News

The Last Video Store, set to premiere this Friday at Fantastic Fest, pays tribute to the format wars and the video stores of yesteryear through a cursed VHS tape that unleashes terror. Bloody Disgusting has been provided with a clip that demonstrates a horrific fate far worse than late fees for store employees and patrons.

The feature debut of directing duo Cody Kennedy and Tim Rutherford is described as “Last Action Hero meets Evil Dead” as the VHS Necronomicon has the ability to bring any movie character to life in the real world. That pits the protagonists against a slew of B-movie villains, with the below clip giving a peek at some of the rules and horror.

The official synopsis: “In this love letter to the era of the video store, we follow Nyla who accidentally uncovers a ‘cursed’ VHS tape. A film holds the power to connect the real...

Maxwell Jenkins, Jeremy Ray Taylor and Katie Douglas have jumped on board This Too Shall Pass, a coming-of-age drama from writer-director and indie horror veteran Rob Grant.

The ensemble cast for the pic to start shooting next month in Calgary includes Ben Cockell, Jaylin Webb, Aidan Laprete, Nikki Roumel and Chris Sandiford.

Set in 1987 in Syracuse, New York, This Too Shall Pass follows Simon, a 16 year-old suffocated by his strict Mormon upbringing and rebelling as he leaves town with friends for a weekend in Canada, only to see events further make Simon question his religious and personal beliefs.

“This cast is dynamite, the team behind the scenes are amazing, and I can’t wait to bring the world a different slant on the coming-of-age genre!” Grant said in a statement.

This Too Shall Pass, which has financing from Telefilm Canada, marks the fifth feature film collaboration between Grant — who started...

Are We Not Cats, Bodom and One Drop will be screened at the inaugural genre event.

The Cannes Marché and genre market Frontières have revealed the three work-in-progress titles that will be screened as part of their inaugural partnership at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Taking place on May 15, the Frontières Day at the Marché will feature a trio of films that are all in the post-production stage and are seeking sales agents, distribution and completion funding.

Screening is writer-director Xander Robin’s Are We Not Cats [pictured], which tells the story of a man who loses his job, girlfriend and apartment in a single day. When trying to restart his life, he meets a woman who shares his strangest compulsive habit – eating hair. Theo Brooks and Joshua Sobel are producers.

The second title is Taneli Mustonen’s Bodom, which he co-wrote with producer Aleksi Hyvärinen. Taking place years after four teenagers are stabbed to death...

Are We Not Cats, Bodom and One Drop will be screened at the inaugural event.

The Cannes Marché and genre market Frontières have revealed the three work-in-progress titles that will be screened as part of their inaugural partnership at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Taking place on May 15, the Frontières Day at the Marché will feature a trio of films that are all in the post-production stage and are seeking sales agents, distribution and completion funding.

Screening is writer-director Xander Robin’s Are We Not Cats [pictured], which tells the story of a man who loses his job, girlfriend and apartment in a single day. When trying to restart his life, he meets a woman who shares his strangest compulsive habit – eating hair. Theo Brooks and Joshua Sobel are producers.

The second title is Taneli Mustonen’s Bodom, which he co-wrote with producer Aleksi Hyvärinen. Taking place years after four teenagers are stabbed to death at a camp...

We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting the recent independent horror news sent our way. Today's feature includes release details for One Drop, a look at Evil Lurks in Innocence, a teaser trailer from The Church, a Q&A with Amanda Adrienne from the film Avenged, and much more:

Women in Horror Month and One Drop Release Details: "February is Women in Horror Month, and few women are working harder in the genre than Tricia Lee. The director of the award winning films Silent Retreat and Clean Break has been pounding the pavement to secure financing for her next film One Drop.

One Drop tells the story of Ellie, a drug addict who overdoses and wakes up in the basement of a medical facility. Everyone around her is dead, and she is suddenly nine months pregnant.

With a strong creative team including long time partner in crime,...

IFC Midnight has acquired Us rights to the Fella Films thriller.

Adam MacDonald wrote and directed Backcountry, about a busy executive and her boyfriend on a camping trip who get into trouble in the wilderness.

Missy Peregrym, Jeff Roop, Eric Balfour and Nicholas Campbell star. Thomas Michael served as producer

Roop, Michael Baker and Brandon Baker are the executive producers.

IFC negotiated the deal with Cinetic Media. Backcountry premiered in Toronto.

From Canada's levelFILM, Sneak Peek director Sturla Gunnarson's science fiction action thriller "Ice Soldiers", starring Dominic Purcell, Adam Beach and Michael Ironside, now available on Blu-Ray, DVD and VOD:

"...'Ice Soldiers", follows a scientist who discovers the bodies of three frozen, genetically modified Russians buried in the Canadian North. 

"But when they thaw out, he realizes he has unleashed a deadly threat to Western society that must be stopped at all costs..."

"Ice Soldiers" is produced by Michael Baker of Bunk 11 Pictures and David Anselmo. Jeff Sackman is Executive Producer.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Ice Soldiers"...

It has been announced that David Cronenberg’s first feature film, Shivers, is in the process of being remade:

‘Toronto — September 6, 2013 — Producers Jeff Sackman and Michael Baker today announced that they will remake the horror classic Shivers, David Cronenberg’s first feature film. That film, highlighted with a special screening at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, broke ground with its boundary-pushing sexuality and violence in its original release, nearly 40 years ago.

Shivers will be directed by award-winning Danish filmmaker Rie Rasmussen from a screenplay written by Ian Driscoll. Sackman and Baker will produce through their respective companies, Tajj Media and Bunk 11 Pictures. Working with them as executive producer is the film’s original executive producer, André Link. Shivers will begin shooting in February 2014, with casting currently underway.

