US-based Great Escape, the sales arm of Yale Entertainment, has close early sales here on psychological thriller Clawfoot produced by one of the companies behind Competition selection The Apprentice.
The Movie Partnership has picked up the completed film for UK & Ireland, while Defiant will distribute in Australia and New Zealand, Tiberius in German-speaking Europe and Front Row for the Middle East.
Further sales have closed in Poland (9th Plan), former Yugoslavia (McF), Portugal (Cinemundo), and Ukraine (Top Film). Great Escape president Nick Donnermeyer said negotiations on a US deal are in advanced stages.
Michael Day’s feature directorial debut stars...
The Movie Partnership has picked up the completed film for UK & Ireland, while Defiant will distribute in Australia and New Zealand, Tiberius in German-speaking Europe and Front Row for the Middle East.
Further sales have closed in Poland (9th Plan), former Yugoslavia (McF), Portugal (Cinemundo), and Ukraine (Top Film). Great Escape president Nick Donnermeyer said negotiations on a US deal are in advanced stages.
Michael Day’s feature directorial debut stars...
- 5/17/2024
- ScreenDaily
Lily Gladstone spent the opening day of her mega-budget epic, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” standing in the rain in Times Square picketing alongside her fellow actors.
The thespian, who has been getting Oscar buzz for her co-starring role alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Jesse Plemons and Robert De Niro, marched Friday with sign-in-hand amid the rain in New York City.
She shared the brief videos on her Instagram story feed, seemingly sans audio, which shows three moments during which the actress is clearly unphased by the weather. It’s an ironic way to spend what otherwise might have been a glamorous day of in-person interviews, zoom chats, fashion shoots and (to the extent the “Certain Women” actress cares) waiting to hear the first guestimates for opening day box office.
Hold the line.
(It’s okay to dance while you do it.)#SagAftraStrong #SagAftraStrike #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/qyDolPGkq6
— Lily Gladstone (@lily...
The thespian, who has been getting Oscar buzz for her co-starring role alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Jesse Plemons and Robert De Niro, marched Friday with sign-in-hand amid the rain in New York City.
She shared the brief videos on her Instagram story feed, seemingly sans audio, which shows three moments during which the actress is clearly unphased by the weather. It’s an ironic way to spend what otherwise might have been a glamorous day of in-person interviews, zoom chats, fashion shoots and (to the extent the “Certain Women” actress cares) waiting to hear the first guestimates for opening day box office.
Hold the line.
(It’s okay to dance while you do it.)#SagAftraStrong #SagAftraStrike #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/qyDolPGkq6
— Lily Gladstone (@lily...
- 10/20/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Francesca Eastwood (Old, Awake) and Milo Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge, The Outpost) lead the cast of the upcoming Clawfoot, directed and produced by Michael Day (As They Made Us) and written by April Wolfe (Black Christmas). Clawfoot will be having its World Premiere at Newport Beach Film Fest this weekend. Director Michael Day will be in-person along with cast-members Francesca Eastwood, Milo Gibson and Olivia Culpo.
While you wait, check out the exclusive poster reveal (along with imagery) below.
From the producers of the smash hit Becky and written by April Wolfe, Clawfoot is said to be “a clever thrill ride brimming with darkly vicious humor and pulse-racing tension.”
In this wild thriller, an upper-class suburban housewife, Francesca Eastwood (M. Night Shyamalan’s Old), is psychologically terrorized by a manipulative contractor, Milo Gibson (The Outpost) remodeling her bathroom… until she partners with her Bff to turn the tables and a twisted...
While you wait, check out the exclusive poster reveal (along with imagery) below.
From the producers of the smash hit Becky and written by April Wolfe, Clawfoot is said to be “a clever thrill ride brimming with darkly vicious humor and pulse-racing tension.”
In this wild thriller, an upper-class suburban housewife, Francesca Eastwood (M. Night Shyamalan’s Old), is psychologically terrorized by a manipulative contractor, Milo Gibson (The Outpost) remodeling her bathroom… until she partners with her Bff to turn the tables and a twisted...
- 10/13/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Jeers and chants of “pay your writers” greeted Warner Bros Discovery chief David Zaslav on Sunday as he delivered Boston University’s commencement address.
Zaslav, who graduated from Bu’s law school in 1985, never overtly acknowledged the WGA strike or any of the vitriol, which rippled through the outdoor event throughout his 22-minute speech. While an official picket line had been set up outside the venue, a number of students appeared to be joining in the vocal response to Zaslav’s appearance. Toward the end, he appeared to be speaking in part to his opponents when he offered a closing wish. “I hope to see all of you — and I mean all of you,” he said, pointing at the crowd for emphasis, “along the way. The journey of life. There’s nothing better.”
According to a series of pro-wga tweets before, during and after Zaslav’s speech, hundreds of picketers...
Zaslav, who graduated from Bu’s law school in 1985, never overtly acknowledged the WGA strike or any of the vitriol, which rippled through the outdoor event throughout his 22-minute speech. While an official picket line had been set up outside the venue, a number of students appeared to be joining in the vocal response to Zaslav’s appearance. Toward the end, he appeared to be speaking in part to his opponents when he offered a closing wish. “I hope to see all of you — and I mean all of you,” he said, pointing at the crowd for emphasis, “along the way. The journey of life. There’s nothing better.”
According to a series of pro-wga tweets before, during and after Zaslav’s speech, hundreds of picketers...
- 5/21/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
The Los Angeles Times infuriated Succession fans on Sunday (9 April) after publishing a major spoiler minutes after the newest episode finished airing.
The third episode of the HBO drama’s fourth and final season featured a dramatic twist, which fans have labelled “historic”.
*Warning – Major spoilers ahead for Succession*
On Sunday evening, the LA Times published a parody obituary for Logan Roy – the show’s media mogul character played by Brian Cox – after the character’s unexpected death.
“Logan Roy, conservative media mogul who shaped contemporary politics, dies at 84,” the tongue-in-cheek title read.
“A spokesperson for HBO, which has handled media for Waystar Royco since 2018, declined the Times’ repeated requests to make anyone available for comment,” the publication wrote.
While some called the Times iconic for publishing an obituary for the beloved character, others were furious that his death had been reported openly before they’d had the chance to see the episode.
The third episode of the HBO drama’s fourth and final season featured a dramatic twist, which fans have labelled “historic”.
*Warning – Major spoilers ahead for Succession*
On Sunday evening, the LA Times published a parody obituary for Logan Roy – the show’s media mogul character played by Brian Cox – after the character’s unexpected death.
“Logan Roy, conservative media mogul who shaped contemporary politics, dies at 84,” the tongue-in-cheek title read.
“A spokesperson for HBO, which has handled media for Waystar Royco since 2018, declined the Times’ repeated requests to make anyone available for comment,” the publication wrote.
While some called the Times iconic for publishing an obituary for the beloved character, others were furious that his death had been reported openly before they’d had the chance to see the episode.
- 4/10/2023
- by Tom Murray
- The Independent - TV
Exclusive: Studiocanal and The Picture Company have preemptively acquired the rights to Honey Trapped, a spec script by April Wolfe.
Sources say the story follows a cabal of secret assassins who descend upon Las Vegas for 24 hours to force a rogue agent into fighting their way up every floor of a busy hotel. The script is said to be a star-driven two-hander featuring a married couple on the rocks with a lot of secrets—in the vein of Mr. and Mrs. Smith and True Lies. Plans are for the project to be fast tracked.
The Picture Company partners Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman will produce the film through their overall deal at Studiocanal.
Ron Halpern, Shana Eddy and Sam Shipp will oversee for Studiocanal.
Wolfe is the co-writer of 2019’s Black Christmas and the writer of the upcoming psychological thriller Clawfoot. A former journalist and critic, she’s developed film...
