last couple of years became all consuming and was something I thought might actually have some commercial appeal.

 

Who and what were the inspirations for it?

Taking my daughter, Emma,  to Rom around 5 years ago,I couldn't believe it was still open (I used to go as a kid) – so if I hadn't taken her that day then this film would never have been made. Also the characters at the park, people like Dion and Graham  - if you see the film you'll see just why you're drawn in to wanting to know more about these guys and their stories. They were the real source of inspiration – the original Rom Boys.  But yeah, really,  I guess you could say those last five years of anxiety are all my daughters fault !

 

Is there a message behind the movie?

I guess the message is really one of community and how the shared passion and love of a place can span generations and create lifelong friendships.

 

Would you consider a follow-up in 10 years or so?

If you'd asked me six months ago I'd say never, but the way things have progressed at the park and the direction it is heading I think a ten year return could be really interesting. The film is called Rom Boys:40 Years of Rad but now we're really starting to see girls get more involved with the park. Something that has never happened like it is happening now, so I'd like to see if that continues for the next 10 years and we can do a sequel – Rom Girls: The Next 40 Years of Rad !

 

Buy Rom Girls: The Next 40 Years of Rad !

https://amzn.to/3dElWvZ





Friday 16 October 2020

Concrete Plans - UK Trailer - 2020 British Thriller


CONCRETE PLANS on Digital from 23rd November, from Signature Entertainment and FrighFest Presents. 

Some debts are paid in blood… A manor house in disrepair and a landowner with a fierce temper and cash flow problem meets his match when confronted with a bill he can’t pay. Time is running out and the builders living on his land want their pound of flesh. When it becomes clear there is no cash, a red mist descends, the class divide widens and a simple dispute turns into a shockingly horrific display of violence as events spiral out of control. 

Starring Amber Rose Revah (Emily in Paris), James Lance (Ted Lasso) and Steve Speirs (Stella). From director Will Jewell.

Thursday 15 October 2020

Bullets of Justice Starring Danny Trejo - Official Red Band Trailer

In the post-apocalyptic aftermath of World War 3, an army of half-human half-pig super-soldiers takes over the world. Created by the American government, this "Bacon Army" got out of control and now occupies the top of the food chain - farming humans as its favorite food. Rob Justice is an ex-bounty hunter working with the last line of human resistance - a group of survivors hiding in a nuclear bunker deep underground. It is up to Justice to figure out how to destroy them, and liberate humankind.

BULLETS OF JUSTICE stars Danny Trejo, Timur Turisbekov, Yana Marinova, Dessy Slavova, Doroteya Toleva, and Ester Chardaklieva. It's directed by Valeri Milev and was written by Milev and Timur Turisbekov.

Uncle Frank starring Paul Bettany - Debut Trailer

Written and Directed by Alan Ball
Starring Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Peter Macdissi, Judy Greer, Steve Zahn, Lois Smith, with Margo Martindale and Stephen Root

In 1973, teenaged Beth Bledsoe (Sophia Lillis) leaves her rural Southern hometown to study at New York University where her beloved Uncle Frank (Paul Bettany) is a revered literature professor. She soon discovers that Frank is gay, and living with his longtime partner Walid "Wally" Nadeem (Peter Macdissi) -- an arrangement that he has kept secret for years. After the sudden death of Frank's father -- Beth's grandfather -- Frank is forced to reluctantly return home for the funeral with Beth in tow, and to finally face a long-buried trauma that he has spent his entire adult life running away from.

95 Minutes


Wednesday 14 October 2020

Sylvie's Love - New poster



In Sylvie's Love, the jazz is smooth and the air sultry in the hot New York summer of 1957. Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha), a saxophonist, spends late nights playing behind a less-talented but well-known bandleader, as member of a jazz quartet. Sylvie (Tessa Thompson), who dreams of a career in television, spends her summer days helping around her father's record store, as she waits for her fiancé to return from war. 

When Robert takes a part-time job at the record store, the two begin a friendship that sparks a deep passion in each of them unlike anything they have felt before. As the summer winds down, life takes them in different directions, bringing their relationship to an end. Years pass, Sylvie's career as a TV producer blossoms, while Robert has to come to terms with what the age of Motown is doing to the popularity of Jazz. In a chance meeting, Sylvie and Robert cross paths again, only to find that while their lives have changed, their feelings for each other remain the same. 

Writer/director Eugene Ashe combines romance and music into a sweeping story that brings together changing times, a changing culture, and the true price of love.

