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Sometimes you go into a movie as a horror fan just hoping that what you’re about to see will deliver the proverbial goods. Such was the case for me with Lights Out; I fell in love with David F. Sandberg’s brilliant short film by the same name when I first saw it, and so I was curious just how well his three-minute tale of terror would translate for longer-form storytelling. Honestly, though, Lights Out ended up being even more fun and terrifying than I could have possibly expected, as it brilliantly preys on our most primal fears and thoughtfully delves into mental health issues, with its villain becoming a metaphor for those who struggle with the all-consuming afflictions of the mind.

Lights Out centers on a young woman named Rebecca (Teresa Palmer from Warm Bodies) who left home years ago after her father vanished on her unstable mother,...

Horror films, by necessity, live in a world where what’s unseen is often scarier than what’s visible. The plucky and well-acted, if not always shiver-inducing, “Lights Out” — from first-time feature director David F. Sandberg, building on his popular viral short, and fright impresario James Wan (“The Conjuring 2”) — works a clever gimmick that seems tailor-made for the visual particulars of movies: a terrorizing figure one can only detect when there’s no illumination. That really means cagey indirect light, the kind that’s turned heaps of clothes into imagined monsters since kids were first tucked into beds. That the film.

In 2013, director David F. Sandberg made a very simple but effective horror short titled “Lights Out”. In the short, an everyday woman turns off the light in her home before she goes to bed, only to discover a shadowy figure lurking in the darkness. She quickly flips the switch on and off, on and […]...

The 2016 Los Angeles Film Festival kicks off on Wednesday, June 1st, and this year’s Nightfall lineup looks to be yet another strong selection of genre films set to thrill festival-goers night after night.

For those of you in the southern California area, the 2016 Laff runs through Thursday, June 9th and is calling the ArcLight Culver City Cinema home this year. Here’s a look at what we’re anticipating once the Laff begins later this week, and for more information on the festival, please visit:

http://www.filmindependent.org/la-film-festival/

Abattoir (directed by Darren Lynn Bousman)

Full disclosure: Abattoir was edited by my significant other, so I am certainly biased, but my enthusiasm for the film comes from my excitement to see Bousman return to the hardboiled world of horror after working on The Devil’s Carnival musicals and his comedy-infused segment in last year’s Tales of Halloween anthology.

Tribeca selection Kicks and the world premiere of horror tale Lights Out are among the films announced by festival organisers on Tuesday ahead of the June 1-9 run date.

The six non-competitive Buzz entries of films culled from other festivals include:

Don’t Think Twice from Mike Birbiglia; Equity by Meera Menon; Jean Of The Joneses by Stella Meghie; Kicks (pictured) from Justin Tipping; Life by Roger Ross Williams; and The Music Of Strangers from Morgan Neville.

All are Us films except Jean Of The Joneses, which hails from Canada.

The six non-competitive Limelight films “of fiction and documentary films featuring noteworthy talent” are all world premiere and include:

Free CeCe! by Jacqueline Gares; A Hundred Streets (UK) from Jim O’Hanlon; Lights Out David F. Sandberg; Opening Night (USA-Mexico) by Isaac Rentz; So B. It from Stephen Gyllenhaal; and The Sweet Life by Rob Spera.

All are Us films except those indicated otherwise.

“In the Buzz...

Warner Bros. Pictures showcased an impressive lineup of talents and highly anticipated films at this year’s CinemaCon, which generated tremendous excitement for the Studio’s wide-ranging slate. Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara opened the program and announced that Ben Affleck—who will again play the role of Batman in the upcoming Justice League movie—will direct, as well as star in, a new stand-alone Batman feature.

The Studio’s presentation was highlighted by trailers and film clips—including some never-before-seen footage—and appearances by some of the major stars and filmmakers involved in each of the movies. It also served to illustrate Tsujihara’s statement about the diversity of the slate: built on the foundation of the key franchises of DC Super Heroes, animated Lego® features, and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” but also encompassing a broad scope of dramas, action adventures, horror thrillers and comedies.

There...

Warner Bros. Pictures showcased an impressive lineup of talents and highly anticipated films at this year’s CinemaCon, which generated tremendous excitement for the Studio’s wide-ranging slate. Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara opened the program and announced that Ben Affleck—who will again play the role of Batman in the upcoming Justice League movie—will direct, as well as star in, a new stand-alone Batman feature.