Sources say the story follows a cabal of secret assassins who descend upon Las Vegas for 24 hours to force a rogue agent into fighting their way up every floor of a busy hotel. The script is said to be a star-driven two-hander featuring a married couple on the rocks with a lot of secrets—in the vein of Mr. and Mrs. Smith and True Lies. Plans are for the project to be fast tracked.
The Picture Company partners Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman will produce the film through their overall deal at Studiocanal.
Ron Halpern, Shana Eddy and Sam Shipp will oversee for Studiocanal.
Wolfe is the co-writer of 2019’s Black Christmas and the writer of the upcoming psychological thriller Clawfoot. A former journalist and critic, she’s developed film...
- 11/10/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Olivia Culpo (I Feel Pretty), Nestor Carbonell (The Morning Show), and Oliver Cooper (Project X) have joined the cast of Yale Entertainment’s Clawfoot.
In the film penned by April Wolfe, an upper-class suburban housewife (Francesca Eastwood) is psychologically terrorized by a manipulative contractor (Milo Gibson), leading to a twisted battle of wits with deliciously unexpected results.
Production on the film recently wrapped in Los Angeles.
The film’s director Michael Day is producing alongside Yale’s Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman, with Kade Thomas, Scott Levenson, Jason Kringstein, Lee Broda, and Colby Cote serving as executive producers. Yale’s recently launched sales banner Great Escape, led by Nick Donnermeyer, will handle worldwide sales.
Culpo most recently appeared in Amy Schumer’s I Feel Pretty and the Bruce Willis-led Reprisal. Other credits include The Other Woman, The Swing of Things, and Venus as a Boy.
She is...
In the film penned by April Wolfe, an upper-class suburban housewife (Francesca Eastwood) is psychologically terrorized by a manipulative contractor (Milo Gibson), leading to a twisted battle of wits with deliciously unexpected results.
Production on the film recently wrapped in Los Angeles.
The film’s director Michael Day is producing alongside Yale’s Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman, with Kade Thomas, Scott Levenson, Jason Kringstein, Lee Broda, and Colby Cote serving as executive producers. Yale’s recently launched sales banner Great Escape, led by Nick Donnermeyer, will handle worldwide sales.
Culpo most recently appeared in Amy Schumer’s I Feel Pretty and the Bruce Willis-led Reprisal. Other credits include The Other Woman, The Swing of Things, and Venus as a Boy.
She is...
- 10/3/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
The children of two Hollywood icons are set to collide in the cat-and-mouse thriller Clawfoot, which is coming to us from director Michael Day, screenwriter April Wolfe, and Yale Entertainment, the company behind the awesome Becky. Francesca Eastwood (Awake), a daughter of Clint Eastwood, and Milo Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge), a son of Mel Gibson, star in the film, which is currently filming in Los Angeles.
Clawfoot sees Francesca Eastwood taking on the role of
an upper-class suburban housewife who is psychologically terrorized by a manipulative contractor, leading to a twisted battle of wits with deliciously unexpected results.
Milo Gibson is playing the manipulative contractor.
Clawfoot marks the feature directorial debut of Day, who previously directed multiple short films and episodes of the shows The News Tank and Sisters. This is the second feature written by Wolfe, as she previously co-wrote the poorly received 2019 version of Black Christmas.
Day is producing...
Clawfoot sees Francesca Eastwood taking on the role of
an upper-class suburban housewife who is psychologically terrorized by a manipulative contractor, leading to a twisted battle of wits with deliciously unexpected results.
Milo Gibson is playing the manipulative contractor.
Clawfoot marks the feature directorial debut of Day, who previously directed multiple short films and episodes of the shows The News Tank and Sisters. This is the second feature written by Wolfe, as she previously co-wrote the poorly received 2019 version of Black Christmas.
Day is producing...
- 9/20/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Yale Entertainment (Becky) announced today that Francesca Eastwood and Milo Gibson will star in the new thriller Clawfoot, directed and produced by Michael Day (As They Made Us) and written by April Wolfe (Black Christmas).
The film, produced by Yale’s Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman, is currently shooting in Los Angeles.
Clawfoot is being described as a “clever cat-and-mouse thriller.”
“An upper-class suburban housewife (Eastwood) is psychologically terrorized by a manipulative contractor (Gibson), leading to a twisted battle of wits with deliciously unexpected results.”
Kade Thomas, Scott Levenson, Jason Kringstein, Lee Broda, and Colby Cote are executive producers.
The post ‘Clawfoot’ – Francesca Eastwood and Milo Gibson Leading the Cast of Thriller from ‘Black Christmas’ Writer appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
The film, produced by Yale’s Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman, is currently shooting in Los Angeles.
Clawfoot is being described as a “clever cat-and-mouse thriller.”
“An upper-class suburban housewife (Eastwood) is psychologically terrorized by a manipulative contractor (Gibson), leading to a twisted battle of wits with deliciously unexpected results.”
Kade Thomas, Scott Levenson, Jason Kringstein, Lee Broda, and Colby Cote are executive producers.
The post ‘Clawfoot’ – Francesca Eastwood and Milo Gibson Leading the Cast of Thriller from ‘Black Christmas’ Writer appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
- 9/20/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: Francesca Eastwood (Old) and Milo Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge) have been tapped to star in Clawfoot — a cat-and-mouse thriller from Yale Entertainment, which is currently in production in Los Angeles.
In the film penned by April Wolfe (Black Christmas), an upper-class suburban housewife (Eastwood) is psychologically terrorized by a manipulative contractor (Gibson), leading to a twisted battle of wits with deliciously unexpected results.
The film’s director Michael Day (As They Made Us) is producing alongside Yale’s Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman, with Kade Thomas, Scott Levenson, Jason Kringstein, Lee Broda and Colby Cote serving as exec producers. Yale’s recently launched sales banner Great Escape, led by Nick Donnermeyer, will handle worldwide sales.
Most recently appearing in M. Night Shyamalan’s Old for Universal Pictures, Eastwood has also been seen in such films as A Violent Separation, The Vault, M.F.A., Outlaws and Angels and Final Girl, among others.
In the film penned by April Wolfe (Black Christmas), an upper-class suburban housewife (Eastwood) is psychologically terrorized by a manipulative contractor (Gibson), leading to a twisted battle of wits with deliciously unexpected results.
The film’s director Michael Day (As They Made Us) is producing alongside Yale’s Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman, with Kade Thomas, Scott Levenson, Jason Kringstein, Lee Broda and Colby Cote serving as exec producers. Yale’s recently launched sales banner Great Escape, led by Nick Donnermeyer, will handle worldwide sales.
Most recently appearing in M. Night Shyamalan’s Old for Universal Pictures, Eastwood has also been seen in such films as A Violent Separation, The Vault, M.F.A., Outlaws and Angels and Final Girl, among others.
- 9/20/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Shudder, AMC’s genre streamer, has ordered Behind The Monsters a docu-series exploring how Chucky, Michael Myers, Pinhead and more came to be icons of the horror genre. The series is written and directed by Gabrielle Binkley and Anthony Uro and hails from Stage 3 Productions.
The six-part docu-series will see each of the installments focus on a single horror character. Additional series subjects are Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Candyman. Episodes will feature interviews with experts, the writers, directors and actors from the original films that made each character a horror legend. Additional experts and guests set to appear include Drac & Swan Boulet (The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula), Horror Noire documentary writer and producer Ashlee Blackwell, The Last Podcast on the Left’s Ben Kissel and Henry Zebrowski, Blumhouse producer Ryan Turek and filmmakers Jeffrey Reddick (Final Destination), April Wolfe, David Bruckner (Hellraiser reboot) and filmmaker and drag artist Peaches Christ.