110 Minutes | Rated PG-13


Monster Hunter - New Trailer and Poster - starring Milla Jovovich

MONSTER HUNTER starring Milla Jovovich

Behind our world, there is another: a world of dangerous and powerful monsters that rule their domain with deadly ferocity. When an unexpected sandstorm transports Captain Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her unit (TI Harris, Meagan Good, Diego Boneta) to a new world, the soldiers are shocked to discover that this hostile and unknown environment is home to enormous and terrifying monsters immune to their firepower. In their desperate battle for survival, the unit encounters the mysterious Hunter (Tony Jaa), whose unique skills allow him to stay one step ahead of the powerful creatures. As Artemis and Hunter slowly build trust, she discovers that he is part of a team led by the Admiral (Ron Perlman). Facing a danger so great it could threaten to destroy their world, the brave warriors combine their unique abilities to band together for the ultimate showdown.

Tuesday 13 October 2020

I'm Your Woman - Trailer - Starring Rachel Brosnahan, Arinzé Kene

Directed by Julia Hart
Written by Julia Hart & Jordan Horowitz
Produced By Jordan Horowitz, Rachel Brosnahan
Starring Rachel Brosnahan, Arinzé Kene, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Bill Heck, Frankie Faison

In this 1970s set crime drama, a woman is forced to go on the run after her husband betrays his partners, sending her and her baby on a dangerous journey.

120 Minutes

I'M YOUR WOMAN will open in select US theaters on December 4th ahead of its global launch on Prime Video on December 11th

Interview with Marc Price

DUNE DRIFTER is a big departure from your other films. Have you always wanted to make a sci-fi actioner?

I've always loved sci-fi and have the best time working on action sequences. Putting those things together has been a lifelong ambition. For a long time I've felt that it's important to walk through the doors that open for you. The opportunity cropped up to do a sci-fi with a modest budget; I thought we could make something fun and personal. So we dove in!


Who / what are the film's heaviest influences?

I'm probably quite mainstream with my tastes. I definitely borrow a lot from Star Wars. The number 47 pops up as a little nod to Star Trek and we also called the Terran command ship "Valiant" as a little nod to what the Defiant from DS9 was nearly called. But the biggest influences are definitely Roger Corman and Charles Band. I grew up watching their films and at the time I couldn't distinguish the difference in quality between Star Wars or Battle Beyond the Stars. I just saw fun adventure movies with lasers!

When I got old enough to spot a difference, the kit bashed aesthetic and cobbled together charm of Corman and Band's sci-fi sets left a strong impression. That style of film making fit kinda perfectly with our film, because budget-wise it's exactly what we had to do.
 
It wasn't only films from my childhood. Modern film makers were a huge influence. I pitched the 7 day shoot in Iceland as a venture similar to what Gareth Edwards did for Monsters. Finding great locations and taking advantage of them with an adaptable script that we could tweak and mould to maximise our use of what was available.

 
Were you concerned about the budget, given the ambition and scale of the movie?

Our route to getting this film made was a bit unorthodox. Michelle Parkyn (Producer of Dune Drifter and Nightshooters) had locked in the budget before I'd written anything. So I was able to write based on what I felt we could realistically achieve. As usual I pushed it a bit further. But with people like David Ross working on the space battle, George Davies on sound design with Ben Baird mixing and a stunning score from Adam Langston. I was confident our post would be in safe hands.

We could only afford a small crew, which made the brief Icelandic shoot a bit tricky to get through comfortably. But they adopted an inspiring attitude of "If we can do this, every other film will feel easy as fuck!"  How can that not be inspiring? From costume to sets to practical effects, we stretched the budget as far as we could. The starfighter set was constructed in my living room and stayed there for 6 months.


The action and fight sequences are very tense and entertaining. How important was the editing process?

The action sequences are usually my favourite scenes to shoot and I got a kick out of the variety of action the film allowed for. I'd send our miniature guru (David Ross) previsualised sequences that I'd cobble together in front of a green reflector using an A-Wing for the starfighters and a Cylon Raider for the Drekk Cruisers. Then I'd sit with Dave over a few drinks and work out the shots more specifically on his laptop.

The fights on the planet were choreographed by Marcus Shakesheff who designed the action for Wonder Woman and Krypton. Whilst he was working on Season 2 of Hanna, he invited me to this room filled with boxes and built on the sequences from there.


Did COVID get in the way of the production process?

It did force our hand in a few areas. We had to make the film in a way that would minimise the number of post-production VFX shots. We printed a backdrop of Iceland for any shots we needed to get around my flat, used rear projection for everything in the flying sequences. The monitors and holograms in the film were all shot practically or using a sort of "Pepper's Ghost" technique. It definitely helped. We ended up with only two green screen shots. The knock on effect, particularly with projection is that we need the VFX seen outside the window of a starfighter to be done before we shoot the actors. So those were left till last. And that's when the UK went into lockdown!