The Studio’s presentation was highlighted by trailers and film clips—including some never-before-seen footage—and appearances by some of the major stars and filmmakers involved in each of the movies. It also served to illustrate Tsujihara’s statement about the diversity of the slate: built on the foundation of the key franchises of DC Super Heroes, animated Lego® features, and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” but also encompassing a broad scope of dramas, action adventures, horror thrillers and comedies.

There...

While James Wan was at Wondercon presenting his own sequel The Conjuring 2, he also presented a new horror film he produced. Lights Out is based on a Swedish short film of the same name that has garnered over 150 million views online. /Film spoke to the director, David F. Sandberg, producer Lawrence Grey, actor […]

The post ‘Lights Out’ Filmmakers Talk Hiding the Monster and Honoring the Short [Wondercon] appeared first on /Film.

If the name “Lights Out” sounds familiar, it’s probably because you remember it as the title of that popular little YouTube video from a couple years ago. If you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favor and watch it… Continue Reading →

The post WonderCon 2016: Lights Out Discussion With Dynamic Duo David F. Sandberg and Lotta Losten appeared first on Dread Central.

Back in 2013 a British horror production company called Bloody Cuts held the "Who's There?" Short Film Challenge. It had five simple rules. The short had to be horror, it had to cost less than $1,000 to make, it could not be longer than 3 minutes, it had to be uploaded before the end of the year, and it had to somehow deal with the question, "Who's there?" David F. Sandberg, a director who had already made a bunch of short films with horror punchlines, entered the contest with a very simple, very effective short called Lights Out (watch it here). It was about a woman going to bed, but every time she turned out the light a woman appeared in the dark. That's pretty much it. It was a great short, but it didn't even win the contest. Watch it...

Read More...

Like we mentioned last week, Lights Out – the short film that went viral in 2014 – is getting its own feature-length film. Today, we have a trailer for it, which premiered at Wondercon over the weekend. Check it out above.

A woman is haunted by a creature that only appears when the lights go out. A feature adaptation of the 2013 short film, “Lights Out” by David F. Sandberg. Produced by James Wan, Eric Heisserer and Lawrence Grey.

Word is that the test screenings for the feature-length are great – which is probably why Sandberg got the Annabelle 2 job. Check out the original short film below and sleep tight.

Original Short Film

Tak

The post Lights Out Trailer Makes Us Duct-Tape the Switch in the On Position appeared first on Destroy the Brain!.

There's a reason you should be afraid of the dark if you check with director David Sandberg, and it's because there's a creepy woman lurking in the shadows every time you turn the lights off. That's the type of idea that is perfectly capable of giving you nightmares and New Line is counting on it as they debuted the first trailer for Sandberg's Lights Out over the weekend... Read More...

Over the weekend at WonderCon, producer James Wan unveiled the first trailer for a great looking new horror thriller called Lights Out. It is based on a short film of the same name that was released in 2014. The short went viral and producer Lawrence Grey contacted director David F. Sandberg and told him they wanted him to adapt it into a feature film. They brought Wan on board to help in the process, and it looks like they came up with something incredibly fun, creepy, and inventive.

The movie stars Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Alexander Dipersia, Billy Burke, and Maria Bello, who plays a mother with an eerie imaginary friend. The director explained that usually in horror films it's the kids with the creepy imaginary friends. So the fact that in this movie it's the mom, and her kids are put in the situation where they have to deal with...

After jumping into massive-budget spectacle with Furious 7, this year finds James Wan returning to smaller scale horror in two features. First up, he directed The Conjuring 2, featuring the return of demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits.

Then he produced David F. Sandberg‘s feature Lights Out, based on his short (also seen below). Starring Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Alexander Dipersia, Billy Burke and Maria Bello, it follows a woman who only sees a creature when the lights go out, haunting her and her family. Two new trailers for the films have now debuted at WonderCon, and are now available online. Check them out below, as well as the poster for Lights Out.

The Conjuring 2 opens on June 10th and Lights Out arrives on July 22nd.

After stepping away from the horror genre to direct Furious 7, James Wan is back in full, frightening force this year, directing The Conjuring 2 (for which a blood-curdling trailer just dropped) and producing the very creepy-looking Lights Out. The first full trailer for the latter, which Warner Bros. is heavily backing with a prime summer release slot, just arrived, and it’s immediately clear why the studio is so gung-ho about the frightener – this thing looks absolutely terrifying.