The six-part docu-series will see each of the installments focus on a single horror character. Additional series subjects are Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Candyman. Episodes will feature interviews with experts, the writers, directors and actors from the original films that made each character a horror legend. Additional experts and guests set to appear include Drac & Swan Boulet (The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula), Horror Noire documentary writer and producer Ashlee Blackwell, The Last Podcast on the Left’s Ben Kissel and Henry Zebrowski, Blumhouse producer Ryan Turek and filmmakers Jeffrey Reddick (Final Destination), April Wolfe, David Bruckner (Hellraiser reboot) and filmmaker and drag artist Peaches Christ.
- 8/17/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
The North Bend Film Festival is back this July with a hybrid edition that will have a mix of in-person programming, along with virtual screenings and special events. Here's a look at the festival's extensive offering, including a screening of The Blazing World, a conversation with Richard Kelly, and much, much more:
The North Bend Film Festival returns this summer with a hybrid festival taking place July 15-18, 2021. The in-person portion of the fest returns audience members to the historic art deco North Bend Theatre for a curated offering of feature film and short screenings, while both the virtual and physical programs will be complemented by special events, conversations with filmmakers, and immersive experiences. The majority of titles will be exclusive either to physical or virtual programs, with only a few overlaps making for a unique festival experience however you choose to attend.
This year's festival will open with the in-person screening of Swan Song,...
The North Bend Film Festival returns this summer with a hybrid festival taking place July 15-18, 2021. The in-person portion of the fest returns audience members to the historic art deco North Bend Theatre for a curated offering of feature film and short screenings, while both the virtual and physical programs will be complemented by special events, conversations with filmmakers, and immersive experiences. The majority of titles will be exclusive either to physical or virtual programs, with only a few overlaps making for a unique festival experience however you choose to attend.
This year's festival will open with the in-person screening of Swan Song,...
- 6/16/2021
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Welcome, one and all, to the latest episode of The Film Stage Show! Today, Brian Roan, Bill Graham, and Robyn Bahr are joined by April Wolfe to discuss Alexandre Aja’s thriller Oxygen, which is now on Netflix. Be sure to read Brian’s review here and Michael Frank’s interview with Aja here.
Enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor. For a limited time, all new Patreon supporters will receive a free Blu-ray/DVD. After becoming a contributor, e-mail podcast@thefilmstage.com for an up-to-date list of available films.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or stream below.
The Film Stage Show is supported by Mubi, a curated streaming service showcasing exceptional films from around the globe. Every day, Mubi premieres a new film. Whether it’s a timeless classic, a cult favorite, or an acclaimed masterpiece...
Enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor. For a limited time, all new Patreon supporters will receive a free Blu-ray/DVD. After becoming a contributor, e-mail podcast@thefilmstage.com for an up-to-date list of available films.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or stream below.
The Film Stage Show is supported by Mubi, a curated streaming service showcasing exceptional films from around the globe. Every day, Mubi premieres a new film. Whether it’s a timeless classic, a cult favorite, or an acclaimed masterpiece...
- 5/19/2021
- by Brian Roan
- The Film Stage
Every actor wants to work. And a small percentage of those actors get to work in films that people remember; and a much smaller percentage get to play an iconic character over the course of several films; and an infinitesimal percentage manage to find success by tackling other roles after becoming famous as that iconic character. Which brings us to Sean Connery, who died this week at the age of 90.
His portrayal of super-spy James Bond was as essential to the 1960s as The Beatles. He wasn’t technically the first Bond — Barry Nelson played the Ian Fleming character in an American TV adaptation of “Casino Royale” in 1954 — but Connery invented an action hero who was overtly sexual in a way that his predecessors hadn’t been, although still able to dispatch the bad guys with ruthless efficiency, all the while never spoiling the crease in his tuxedo.
Connery himself came from working-class origins,...
His portrayal of super-spy James Bond was as essential to the 1960s as The Beatles. He wasn’t technically the first Bond — Barry Nelson played the Ian Fleming character in an American TV adaptation of “Casino Royale” in 1954 — but Connery invented an action hero who was overtly sexual in a way that his predecessors hadn’t been, although still able to dispatch the bad guys with ruthless efficiency, all the while never spoiling the crease in his tuxedo.
Connery himself came from working-class origins,...
- 10/31/2020
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
As we enter into the spooky month of October, it’s only appropriate that Fantastic Fest and Fangoria host a watch party event for the forthcoming Welcome to the Blumhouse series of thrillers from Amazon Studios and Blumhouse Television. Starting October 10, Fantastic Fest and Fangoria have set Prime Video watch parties for each of the inclusive, genre-centered films which will feature post-screening Q&As with each filmmaker.
“From the beginning, Fantastic Fest was conceived to be a launchpad for emerging, diverse, genre filmmaking talent,” said Shelli Taylor, Alamo Drafthouse CEO. “We are extremely proud and excited to be partnering with Amazon to celebrate this bold new lineup of amazing filmmakers this October.”
“Fangoria is excited to be working with partners who share the same vision to highlight a future wave of talent and storytellers strongly representative of our expansive genre family,” said Fangoria Co-Owner Abhi Goel. “We’re looking forward...
“From the beginning, Fantastic Fest was conceived to be a launchpad for emerging, diverse, genre filmmaking talent,” said Shelli Taylor, Alamo Drafthouse CEO. “We are extremely proud and excited to be partnering with Amazon to celebrate this bold new lineup of amazing filmmakers this October.”
“Fangoria is excited to be working with partners who share the same vision to highlight a future wave of talent and storytellers strongly representative of our expansive genre family,” said Fangoria Co-Owner Abhi Goel. “We’re looking forward...
- 10/5/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
For the last two weeks, we here at Daily Dead have been doing our best to laud and commemorate the 40th anniversaries of all the great horror and science fiction films that were released throughout the year 1980. And as we get set to wrap up our extensive coverage today and tomorrow, we thought it might be fun to reach out to some fantastic voices in the realm of genre entertainment.
So, for today’s Class of 1980 celebration, we will be featuring the likes of Kelli Maroney, Bill Moseley, Adrian Roe, Ben Rock, Axelle Carolyn, Drew McWeeny, April Wolfe, Graham Skipper, and Brian Collins all discussing a variety of notable horror and sci-fi movies from 1980, including Dressed to Kill, The Changeling, The Visitor, The Apple, Friday the 13th, The Boogeyman, Mad Max, Battle Beyond the Stars, and The Fog.
And be sure to head back tomorrow for part two of our final Class of 1980 celebration,...
So, for today’s Class of 1980 celebration, we will be featuring the likes of Kelli Maroney, Bill Moseley, Adrian Roe, Ben Rock, Axelle Carolyn, Drew McWeeny, April Wolfe, Graham Skipper, and Brian Collins all discussing a variety of notable horror and sci-fi movies from 1980, including Dressed to Kill, The Changeling, The Visitor, The Apple, Friday the 13th, The Boogeyman, Mad Max, Battle Beyond the Stars, and The Fog.
And be sure to head back tomorrow for part two of our final Class of 1980 celebration,...
- 7/20/2020
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Director Lynn Shelton’s unexpected death on Friday at the age of 54 has rocked her friends and artist friends in Hollywood, many of whom have taken to social media to share their grief.
Shelton’s creative collaborator and romantic partner issued a statement voicing his love for her and his disbelief that she is gone.
“I loved her very much as I know many of you did as well. It’s devastating. I am leveled, heartbroken and in complete shock and don’t really know how to move forward in this moment,” he wrote. “I needed you all to know. I don’t know some of you. Some I do. I’m just trying to let the people who were important to her know.”
Maron went on: “She was a beautiful, kind, loving, charismatic artist. Her spirit was pure joy. She made me happy. I made her happy. We were happy.
Shelton’s creative collaborator and romantic partner issued a statement voicing his love for her and his disbelief that she is gone.