We had to rethink a few critical moments, but the post-production team also found themselves with enough time to help things along. Phil Wray and Ollie Pajtra were able to spend more time on their shots, George Davies had time to create even more interesting sound effects for engines or laser blasts.


You first came to everyone's attention (including Martin Scorsese) with your shoe-string budget zombie horror COLIN. Did its success take you by surprise and what was the effect it had on your career?

It was a complete surprise. The press attention was confusing, because from my side of things I hadn't done anything different to other filmmakers. I just looked at what I had available and made the most interesting film with what I had.  Career wise, Colin always helps. Michelle is grateful for the Scorsese quote! It's slathered all over our pitch decks and enough people remember Colin to pay a little more attention to our ideas.

We had a budget this time, but Dune Drifter was made in much the same way as Colin. We had to build a starfighter set in my living room. By the time Covid restrictions were in place we were deep in post, which meant everything was done in my bedroom again. It was nostalgic and also a bit frightening to look inward and say "I'm in the same spot as I was 10 years ago!"


You have a very strong historical connection to FrightFest. Does that mean a lot to you?

Absolutely! Frightfest had seen Colin before a lick of press cropped up about the film's budget. Ian (Rattray) said right away that they would be happy to screen it that summer. I couldn't understand why! It was just a small bedroom-movie, so that support was a huge surprise.


Was it at FrightFest that you met Dominic Brunt, who went on to produce your film MAGPIE?

I met Dom at his own Horror Festival in Leeds. He was screening COLIN and invited me to introduce the film and wrap up with a quick Q&A with beers in between. It was an absolute blast. I got along with Dom and Mark Charnock. I got to meet Jo Mitchell and we bonded over a love for film.

I was waiting on finance for another project. Dom and Jo offered to throw something into that pot and I knew any money would get swallowed up without any guarantee we'd have a film at the end of it. So I suggested using it to make MAGPIE and their response was lovely It's a rare generosity that you just don't encounter in film.

I remember now that Dom asked if I'd direct Before Dawn. But I could see how excited he was for the film so I suggested that he think about directing. I'm not sure I had any influence though. I'd love to think I did, but the reality is that you could see that spark in Dom's eye whenever he talked about it. That clarity of vision. There's no alternate dimension where Dom DIDN'T direct it. And he's been far more successful at pulling projects together than I have.

 
How have you been dealing with life under COVID?

It's mainly been juggling post for Dune Drifter or more recently pulling pitch decks together for new projects. I spent a week writing a script after an exciting opportunity dropped in our laps after Michelle's diligent producing, but it's been guided by work. Only in the last month or so have I found myself sitting at home and twiddling my thumbs.

 
What's been your favourite horror film of the year so far?

I'm friends with Rob Savage, so I'm potentially biased when I say Host. But enough people love it to know that I was right about that one! Another film I've watched a few times on Netflix was Hole In the Ground which was made by another friend of FrightFest, Lee Cronin. I highly recommend that film! It's fantastic and tense and compelling. Lee's making the new Evil Dead movie and Hole in the Ground is a strong indicator that we're in for something special!


Finally, what's next?

Excitingly, I've put that question to Michelle! We have a few projects financed and ready to go. All I need to do is write them. I'm excited about all of them and whichever one is best to get started will be our movie. We have two action movies and a drama. After the logistical acrobats of making a sci-fi in my flat during a pandemic, they all feel like significantly easier projects!

 
DUNE DRIFTER is showing online on Saturday 24 October, 4.45pm in the Zavvi screen, as part of the Arrow Video FrightFest October Digital event.

UK Trailer For The Burnt Orange Heresy - At Cinemas October 30


Charming and ambitious art critic, James Figueras (Claes Bang), has fallen from grace. He spends his days in Milan lecturing witless tourists about art history. His only glimmer of hope is a newfound love interest, the enigmatic American, Berenice Hollis (Elizabeth Debicki). An opportunity strikes when he is contacted by wealthy art dealer Joseph Cassidy (Mick Jagger) who summons James to his villa on Lake Como and asks him to steal a painting from the legendary reclusive artist, Jerome Debney (Donald Sutherland). Soon, James' greed and ambition get the better of him, and he finds himself caught in a web of his own making.