David F. Sandberg is making his feature debut on the pic, an adaptation of his spine-tingling 2013 short (which you can watch and consequently lose sleep over here). He’s working with a great cast, too, including Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Alexander Dipersia, Billy Burke and Maria Bello, and a beefed-up premise. Whereas the short just went for the jugular (and the light-switch), this spin on the concept (a demon can only...

From producer James Wan (The Conjuring) comes a tale of an unknown terror that lurks in the dark.

When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin, is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatened her safety. A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie, has reemerged.

But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no denying that all their lives are in danger…once the lights go out.

Watch the new trailer… with the lights on.

The film stars Teresa Palmer (“Triple 9”) as Rebecca; Gabriel Bateman (“Annabelle”) as Martin; Billy Burke (the “Twilight” franchise) as Martin’s father, Paul; Alexander Dipersia (“Forever”) as Rebecca’s boyfriend,...

James Wan is going to have a busy summer scaring the bejesus out of you. First he's got "The Conjuring 2" coming and a month later, he'll unleash his producing powers on "Lights Out," which will once again make you afraid of the dark. Read More: Review: Horror 'The Conjuring' Starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Lili Taylor & Ron Livingston David F. Sandberg directs Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Alexander Dipersia, Billy Burke and Maria Bello, the story follows siblings who are haunted by a mysterious figure in the dark, one that is mysteriously connected to their mother. And as the terror increases, they'll have to face the truth. Here's the synopsis: When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin, is...

As well as directing The Conjuring 2, James Wan’s return to horror also consists of acting as producer on Light’s Out, a new horror movie with one hell of a hook: two siblings are stalked by a mysterious, ghostly entity that they can only be seen in complete darkness. Pitch Black meets It Follows may be one way to describe, but, judging from this first trailer, that would do it a disservice. The debut feature from David F. Sandberg, adapted by his own 2013 short of the same name, Lights Out shows a hell of a lot of promise. The core concept has an awful lot of potential for some genuine scares, and everything in this trailer is played for the maximum creep potential. Wan’s name attached also acts as a seal of quality, but I really believe it doesn’t need it. This is definitely one for...

During this year's WonderCon New Line Cinema released the trailer for thier upcoming horror flick Lights Out, starring Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Alexander Dipersia, with Billy Burke and Maria Bello.

Film is directed by David F. Sandberg from a screenplay by Eric Heisserer, based on the short film by David F. Sandberg.

From producer James Wan (“The Conjuring”) comes a tale of an unknown terror that lurks in the dark. When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin, is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatened her safety. A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie, has reemerged. But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there...

Lights Out feature gets official trailer. Did you see filmmaker David F. Sandberg’s short viral 2013 horror movie Lights Out? No? Well, sit down and block 3 minutes aside to do so now: Scary, right? Today at WonderCon, James Wan not only premiered the trailer for his The Conjuring 2, but also talked up Sandberg’s…

The post More Wan Weirdness in the Official Lights Out Trailer appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

From producer James Wan comes a tale of an unknown terror that lurks in the dark. When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn't real when the lights went out...And now her little brother, Martin, is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatened her safety.

A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie, has reemerged. But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no denying that all their lives are in danger...Once the lights go out. James Wan was just at WonderCon in Los Angeles, where he debuted the first trailer for the new horror experience Lights Out!

David F. Sandberg directs Lights Out, which is coming to theaters this summer from New Line Cinema. He...

With the pretty irresistible tagline “You were right to be afraid of the dark,” New Line Cinema unveiled its trailer today for Lights Out, director David F. Sandberg’s things-that-go-bump horror film set for a July 22 release. Produced by The Conjuring‘s James Wan, with a screenplay by Eric Heisserer, Lights Out stars Teresa Palmer as a woman haunted by some sort of childhood ghost who only appears when the lights are out, which, judging from the trailer — check it out…...

The Conjuring sequel isn’t the only horror movie coming out from Warner Bros. and James Wan this summer. Directed by David F. Sandberg and produced by James Wan, Lights Out is heading to theaters on July 22nd, and the first trailer is now available online after premiering at WonderCon.