“I loved her very much as I know many of you did as well. It’s devastating. I am leveled, heartbroken and in complete shock and don’t really know how to move forward in this moment,” he wrote. “I needed you all to know. I don’t know some of you. Some I do. I’m just trying to let the people who were important to her know.”
Maron went on: “She was a beautiful, kind, loving, charismatic artist. Her spirit was pure joy. She made me happy. I made her happy. We were happy.
- 5/16/2020
- by Rosemary Rossi
- The Wrap
Stars: Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O’Grady, Caleb Eberhardt, Cary Elwes, Simon Mead, Madeleine Adams, Nathalie Morris, Ben Black, Zoë Robins, Ryan McIntyre | Written by Sophia Takal, April Wolfe | Directed by Sophia Takal
Black Christmas. A familiar title if not a familiar film. Already remade once in 2006, it seems Blumhouse decided 2019 was ripe for reinvention of the film – tasking female filmmakers Sophia Takal and April Wolfe with rebooting the series. And it’s not a big a failure as other reviews have made out. Though it’s not without its problems…
This time round the action takes place at Hawthorne College, which is quieting down for the holidays. One by one, sorority girls on campus are being killed by an unknown stalker. That is until the young sorority pledges discover that the killer is part of an underground college conspiracy; and killer is about to discover that this...
Black Christmas. A familiar title if not a familiar film. Already remade once in 2006, it seems Blumhouse decided 2019 was ripe for reinvention of the film – tasking female filmmakers Sophia Takal and April Wolfe with rebooting the series. And it’s not a big a failure as other reviews have made out. Though it’s not without its problems…
This time round the action takes place at Hawthorne College, which is quieting down for the holidays. One by one, sorority girls on campus are being killed by an unknown stalker. That is until the young sorority pledges discover that the killer is part of an underground college conspiracy; and killer is about to discover that this...
- 4/20/2020
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Last week, the new series Cursed Films premiered on Shudder with its first two episodes on The Omen and The Exorcist, respectively, and the series has quickly garnered attention as a horror hit, becoming the "second most-watched series premiere in Shudder history" (second only to Creepshow). Also in today's Horror Highlights, new puzzles from Mondo and a Q&a with Jamie Kirkpatrick, the lead editor of We Summon the Darkness.
Cursed Films Premiere Details: "The Shudder original series Cursed Films debuted to huge numbers for the streaming service, becoming the second most-watched series premiere in Shudder history behind only breakout hit Creepshow. Cursed Films also stands as the service’s most-watched documentary premiere (series or film) ever. The series, which is part of Shudder’s “Halfway to Halloween Month” programming lineup, released its second and third episodes earlier today, focused on The Omen and Poltergeist.
“Cursed Films became an instant...
Cursed Films Premiere Details: "The Shudder original series Cursed Films debuted to huge numbers for the streaming service, becoming the second most-watched series premiere in Shudder history behind only breakout hit Creepshow. Cursed Films also stands as the service’s most-watched documentary premiere (series or film) ever. The series, which is part of Shudder’s “Halfway to Halloween Month” programming lineup, released its second and third episodes earlier today, focused on The Omen and Poltergeist.
“Cursed Films became an instant...
- 4/9/2020
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
If you’re a movie fan, then chances are you’re already familiar with the concept of “cursed films,” which is when a project’s legacy has something of a sinister undertone to it due to extenuating circumstances beyond any sort of normal production woes. And for their new series entitled Cursed Films, Shudder is diving into whether or not films like Poltergeist, The Omen, The Exorcist, The Crow, and Twilight Zone: The Movie were actually doomed from the start, or victims of being dealt an unfortunate hand by fate.
The two episodes this writer had the opportunity to check out were for Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist as well as Richard Donner’s The Omen, and for the most part, I found them extremely entertaining, although admittedly, neither one was very in-depth as a whole. For Poltergeist, filmmaker Jay Cheel dives into all the terrible things that happened to various...
The two episodes this writer had the opportunity to check out were for Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist as well as Richard Donner’s The Omen, and for the most part, I found them extremely entertaining, although admittedly, neither one was very in-depth as a whole. For Poltergeist, filmmaker Jay Cheel dives into all the terrible things that happened to various...
- 3/27/2020
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options—not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves–each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit platforms. Check out this week’s selections below and an archive of past round-ups here.
Directed by Kelly Reichardt
As Kelly Reichardt’s glorious new drama First Cow enters U.S. theaters starting today, if you are waiting for it to expand, The Criterion Channel has the showcase just for you. Featuring four of her best films–River of Grass, Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy, and Meek’s Cutoff–one can bask in the textured humanity and intimate worlds she creates. As part of the mini-retrospective, there’s also a masterclass featuring a conversation with April Wolfe.
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel
Haywire (Steven Soderbergh)
From the opening moments of Haywire — Steven Soderbergh’s slice of espionage action pulp — a...
Directed by Kelly Reichardt
As Kelly Reichardt’s glorious new drama First Cow enters U.S. theaters starting today, if you are waiting for it to expand, The Criterion Channel has the showcase just for you. Featuring four of her best films–River of Grass, Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy, and Meek’s Cutoff–one can bask in the textured humanity and intimate worlds she creates. As part of the mini-retrospective, there’s also a masterclass featuring a conversation with April Wolfe.
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel
Haywire (Steven Soderbergh)
From the opening moments of Haywire — Steven Soderbergh’s slice of espionage action pulp — a...
- 3/6/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
[Editor's Note: With this past year being another great one across multiple mediums in the horror genre, Emily von Seele continues Daily Dead's "Favorites of 2019" features by reflecting on her favorite movies and experiences from 2019.]
Black Christmas: Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is to give the patriarchy a swift kick in the balls.
I got my wish! Sophia Takal and April Wolfe’s adaptation reimagines the film in a way that is contemporary, fun, and empowering. It doesn’t seek to rehash the plot for Bob Clark’s seminal classic, but instead uses the premise as a jumping-off point to tell their own story. And I loved it. Every second. Though it has its flaws, its energy is amazing. I immediately bonded with the characters and was cheering them on every step of the way (sometimes out loud). In a time where simply being a woman means you’re constantly under attack from all sides, it feels good to have a movie that sees you and will hold your hand while you kick down whatever door is in front of you.
Midsommar...
Black Christmas: Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is to give the patriarchy a swift kick in the balls.
I got my wish! Sophia Takal and April Wolfe’s adaptation reimagines the film in a way that is contemporary, fun, and empowering. It doesn’t seek to rehash the plot for Bob Clark’s seminal classic, but instead uses the premise as a jumping-off point to tell their own story. And I loved it. Every second. Though it has its flaws, its energy is amazing. I immediately bonded with the characters and was cheering them on every step of the way (sometimes out loud). In a time where simply being a woman means you’re constantly under attack from all sides, it feels good to have a movie that sees you and will hold your hand while you kick down whatever door is in front of you.
Midsommar...
- 1/6/2020
- by Emily von Seele
- DailyDead
Stars: Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O’Grady, Caleb Eberhardt, Cary Elwes, Simon Mead, Madeleine Adams, Nathalie Morris, Ben Black, Zoë Robins, Ryan McIntyre | Written by Sophia Takal, April Wolfe | Directed by Sophia Takal
Black Christmas. A familiar title if not a familiar film. Already remade once in 2006, it seems Blumhouse decided 2019 was ripe for reinvention of the film – tasking female filmmakers Sophia Takal and April Wolfe with rebooting the series. And it’s not a big a failure as other reviews have made out. Though it’s not without its problems…
This time round the action takes place at Hawthorne College, which is quieting down for the holidays. One by one, sorority girls on campus are being killed by an unknown stalker. That is until the young sorority pledges discover that the killer is part of an underground college conspiracy; and killer is about to discover that this...