AT CINEMAS OCTOBER 30

Jude Law and Raff Law star in THE HAT

THE HAT is the debut film of Darren Strowger, starring Jude Law and Raff Law, shot during lockdown, and with an original score by The Who's Pete Townshend. The short feature film marks the first time that father and son Jude Law and Raff Law have acted together. THE HAT was shot on location in the UK during the summer lockdown and filmed entirely on iPhone.

"What I am most proud of is The Hat has so many firsts," said Darren Strowger. "To have Jude and Raff starring together for the first time, to have shot the film entirely in lockdown on iPhone and to have all proceeds from the film go to charity which is a new financial model of filmmaking. When you add to this a music score by Pete Townshend, which is his first since Tommy, I could not ask for more in my first film."

THE HAT will receive its World Premiere at the Raindance Film Festival on 6th November 2020, where the film is nominated for Best UK Short. The premiere will benefit Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America. THE HAT is the first in a planned series of shorts to benefit these charities, to which both actors have donated their acting fee. In an unprecedented move any profits from streaming revenue will also go directly to the charity.

The premiere will be accompanied by a live performance from Pete Townshend and Q&A with the director and stars of the film.

Sunday 11 October 2020

Everybody's Talking About Jamie | Official Trailer | In Cinemas February 2021

 


Watch the brand new trailer for “Everybody’s Talking about Jamie”, in cinemas February 2021.

Inspired by true events, New Regency’s and Film4’s “Everybody’s Talking about Jamie” is the film adaptation of the hit musical. Jamie New is 16 and doesn’t quite fit in—instead of pursuing a “real” career, he dreams of becoming a drag queen. Uncertain about his future, Jamie knows one thing for sure: he is going to be a sensation. Supported by his loving mom and his amazing friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.

“Everybody’s Talking about Jamie” stars newcomer Max Harwood, Sarah Lancashire, Lauren Patel, Shobna Gulati, Ralph Ineson, Adeel Akhtar, Samuel Bottomley, with Sharon Horgan and Richard E. Grant. The stage production’s director, Jonathan Butterell, makes his feature-film debut as director, with screenplay and lyrics by Tom MacRae, songs by Dan Gillespie Sells and a score composed by Sells and Anne Dudley. Mark Herbert, p.g.a, Peter Carlton, p.g.a, and Arnon Milchan are producing, with Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer, Natalie Lehmann, Daniel Battsek, Ollie Madden, Peter Balm, Niall Shamma, and Jes Wilkins serving as executive producers.

Friday 9 October 2020

Ronnie's - Trailer - at Everyman Cinemas from October 23rd

Written and directed by Oliver Murray (The Quiet One), with an original score composed by Alex Heffes (Touching The Void, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom) the film is a celebration of the legacy of Ronnie Scott and his world-famous jazz club.

Ronnie's explores the club's 60-year history and shines a light on the uncompromising men and women who built it and who took to its stage.  Featuring previously unseen and rare performances from the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Chet Baker, Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone, Roland Kirk, Sonny Rollins, Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis.

These are accompanied with new interviews from the likes of Giles Peterson, Michael Parkinson, Val Wilmer, Chris King (son of the club's co-founder, Pete King) and Ronnie's daughter Rebecca Scott, as well as interviews with some of the most iconic figures in music; Quincy Jones, Georgie Fame and Sonny Rollins, amongst others.

Ronnie's is an exceptional story about one of London's greatest ever institutions – one of the last remaining vestiges of old, bohemian Soho. Chronicling an incredible journey through late 50s and early 60s Soho, the film is not just for jazz fans; it also tells the extraordinary story of how two working-class Londoners (Scott and co-founder Pete King) contributed to the cultural life of a great city, making it a vital social document and a film for any self-respecting music fan.

Ronnie Scott was a lifelong sufferer from depression, very much a taboo subject amongst his generation. The film compassionately tackles this subject with those who knew and loved him speaking eloquently about his illness.
 
Ronnie's will hit Everyman Cinemas from 23rd October

RONNIE'S - Trailer from Ollie Murray on Vimeo.

Thursday 8 October 2020

WIN FINDING THE WAY BACK ON BLU-RAY™


OWN IT EARLY ON DIGITAL DOWNLOAD NOW, AND BLU-RAY™ & DVD OCTOBER 12TH

Watch Ben Affleck reclaim his glory days in new drama “Finding The Way Back”


“Finding The Way Back” stars Academy Award winner Ben Affleck (“Argo,” “The Accountant”) as Jack Cunningham who back in High School had everything going for him. A basketball phenom, he could have punched his ticket to college or even the pros, but, instead, he chose to walk away from the game, forfeiting his future.