“From producer James Wan (“The Conjuring”) comes a tale of an unknown terror that lurks in the dark. When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin, is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatened her safety. A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie, has reemerged. But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no...

Another film produced by James Wan is getting set to haunt us this summer, entitled Lights Out, and right now we have your trailer premiere and more! David F. Sandberg directs the film from a screenplay by Eric Heisserer, based… Continue Reading →

The post WonderCon 2016: Lights Out Trailer Premiere Won’t Leave You in the Dark! appeared first on Dread Central.

One of the worst things about the internet blogging is when smaller websites (like this site) copy & paste news from bigger sites without doing their own research. Luckily, we don’t do that. Therefore, let’s clarify this right here and now.

The Director of Kung Fury is Not directing Annabelle 2

You might be wondering how this started. Well, the folks at SlashFilm posted an article that referenced the announcement in Variety of David Sandberg directing Annabelle 2. Granted, Variety should take some of the blame on this one too as they stated:

New Line has tapped “Lights Out” director David Sandberg to direct “Annabelle 2,” which has landed aprime release date of May 19, 2017.

The confusion is there already. You see, the director of Kung Fury is a Swedish man named David Sandberg. The director of the Lights Out short (found below) goes by David F. Sandberg. Lights Out...

Less than a day has passed since Warner Bros. slotted Annabelle 2 into a prime May 19, 2017 release window and already, the studio has narrowed in on a director to take the reins.

According to Bloody Disgusting, that task has fallen on the lap of Lights Out helmer David Sandberg – not to be confused with the Kung Fury director of the same name – with Peter Safran and James Wan attached to produce.

Released in 2014, Annabelle proved to be a low-budget, high-profit success, pulling in an impressive $250 million worldwide off the back of a $6.5 million production budget. Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton and Alfre Woodard were among the cast of the 2014 sleeper hit, though there’s no mention of the actors that will feature in next year’s follow-up.

Designed as a prequel and spinoff to The Conjuring – which has its own sequel, The Enfield Poltergeist, releasing later in 2016 – Annabelle is based on the titular haunted doll,...

As one of the people who unapologetically enjoyed 2014’s Annabelle, I welcomed the news of a sequel with open arms. The original film is stylish, spooky, and yes, occasionally silly. It was a ton of fun and I stand by that assessment, Rotten Tomatoes score be damned! Yesterday, Warner Bros. announced that Annabelle 2 will hit […]

The post ‘Annabelle 2’ Finds a Director in ‘Lights Out’ Director David Sandberg appeared first on /Film.

Actor Taylor Kitsch has penned and will make his feature directorial debut on the drama "Pieces" at Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films and Film44. Kitsch, Peter Berg, Randall Emmett and George Furla will produce.

Kitsch will play the lead role in the story of about three best friends from Detroit who change the course of their lives by intercepting a drug run. Shooting takes place this summer in Texas.

In other director news, Miguel Arteta ("The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" films) will direct "Sorta Like a Rock Star" for Fox Searchlight. Ol Parker is penning the script for this adaptation of "Silver Linings Playbook" author Matthew Quick's novel.

The story follows a high school senior who secretly lives in the back of a school bus after being booted out of the house by her mother's boyfriend - the same bus her mother uses to drive kids to school. With unyielding optimism,...

The unsettling stare of the devious doll known as Annabelle will return to theaters in 2017, as Warner Bros. has announced an official release date for Annabelle 2, and details on the sequel’s director have also been revealed.

Deadline reports that Warner Bros. has slated New Line Cinema’s Annabelle 2 for a May 19th, 2017 release. According to Bloody Disgusting, David F. Sandberg, director of the creepy horror short Lights Out, is in talks to direct the sequel.

Sandberg recently worked with New Line Cinema and James Wan’s Atomic Monster when he directed a feature-length version of his widely watched short film about a woman haunted by an eerie entity that appears when the lights are shut off.

A spin-off of The Conjuring, the first Annabelle film was released in 2014 and directed by John R. Leonetti. The movie (which grossed about $250 million worldwide) told the backstory of a possessed...

By Bryan Stumpf

MoreHorror.com

As the federal court case between the FBI and Apple rages on, with Apple refusing to help the FBI unlock the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters, people across the nation are debating public versus private rights to smartphone de-encryption.