Black Christmas. A familiar title if not a familiar film. Already remade once in 2006, it seems Blumhouse decided 2019 was ripe for reinvention of the film – tasking female filmmakers Sophia Takal and April Wolfe with rebooting the series. And it’s not a big a failure as other reviews have made out. Though it’s not without its problems…
This time round the action takes place at Hawthorne College, which is quieting down for the holidays. One by one, sorority girls on campus are being killed by an unknown stalker. That is until the young sorority pledges discover that the killer is part of an underground college conspiracy; and killer is about to discover that this...
- 12/19/2019
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Sophia Takal’s reimagining of Black Christmas cuts past the male gaze, creating a send-up of the genre in the era of Time’s Up. A somewhat revolutionary film in concept by continuing to subvert expectations, this 2019 version flips various slasher film tropes and reframes sexist expectations of the “sexy co-ed slasher flick” for an era in which norms have radically changed. Unlike Get Out and other recent genre flicks that mix social commentary, unfortunately it never quite pulls everything off. Being woke, funny, and scary all at once is indeed a difficult feat to achieve, but at least Takal’s new take is more admirable than the standard slasher film as it has a different kind of sex and violence on the brain.
Black Christmas places its agenda first and foremost and is the rare film where its characters actually talk like smart Ivy League students rather than paper-thin tropes.
Black Christmas places its agenda first and foremost and is the rare film where its characters actually talk like smart Ivy League students rather than paper-thin tropes.
- 12/16/2019
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
There’s a distinct daughters-of-Carol-Clover vibe in the new remake of Black Christmas that hits you almost immediately — a kind of knowingness with a serrated edge that’s different from the meta-winks of something like Scream, or the in-joke camaraderie that happens when horror franchise entries start getting into the double digits. It’s not just that its creators are familiar with the 1974 original, a proto-slasher flick involving a sorority house, a masked killer, the holiday season and a body count. (This vintage exploitation gem is also the answer to...
- 12/14/2019
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Don Kaye Dec 13, 2019
Director Sophia Takal discusses the challenges of getting Black Christmas finished in time for the holiday season.
After starting out as an actress in 2009, New Jersey native Sophia Takal quickly graduated to directing, helming her debut independent feature Green in 2011. That was followed in 2016 by Always Shine (featuring an up-and-coming Mackenzie Davis) and, last year, an episode of Hulu’s horror anthology series, Into the Dark, titled “New Year, New You,” which Takal also wrote.
With her previous two films (she also wrote Green) essentially being psychological dramas/thrillers exploring aspects of the female psyche, it somehow makes perfect sense for her to direct the new feature Black Christmas, the third movie to come out under that title since 1974. All three are set in a sorority house on a mostly empty college campus during the Christmas break, but only Bob Clark’s 1974 original and Takal’s version...
Director Sophia Takal discusses the challenges of getting Black Christmas finished in time for the holiday season.
After starting out as an actress in 2009, New Jersey native Sophia Takal quickly graduated to directing, helming her debut independent feature Green in 2011. That was followed in 2016 by Always Shine (featuring an up-and-coming Mackenzie Davis) and, last year, an episode of Hulu’s horror anthology series, Into the Dark, titled “New Year, New You,” which Takal also wrote.
With her previous two films (she also wrote Green) essentially being psychological dramas/thrillers exploring aspects of the female psyche, it somehow makes perfect sense for her to direct the new feature Black Christmas, the third movie to come out under that title since 1974. All three are set in a sorority house on a mostly empty college campus during the Christmas break, but only Bob Clark’s 1974 original and Takal’s version...
- 12/13/2019
- Den of Geek
There’s nothing tidy about the conclusion of Bob Clark’s 1974 horror classic “Black Christmas,” hailed as one of the first slasher films and the inspiration for some of the horror sub-genre’s most indelible works. After doling out thrills and chills and vicious kills to a group of sorority sisters over the course of a tidy 98 minutes, Clark’s film doesn’t end with a grand reveal of the crazed killer, no catharsis for its final girl, and little in the way of explanation as to why the hell a group of innocent coeds have forever had their holiday happiness shattered. These days, it’s the kind of open ending that would signal sequel hopes for a burgeoning franchise, but back in the ’70s, it was just a wild way to end a terrifying feature. What’s scarier than not knowing?
“Black Christmas” eventually inspired a lackluster sequel in...
“Black Christmas” eventually inspired a lackluster sequel in...
- 12/13/2019
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Slasher horror films make history and slay at the box office when they offer unique perspectives on protagonists’ will to survive. The new thriller, ‘Black Christmas,’ is doing just that by being a major studio horror movie that was directed by a woman, Sophia Takal, who also co-wrote the script with another female genre veteran, […]
The post Interview: Sophia Takal and April Wolfe Talk Black Christmas (Exclusive) appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Interview: Sophia Takal and April Wolfe Talk Black Christmas (Exclusive) appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 12/13/2019
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
I wish I could explain to people how exhausting it is sometimes to be a woman. To know how much we have to explain and justify our very existence. How everything we say or do is met with scepticism at best, and at worst, loathing and violent reaction. And how much worse it is for any woman of colour/disabled woman/member of the queer community, etc. No wonder we're angry. And we sisters stick together because we're all we have to lean on. Director/writer Sophia Takal (Always Shine) and co-write April Wolfe know this well, and in this update of the cult classic, make Black Christmas for a new, young generation of girls who need to see sisters in solidarity, as well as kicking some much-deserving...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 12/13/2019
- Screen Anarchy
This is the best version of Black Christmas to date with its needed social commentary, but it still isn't very scary.
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Even though it was already remade in 2006, it makes a lot of sense that a movie like 1974’s Black Christmas would come around yet again in 2019. The story is about a group of female students terrorized in a sorority house, and because conversations of toxic masculinity and on-campus rape culture have become more prevalent at schools across the country in recent years, the scenario is inherently more volatile and socially relevant now than it was 45 years ago.
Director Sofia Takal uses the source material as a way of delivering pointed commentary on the challenges women face in a male-dominated world, more specifically, on college campuses. Toxic masculinity manifests itself in clever and innovative ways in Takal’s take on the slasher classic, with social commentary serving...
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Even though it was already remade in 2006, it makes a lot of sense that a movie like 1974’s Black Christmas would come around yet again in 2019. The story is about a group of female students terrorized in a sorority house, and because conversations of toxic masculinity and on-campus rape culture have become more prevalent at schools across the country in recent years, the scenario is inherently more volatile and socially relevant now than it was 45 years ago.
Director Sofia Takal uses the source material as a way of delivering pointed commentary on the challenges women face in a male-dominated world, more specifically, on college campuses. Toxic masculinity manifests itself in clever and innovative ways in Takal’s take on the slasher classic, with social commentary serving...
- 12/13/2019
- Den of Geek
Dwayne Johnson’s “Jumanji: The Next Level” took in a solid $4.7 million at the Thursday previews, on its way to a $35 million opening weekend.
The first film, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” had an opening weekend of $35 million on a $90 million budget. Sony is projecting the sequel to open to $35 million as well — the film’s budget was $125 million.
To compare, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” took in $2 million when it had early showings on the Tuesday night before a Wednesday opening in 2017. Another good comparison is Johnson’s “Rampage,” also based on a game, that made $2.4 million on Thursday night before it opened to $35.7 million.
Also Read: 'Jumanji: The Next Level' Film Review: Second Go-Round Offers Some Familiar Fun
“Jumanji: The Next Level” stars Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Awkwafina, Danny DeVito and Danny Glover. Jake Kasdan directs. Its Rotten Tomatoes score is 69%.
Clint Eastwood...
The first film, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” had an opening weekend of $35 million on a $90 million budget. Sony is projecting the sequel to open to $35 million as well — the film’s budget was $125 million.