Jack’s glory days are long gone…but, as it turns out, not forgotten. Years later, he gets the chance to take back his life when he is asked to coach the struggling basketball team at his alma mater. Jack reluctantly accepts, surprising no one more than himself, and as the boys start to come together as a team and win, Jack may get his last shot at redemption.

You can buy Finding The Way Back on Bluray from Amazon at
https://amzn.to/3lbmw72

For your chance to win Finding The Way Back on Blu-Ray™, simply answer the following question:

COMPETITION CLOSED

Finding The Way Back is available on Digital Download now, and on Blu-ray™ & DVD October 12th

Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 19-10-20
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

George MacKay and Emilia Jones star in NUCLEAR on digital 9th November following World Premiere at Raindance

Starring:  
Emilia Jones (Utopia, Locke & Key), George MacKay (1917, True History of the Kelly Gang), Sienna Guillory (Luther, Resident Evil), and Oliver Coopersmith (Tin Star, Dickensian)

Grippingly tense, claustrophobic thriller Nuclear, the directorial debut from Cannes Un Certain Regard winning writer Catherine Linstrum (California Dreamin'), is set for its World Premiere at the prestigious Raindance Film Festival this October and is released digitally on 9 November 2020 courtesy of 101 Films.

Two of Britain's greatest young acting talents Emilia Jones and George MacKay star in this haunting psychological drama. Brutalised, traumatised teenager Emma (Emilia Jones) and her mother (Sienna Guillory) are on the run from a harrowing past. Seeking refuge in a remote village, she meets a mysterious boy (George MacKay) who may be more than he appears…

As Emma grows closer to him, fascinated by his obsession with the defunct nuclear power plant that poisons the lake water, she soon realises that in order to overcome her fears she must face them…including the toxic, terrifying past which is determined to catch up with her.

Endless - Begins in Showcase Cinemas from October 16th

From the distributor that brought you After We Collided, the UK Box Office teen smash hit, comes teen love story Endless, launching in Showcase Cinemas from October 16th.

When madly in love high school graduates Riley (Alexandra Shipp) and Chris (Nicholas Hamilton) are separated by a tragic car accident, Riley blames herself for her boyfriend's death while Chris is stranded in limbo. Miraculously, the two find a way to connect.

In a love story that transcends life and death, both Riley and Chris are forced to learn the hardest lesson of all - letting go.

The Ringmaster - Trailer

Two young women working the night shift at a secluded gas station unwittingly become the stars of a terrifying show streamed live on the dark web. Held captive by a sadistic ringmaster and his cohorts, their survival instincts are stretched to the limit as they are forced to play a game of life and death as an unseen audience decide their fate.
 
In UK Cinemas from 27th November & DVD & Digital Download from 30th November
Cert: 18


THE RINGMASTER - Trailer

Antrum (The Deadliest Film Ever Made) - Trailer

Antrum, a feature film from the late 1970's, is said to be cursed. In 1988, a movie theatre in Budapest that was screening the film burnt to the ground, killing the 56 people in attendance. This incident follows the inexplicable deaths of a number of film festival programmers that had received Antrum as a submission and died shortly after watching it. These events have created a belief that watching Antrum will kill you.
 
In UK Cinemas from 23rd October & DVD + Digital from 26th October - https://amzn.to/30JIjel
Cert: 18


ANTRUM - Trailer

Max Winslow and the House of Secrets - Official Trailer

Starring Sydne Mikelle as young tech genius Max, Chad Michael Murray and Marina Sirtis, the plot follows five teens, who are invited to the home of an eccentric billionaire to compete in a game to win his mansion. The night takes a dark turn when they become trapped in the house and are forced to face off against each other and an evil AI entity who controls everything in the house, including their fate.

In UK Cinema from 23rd October

Cert: PG

Rose: A Love Story - Trailer

Sam (Stokoe) and Rose (Rundle) live a quiet life. Hunkered down in their remote woodland farmhouse, they spend their days far from the prying eyes of the outside world. Rose uses the peace and quiet to work on her novel, while Sam sets traps, hunts animals and goes to work fortifying the hidden cottage they call home. In another life, their world would seem idyllic; but Rose's mystery illness has clouded any sense of normality that the couple may achieve.
                 
When a trip to collect supplies goes awry, Sam and Rose are thrown into a terrifying series of events that soon herald the arrival of a mysterious stranger. The little life that the couple have forged for themselves is now more fragile than ever.
 
Screening at London Film Festival (both P&I & Premiere) on 13th October

Written by
Matt Stokoe
Featuring
Sophie Rundle, Matt Stokoe, Olive Gray