In Shivers, a genetically-engineered strain of parasites that turn people into violent, compulsive sex-addicts is released into a self-contained luxury apartment complex.

Former THINKFilm executives David Hudakoc and Michael Baker have launched the Toronto-based distributor, one of several new players that are expected to arrive in the wake of the eOne-Alliance merger.

The goal is for levelFilm to release 10-12 “quality independent films” a years starting with Chen Kaige’s Caught In The Web.

The plan will balance platform theatrical releases with day-and-date digital.

Baker [pictured at right] and Hudakoc [pictured at left] will handle acquisitions together while Baker will oversee content development and Hudakoc will supervise distribution and marketing.

Caught In The Web will open in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto in October and expand into 15-20 major markets.

The contemporary ensemble drama centres on the story of a young woman with a terminal illness who becomes the victim of a viral internet campaign after she is caught on video mistreating an elderly bus passenger.

Yuanyuan Gao stars alongside Chen Yao, Mark Chao, Hong Chen and Xueqi Wang. Kaige co-wrote...

It's been a couple of months since last we checked in with the new Michael Keaton psycho thriller Penthouse North, but some good news has hit our desks, and as always we're here to share. Just keep your hands off our French fries or you'll lose a friggin' finger.

From the Press Release

Dimension Films announced that it has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film Penthouse North from director Joseph Ruben (Sleeping With The Enemy, The Forgotten, Return To Paradise). The thriller stars Michael Keaton (The Other Guys) and Michelle Monaghan (Source Code, Machine Gun Preacher). The announcement was made by Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company.

Sara Taylor (Monaghan), a photojournalist blinded in Iraq, is forced to play a deadly game of cat and mouse with the sadistic criminal Hollander (Keaton) – a man who will stop at nothing to get a fortune of stolen diamonds hidden in Sara’s penthouse apartment.

We’ve got a couple of acquisition stories to report today. First up, Dimension has picked up U.S. distribution rights to the thriller Penthouse North. Directed by Joseph Ruben (Sleeping with the Enemy), the film stars Michelle Monaghan as a photojournalist blinded in Iraq who becomes entangled in a sadistic criminal’s (Michael Keaton) search for a missing fortune. The script was written by David Loughery (Lakeview Terrace), who will also produced alongside Jeff Sackman and Michael Baker. Production begins in Ottawa on December 7th. Additionally, Tribeca Film has acquired the U.S. rights to the French thriller Sleepless Night. The film debuted to a wildly positive reception as part of the “Midnight Madness” portion of the Toronto Film Festival. Matt caught the pic and loved it, and now Tribeca Film will release the film VOD and theatrically stateside in 2012. The story centers on an undercover cop trying to...

Dimension Films announced that it has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film Penthouse North from director Joseph Ruben (Sleeping with the Enemy, The Forgotten, Return to Paradise). The thriller stars Michael Keaton (The Other Guys) and Michelle Monaghan (Source Code, Machine Gun Preacher). The announcement was made today by Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company.

Sara Taylor (Monaghan), a photojournalist blinded in Iraq, is forced to play a deadly game of cat and mouse with the sadistic criminal Hollander (Keaton) - a man who will stop at nothing to get a fortune of stolen diamonds hidden in Sara's penthouse apartment. Although Sara claims to not know where the diamonds are, Hollander utilizes psychological and physical torture in an effort to break Sara's resistance. But Sara fights back. As the suspense builds to a shattering climax, Sara gains the advantage. But will it be enough to save her?...

Joseph Ruben's Penthouse North Michael Keaton, Michelle Monaghan starrer for Dimension Films. The Weinstein Co.'s Dimension Films will distribute the David Loughery,-scripted thriller in the U.S., which follows a photojournalist (played by Monaghan), who after being blinded in Iraq, has to play a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a sadistic criminal (Keaton). Penthouse North is being produced by Ruben, Loughery, Jeff Sackman and Michael Baker. Filming starts December 7th in Canada. Veteran Ruben's previous credits include Dennis Quaid starrer Dreamscape, Sleeping with the Enemy, The Good Son, Money Train...

Joseph Ruben's Penthouse North Michael Keaton, Michelle Monaghan starrer for Dimension Films. The Weinstein Co.'s Dimension Films will distribute the David Loughery,-scripted thriller in the U.S., which follows a photojournalist (played by Monaghan), who after being blinded in Iraq, has to play a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a sadistic criminal (Keaton). Penthouse North is being produced by Ruben, Loughery, Jeff Sackman and Michael Baker. Filming starts December 7th in Canada. Veteran Ruben's previous credits include Dennis Quaid starrer Dreamscape, Sleeping with the Enemy, The Good Son, Money Train...

Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Christian Slater, Devon Bostick and Kim Coates

Available on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digitally on April 26th

(Los Angeles, CA) – Millennium Entertainment proudly announces the DVD, Blu-Ray and digital release of the gripping action thriller, Sacrifice. The film stars Cuba Gooding Jr. as John, an intensely dedicated narcotics detective swept into a heroin trafficking case that hauntingly reminds him of his own tragic past. The film is directed by Damien Lee and written by Michael Baker. The film is available on DVD (Including a free digital copy) and Blu-Ray at an Srp of $28.98, as well as digitally for $14.99 (Standard Definition download) and $19.99 (High Definition download).

After a fatal crime is committed upon his wife and daughter, tough undercover cop John Hebron (Oscar® Winner Cuba Gooding Jr., American Gangster, Jerry Maguire, Pearl Harbor) struggles to forgive himself for being unable to save them. Plagued by the past, he...