To compare, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” took in $2 million when it had early showings on the Tuesday night before a Wednesday opening in 2017. Another good comparison is Johnson’s “Rampage,” also based on a game, that made $2.4 million on Thursday night before it opened to $35.7 million.
Also Read: 'Jumanji: The Next Level' Film Review: Second Go-Round Offers Some Familiar Fun
“Jumanji: The Next Level” stars Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Awkwafina, Danny DeVito and Danny Glover. Jake Kasdan directs. Its Rotten Tomatoes score is 69%.
Clint Eastwood...
- 12/13/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
“Black Christmas” is the second remake of the 1974 slasher classic, which centers on a group of sorority sisters stalked by an unknown murderer. While the original had the female protagonists (Spoiler) offed, in this one, the women fight back.
“It’s been called a re-imagining of the original, and I think, in ways that the original was perhaps progressive for its time, [ours] is talking to the current audience now. There seems to be a really great opportunity to have a mainstream woman’s voice about crucial issues,” says star Imogen Poots.
Poots says working on a set of mostly women — from the cast to writer/director Sophia Takal and writer April Wolfe — allowed for candid conversations about those issues, including misogyny and violence against women, particularly on college campuses. The film also stars Cary Elwes, Aleyse Shannon and Lily Donoghue.
“There are moments that our director, Sophia, decided to pay homage to,...
“It’s been called a re-imagining of the original, and I think, in ways that the original was perhaps progressive for its time, [ours] is talking to the current audience now. There seems to be a really great opportunity to have a mainstream woman’s voice about crucial issues,” says star Imogen Poots.
Poots says working on a set of mostly women — from the cast to writer/director Sophia Takal and writer April Wolfe — allowed for candid conversations about those issues, including misogyny and violence against women, particularly on college campuses. The film also stars Cary Elwes, Aleyse Shannon and Lily Donoghue.
“There are moments that our director, Sophia, decided to pay homage to,...
- 12/13/2019
- by Audrey Cleo Yap
- Variety Film + TV
When Sophia Takal’s Black Christmas remake announced a shift from “R” to “PG-13,” the internet – as per brand – flew into an overreactive tirade equating horror quality to “R” designations. My response? Ratings do not maketh the movies. Any film, MPAA ruling aside, depends on its cinematic makeup to deliver a worthwhile theatergoing (or home watching) experience. Black Christmas isn’t one of the year’s most disappointing horror films because it’s “PG-13” rated. It’s because quickie edits around mature “R” content are noticeable, or unbalanced Adr doubles decibel levels, or characters are helplessly underwritten and uncharismatically presented.
Horror movies aren’t “bad” *because* they’re approved below “R.” Horror movies, as with Black Christmas, are “bad” because, well, they’re just poorly constructed and bafflingly ineffective.
In Takal’s iteration, co-written by April Wolfe, sorority sisters find themselves prey for hooded killers on the eve of winter vacation.
Horror movies aren’t “bad” *because* they’re approved below “R.” Horror movies, as with Black Christmas, are “bad” because, well, they’re just poorly constructed and bafflingly ineffective.
In Takal’s iteration, co-written by April Wolfe, sorority sisters find themselves prey for hooded killers on the eve of winter vacation.
- 12/13/2019
- by Matt Donato
- We Got This Covered
If the original 1974 “Black Christmas” had to obscure its feminism with subversion, subtlety, and a flirtatious Margot Kidder, the latest remake of the classic slasher film wears it proudly on its crop-top sleeve. When #MeToo launched an international conversation around rape and sexual assault in 2016, survivors breathed a collective sigh of relief that people finally believed them. Women knew about the domination of toxic male behavior for years; it didn’t take a genius to see that the calls were coming from inside the house.
In her gutsy and glossy remake, director Sophia Takal builds a timely horror out of the gaslighting and disbelief many survivors know all too well. Using the hyper-gendered spaces of college Greek life as a fertile palette, Takal and her co-writer April Wolfe skewer toxic masculinity, the white male literary canon, rape culture, patriarchy, and white male rage — all wrapped up with a bow in...
In her gutsy and glossy remake, director Sophia Takal builds a timely horror out of the gaslighting and disbelief many survivors know all too well. Using the hyper-gendered spaces of college Greek life as a fertile palette, Takal and her co-writer April Wolfe skewer toxic masculinity, the white male literary canon, rape culture, patriarchy, and white male rage — all wrapped up with a bow in...
- 12/13/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Last year, Blumhouse Productions founder Jason Blum got in a little trouble when it was discovered that none of the horror movies at his shingle had been directed by women — because, he said, “There are not a lot of female directors period, and even less who are inclined to do horror.”
After the inevitable backlash, he apologized with swift sincerity. Now he seems to be presenting “Black Christmas” as both penance and an amend.
Directed by indie auteur Sophia Takal (“Always Shine”), this burn-the-house-down remake really belongs in the midnight-movie section of a festival like Sundance or SXSW. As a wide release studio film nominally aimed at a multiplex audience, it feels strangely, if intriguingly, out of step.
Watch Video: 'A Christmas Carol' Trailer: Guy Pearce Has an Extremely Un-Merry Holiday in FX's Dickens Adaptation
In 1974, the original “Black Christmas” earned its place in pop culture as...
After the inevitable backlash, he apologized with swift sincerity. Now he seems to be presenting “Black Christmas” as both penance and an amend.
Directed by indie auteur Sophia Takal (“Always Shine”), this burn-the-house-down remake really belongs in the midnight-movie section of a festival like Sundance or SXSW. As a wide release studio film nominally aimed at a multiplex audience, it feels strangely, if intriguingly, out of step.
Watch Video: 'A Christmas Carol' Trailer: Guy Pearce Has an Extremely Un-Merry Holiday in FX's Dickens Adaptation
In 1974, the original “Black Christmas” earned its place in pop culture as...
- 12/13/2019
- by Elizabeth Weitzman
- The Wrap
Set to terrify a new generations of fans this weekend, Sophia Takal’s Black Christmas remake hits the big screen everywhere Friday. During the recent press day for the film, Daily Dead had the pleasure of speaking with Takal about how she became involved with the project, the importance of reflecting current societal issues in her iteration of Black Christmas, and how Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut was a major influence as well.
Co-written by Takal and April Wolfe, Black Christmas stars Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O’Grady, Caleb Eberhardt, and Cary Elwes.
Can you start off by talking about how this all lined up with Blumhouse?
Blumhouse got the rights to Black Christmas and called me up and asked me if I wanted to make the movie. They were like, "We've got the title, it has to come out December 13th, but you can do what you want with it,...
Co-written by Takal and April Wolfe, Black Christmas stars Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O’Grady, Caleb Eberhardt, and Cary Elwes.
Can you start off by talking about how this all lined up with Blumhouse?
Blumhouse got the rights to Black Christmas and called me up and asked me if I wanted to make the movie. They were like, "We've got the title, it has to come out December 13th, but you can do what you want with it,...
- 12/12/2019
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Don Kaye Dec 12, 2019
Black Christmas star Imogen Poots says the remake pays homage to the original while acting as a 'Trojan horse' to new ideas for 2019.
Both the original Black Christmas (1974) and its 2006 remake were structured around the same basic plot: a killer is stalking the women of a college sorority house who stayed behind during the winter break, with the big “reveal” being that the murderer has been hiding inside the house the entire time. The 1974 film (directed by Bob Clark) was surprising in that it ultimately did not identify the killer, and that it also dealt with issues like abortion and women’s liberation--both hot-button topics then and, sadly, now. The 2006 version… well, let’s just say it didn’t have the same flair for relevance.
The new version, directed by Sophia Takal and co-written by her and April Wolfe, is a different prospect entirely. It’s still...
Black Christmas star Imogen Poots says the remake pays homage to the original while acting as a 'Trojan horse' to new ideas for 2019.
Both the original Black Christmas (1974) and its 2006 remake were structured around the same basic plot: a killer is stalking the women of a college sorority house who stayed behind during the winter break, with the big “reveal” being that the murderer has been hiding inside the house the entire time. The 1974 film (directed by Bob Clark) was surprising in that it ultimately did not identify the killer, and that it also dealt with issues like abortion and women’s liberation--both hot-button topics then and, sadly, now. The 2006 version… well, let’s just say it didn’t have the same flair for relevance.
The new version, directed by Sophia Takal and co-written by her and April Wolfe, is a different prospect entirely. It’s still...
- 12/11/2019
- Den of Geek
In 1974, “Black Christmas,” a slasher horror film set on a college campus just before winter break, hit American theaters just before the holidays. Many years later, a 2006 version retold the tale. Now, moviegoers looking for a good scare are in for a creative re-imagining of the slasher tale with the Dec. 13 release of the very loose reboot. “Black Christmas” looks to move the slasher genre forward into new territory by honing in on themes of campus rape culture, systemic misogyny and the #MeToo movement.
In the original movie, sorority girls are picked off one by one by a deranged killer just before leaving for the holidays, and the ending, to director and co-writer Sophia Takal, was just too misogynistic. There was no “final girl” who evades death like in “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” or “Halloween” — instead, there was an open-ended threat that all of the sisters...
In the original movie, sorority girls are picked off one by one by a deranged killer just before leaving for the holidays, and the ending, to director and co-writer Sophia Takal, was just too misogynistic. There was no “final girl” who evades death like in “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” or “Halloween” — instead, there was an open-ended threat that all of the sisters...
- 12/11/2019
- by Mackenzie Nichols
- Variety Film + TV
Ready to slash its way through the holiday season is director Sophia Takal’s Black Christmas remake, which hits theaters this Friday. At the recent press day for the film, Daily Dead sat down for a candid chat with one of Black Christmas’ co-writers, April Wolfe, who discussed the approach she and Takal had with their new story, the remake’s PG-13 rating and why it’s a good thing, incorporating some Og Black Christmas Easter Eggs here, and so much more.
Starring Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O’Grady, Caleb Eberhardt, and Cary Elwes, look for the new Black Christmas in theaters everywhere this weekend.
Can you talk about what it was about the story of Black Christmas that felt right to revisit? Was there something about this time, in particular, where everything felt right to do a remake?
April Wolfe: So, the thing is that Blumhouse had the idea to remake this,...
Starring Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O’Grady, Caleb Eberhardt, and Cary Elwes, look for the new Black Christmas in theaters everywhere this weekend.
Can you talk about what it was about the story of Black Christmas that felt right to revisit? Was there something about this time, in particular, where everything felt right to do a remake?
April Wolfe: So, the thing is that Blumhouse had the idea to remake this,...
- 12/10/2019
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
“Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover” is a proverb whose simple existence proves the fact impressionable souls will do so without fail. This monthly column focuses on the film industry’s willingness to capitalize on this truth, releasing one-sheets to serve as not representations of what audiences are to expect, but as propaganda to fill seats. Oftentimes they fail miserably.
Because December’s posters unfortunately leave a bit to be desired, this month’s roundup will be somewhat brief. I tried to cull together three more to join with the very spare Uncut Gems (December 13), but finally decided there wasn’t much to say about that one either. It’s tough when two of the most recognizable titles are Cats (December 20) and its cheaply shadowed logo alongside Just Mercy (limited December 25; wide January 10) and its … text.
There are still a few gems to look out for, though. Not...
Because December’s posters unfortunately leave a bit to be desired, this month’s roundup will be somewhat brief. I tried to cull together three more to join with the very spare Uncut Gems (December 13), but finally decided there wasn’t much to say about that one either. It’s tough when two of the most recognizable titles are Cats (December 20) and its cheaply shadowed logo alongside Just Mercy (limited December 25; wide January 10) and its … text.
There are still a few gems to look out for, though. Not...
- 12/5/2019
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
Blumhouse and director Sophia Takal’s remake of Bob Clark’s Christmas slasher classic Black Christmas will be hitting a theater near you – you guessed it – this Christmas. Yesterday we reported the MPAA slapped the remake with a PG-13 rating for violence, terror, thematic content involving sexual assault, language, sexual material, and drinking. And today, co-writer April Wolfe […]
The post Co-Writer Defends Black Christmas PG-13 Rating appeared first on Dread Central.
The post Co-Writer Defends Black Christmas PG-13 Rating appeared first on Dread Central.
- 11/14/2019
- by Mike Sprague
- DreadCentral.com
After releasing box office hits like “Happy Death Day 2U” and “Ma,” Blumhouse will return one last time in 2019 for the holiday horror movie “Black Christmas.” The latest remake of the 1974 horror classic is directed by indie film favorite Sophia Takal (“Always Shine”) and co-written by film critic April Wolfe. The MPAA has given the new “Black Christmas” a PG-13 rating, making it the first version of the horror property not to be R rated. Some horror fans are scoffing at a PG-13 “Black Christmas,” but Wolfe took to social media to defend the more restricted rating.
“Here’s the deal: We wrote it with an R in mind,” Wolfe wrote. “When they did the test screenings, [it] was clear that this movie needed to be available to a younger female audience because the subject matter is timely. Also I want to indoctrinate girls into horror. Doesn’t make it any less vicious!
“Here’s the deal: We wrote it with an R in mind,” Wolfe wrote. “When they did the test screenings, [it] was clear that this movie needed to be available to a younger female audience because the subject matter is timely. Also I want to indoctrinate girls into horror. Doesn’t make it any less vicious!
- 11/14/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
When Blumhouse TV approached Hannah Macpherson with the notion of a horror film set in the subculture of purity balls the young filmmaker was more intrigued than informed. “First of all, I had to Google what that was,” the New Mexico native admits. “And then I went down the rabbit hole.”
That rabbit hole led Macpherson into the world of the prom-like purity events where daughters vow to save their virginity for their future husbands and a marriage that’s often arranged by their fathers. For Macpherson, the exploration was instantly inspiring on a creative level but routinely infuriating on a cultural and social level. The result is Pure, the new horror film with themes of gruesome group-think (think of a high school Handmaid’s Tale or a church-camp redux of Midsommar) as well as supernatural menace (Carrie would have been an ideal peer counselor).
Blumhouse TV produced Pure, which...
That rabbit hole led Macpherson into the world of the prom-like purity events where daughters vow to save their virginity for their future husbands and a marriage that’s often arranged by their fathers. For Macpherson, the exploration was instantly inspiring on a creative level but routinely infuriating on a cultural and social level. The result is Pure, the new horror film with themes of gruesome group-think (think of a high school Handmaid’s Tale or a church-camp redux of Midsommar) as well as supernatural menace (Carrie would have been an ideal peer counselor).
Blumhouse TV produced Pure, which...
- 9/24/2019
- by Geoff Boucher
- Deadline Film + TV
The last Friday the 13th was one for the ages. No, we’re not talking about the dreadful 2009 remake of the horror classic. We quite literally mean Friday, September 13th. It was the first spooky calendar occurrence of 2019 and also happened to fall on a full moon, the 50th anniversary of Scooby-Doo and the day that fans celebrated the long-running series Supernatural.
For those who might’ve missed AMC’s all-day Friday the 13th marathon though, have no fear, as there’s another haunted holiday right around the corner. Shortly after Halloween, during which folks can experience even more horror on the movie channel, there will be another 13th of the month that falls at the end of the work week.
People online are now realizing that there’s one more Friday the 13th this year and it happens to fall in December, just a little less than two weeks before Christmas.
For those who might’ve missed AMC’s all-day Friday the 13th marathon though, have no fear, as there’s another haunted holiday right around the corner. Shortly after Halloween, during which folks can experience even more horror on the movie channel, there will be another 13th of the month that falls at the end of the work week.
People online are now realizing that there’s one more Friday the 13th this year and it happens to fall in December, just a little less than two weeks before Christmas.
- 9/24/2019
- by Evan Lewis
- We Got This Covered
After successfully teaming up for the “New Year, New You” episode of Hulu’s Into the Dark, producer Jason Blum and director Sophia Takal are reteaming to remake the horror classic Black Christmas. A staple of independent cinema for a decade now, Takal’s film follows up on her well-regarded episode and previous directorial outing Always Shine.
An early entry into the ever growing sub-genre of Christmas horror, Bob Clark’s 1974 Black Christmas concerned a group of sorority sisters who are stalked by menacing phone calls and a killer during the Christmas season. Takal’s film will be the second remake, following Glen Morgan’s ill-received 2006 Black Christmas.
Takal’s film stars Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Brittany O’Grady, Lily Donoghue, and Caleb Eberhardt. In addition to directing, Takal also co-wrote the film with film critic April Wolfe.
Black Christmas’ release comes on the heels of Jason Blum’s regrettable...
An early entry into the ever growing sub-genre of Christmas horror, Bob Clark’s 1974 Black Christmas concerned a group of sorority sisters who are stalked by menacing phone calls and a killer during the Christmas season. Takal’s film will be the second remake, following Glen Morgan’s ill-received 2006 Black Christmas.
Takal’s film stars Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Brittany O’Grady, Lily Donoghue, and Caleb Eberhardt. In addition to directing, Takal also co-wrote the film with film critic April Wolfe.
Black Christmas’ release comes on the heels of Jason Blum’s regrettable...
- 9/6/2019
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Xyz Films has signed its inaugural group of clients for its new management division, which focuses on filmmakers with an emphasis on global talent.
Among the inaugural signees as the Toronto Film Festival gets under way today are directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Tiff world premiere Synchronic), director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia (Tiff world premiere The Platform), director-producer Mattie Do (The Long Walk), director Egor Abramenko (The Passenger), film director Steven Ellison (aka “Flying Lotus”) — alongside his management team at Really Happening Management — and writers April Wolfe (Black Christmas) and Ryan Holiday.
“These artists and filmmakers are globally recognized creators with eclectic styles and strengths,” Van Steemburg said. “We are both proud and humbled by the opportunity to help their careers grow. They epitomize Xyz’s mission as a company and a brand.”
The management division is a major expansion for Xyz Films, the film production...
Among the inaugural signees as the Toronto Film Festival gets under way today are directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Tiff world premiere Synchronic), director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia (Tiff world premiere The Platform), director-producer Mattie Do (The Long Walk), director Egor Abramenko (The Passenger), film director Steven Ellison (aka “Flying Lotus”) — alongside his management team at Really Happening Management — and writers April Wolfe (Black Christmas) and Ryan Holiday.
“These artists and filmmakers are globally recognized creators with eclectic styles and strengths,” Van Steemburg said. “We are both proud and humbled by the opportunity to help their careers grow. They epitomize Xyz’s mission as a company and a brand.”
The management division is a major expansion for Xyz Films, the film production...
- 9/6/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Stable includes The Platform director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia.
Los Angeles-based Xyz Films has unveiled an inaugural group of clients for its new management division that includes directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, whose thriller Synchronic gets its Tiff world premiere in Special Presentations on Friday (7).
The stable includes Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, director of genre title The Platform (El Hoyo) that premieres in Midnight Madness tonight (6), director-producer Mattie Do (recent Venice Giornate degli Autori premiere The Long Walk), director Egor Abramenko (The Passenger), director Steven Ellison (aka “Flying Lotus”) alongside his team at Really Happening Management, and writers April Wolfe (Black Christmas) and Ryan Holiday.
Los Angeles-based Xyz Films has unveiled an inaugural group of clients for its new management division that includes directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, whose thriller Synchronic gets its Tiff world premiere in Special Presentations on Friday (7).
The stable includes Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, director of genre title The Platform (El Hoyo) that premieres in Midnight Madness tonight (6), director-producer Mattie Do (recent Venice Giornate degli Autori premiere The Long Walk), director Egor Abramenko (The Passenger), director Steven Ellison (aka “Flying Lotus”) alongside his team at Really Happening Management, and writers April Wolfe (Black Christmas) and Ryan Holiday.
- 9/6/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions have launched the first trailer for horror ‘Black Christmas’ featuring Imogen Poots.
Directed by Sophia Takal from a script by April Wolfe the film stars Imogen Poots, Lily Donoghue, Aleyse Shannon, Brittany O’Grady, Simon Mead, Caleb Eberhardt and Cary Elwes.
Also in trailers – First teaser trailer for ‘Gretel and Hansel’ is a Grim fairy tale.
The film is out in cinemas December Friday 13th.
Black Christmas Synopsis
Just in time for the holidays comes a timely take on a cult horror classic as a campus killer comes to face a formidable group of friends in sisterhood.
Hawthorne College is quieting down for the holidays. But as Riley Stone and her Mu Kappa Epsilon sisters—athlete Marty, rebel Kris, and foodie Jesse—prepare to deck the halls with a series of seasonal parties, a black-masked stalker begins killing sorority women one by one.
As the body count rises,...
Directed by Sophia Takal from a script by April Wolfe the film stars Imogen Poots, Lily Donoghue, Aleyse Shannon, Brittany O’Grady, Simon Mead, Caleb Eberhardt and Cary Elwes.
Also in trailers – First teaser trailer for ‘Gretel and Hansel’ is a Grim fairy tale.
The film is out in cinemas December Friday 13th.
Black Christmas Synopsis
Just in time for the holidays comes a timely take on a cult horror classic as a campus killer comes to face a formidable group of friends in sisterhood.
Hawthorne College is quieting down for the holidays. But as Riley Stone and her Mu Kappa Epsilon sisters—athlete Marty, rebel Kris, and foodie Jesse—prepare to deck the halls with a series of seasonal parties, a black-masked stalker begins killing sorority women one by one.
As the body count rises,...
- 9/6/2019
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Xyz Films has unveiled its first batch of clients for its new management division. Among the inaugural group signing on are directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, whose Synchronic is making its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, and Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, whose The Platform also is debuting at Tiff.
Others joining Xyz's management fold are director-producer Mattie Do (The Long Walk), director Egor Abramenko (The Passenger) and director-musician Steven Ellison (aka “Flying Lotus”), who will be continue to be co-repped by Really Happening Management, as well as writers April Wolfe (Black Christmas) and Ryan Holiday (Trust Me,...
Others joining Xyz's management fold are director-producer Mattie Do (The Long Walk), director Egor Abramenko (The Passenger) and director-musician Steven Ellison (aka “Flying Lotus”), who will be continue to be co-repped by Really Happening Management, as well as writers April Wolfe (Black Christmas) and Ryan Holiday (Trust Me,...
Xyz Films has unveiled its first batch of clients for its new management division. Among the inaugural group signing on are directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, whose Synchronic is making its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, and Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, whose The Platform also is debuting at Tiff.
Others joining Xyz's management fold are director-producer Mattie Do (The Long Walk), director Egor Abramenko (The Passenger) and director-musician Steven Ellison (aka “Flying Lotus”), who will be continue to be co-repped by Really Happening Management, as well as writers April Wolfe (Black Christmas) and Ryan Holiday (Trust Me,...
Others joining Xyz's management fold are director-producer Mattie Do (The Long Walk), director Egor Abramenko (The Passenger) and director-musician Steven Ellison (aka “Flying Lotus”), who will be continue to be co-repped by Really Happening Management, as well as writers April Wolfe (Black Christmas) and Ryan Holiday (Trust Me,...
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