While some claim Apple is siding with the terrorists, a recent John Oliver segment (Link: https://youtu.be/zsjZ2r9Ygzw) goes in detail describing the horrifying consequences of Apple creating a skeleton key to unlock anyone’s smartphone.

With smartphones being such an integral part of our lives, and as we download so much of our personal and private information into these handheld devices, it should be no surprise that in the past few years, we’ve seen more and more films from a new sub-genre in horror: Smartphone Horror. Below are the best and most terrifying examples of Smartphone Horror. All are available through YouTube.

Teresa Palmer, of zombie film Warm Bodies (pictured above), will star in Lights Out, the feature adaptation of David Sandberg’s eerie short of the same name. Produced by New Line and The Conjuring‘s James Wan through his Atomic Monster banner, Lights Out is about “a young boy and his estranged sister who are confronted by an evil entity that only appears…

The post Lights Out: Teresa Palmer Joins James Wan-produced Horror appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

The prolific Teresa Palmer, who has six films in the can readying for release (including John Hillcoat crime drama Triple 9 and Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups), just signed on for the James Wan-produced horror pic Lights Out.

In a return to the horror genre, where she first made an impression in 2006’s The Grudge 2, Palmer will topline as an imperilled mother. Gabriel Bateman (CBS’ Stalker) was previously announced to be taking on the role of the young son in a family haunted by a supernatural entity that can only be seen in the dark. With everyone at risk, one family member is forced to battle the evil spirit head on.

David F. Sandberg will make his directorial debut on the pic, adapting his terrifying short of the same name. Lawrence Grey and Eric A. Heisserer are attached as producers, with Heisserer scripting an expansion of Sandberg’s story.

Australian actress Teresa Palmer ("Point Break," "Warm Bodies") has scored the lead role in "Lights Out" for New Line Cinema and Atomic Monster following their previous collaboration on last year's "Annabelle".

David Sandberg will make his feature film directorial debut on the feature which is based on the short horror film of the same name. Shooting on the project begins on Monday.

The story follows a young boy and his estranged sister who are confronted by an evil entity that only appears when the lights are out. Eric Heisserer penned the screenplay and will produce alongside James Wan and Lawrence Grey.

Source: Deadline...

Given that he kicked his directorial career into high gear with a short that spawned the Saw franchise, James Wan feels like the right person to help guide other filmmakers into converting their own shorts into movies. He’s now producing David Sandberg’s horror pic Lights Out, which has Teresa Palmer aboard to star.The Thing/ Story Of Your Life’s Eric Heisserer is also aboard to produce and has written the script, which adapts Sandberg’s 2013 short (you can view it at the bottom of the page).Lights Out, which is about to start shooting, finds a young boy and his estranged sister confronting a terrifying menace that – as you might be able to guess – only appears when the lights go out. Wan’s Atomic Monster company is co-producing is handling the film for New Line, which is hoping for another low budget hit along the lines of The Conjuring.

Exclusive: Teresa Palmer, who has three films readying for release including Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups, has been cast as the lead in Atomic Monster’s Lights Out for New Line Cinema. The horror film will be Atomic Monster's second with New Line after Annabelle, which grossed $255.2M worldwide when it was released last fall. David Sandberg will make his feature film directorial debut and James Wan will produce. The film is based on Sandberg’s short horror film of the…...

The Way

Former "Breaking Bad" star Aaron Paul has scored the lead male role and will produce the Hulu original series "The Way" which premieres this winter. Each episode explores the choice between the life we live and the life we want.

Paul will play Eddie Cleary, a convert to a controversial movement with a wayward past. He's a husband and father who suffers a crisis of faith when all that he's come to accept as truth in his life is fundamentally challenged. Michelle Monaghan stars as his wife. [Source: TV Line]

Blackbird

Rooney Mara and Ben Mendelsohn are set to star in stage director Benedict Andrews' filmmaking debut "Blackbird" which will shoot for five weeks across the south of England. Playwright David Harrower penned the script described as an intense, unflinching examination of damaged love.

Mendelsohn plays Ray, a man confronted with his past when the young and beautiful Una (Mara) arrives unannounced at his office.

James Wan may have moved from blood-curdling frighteners to studio blockbusters with the runaway success of Furious 7, but he’s still keeping his fingers on the pulse with the genre, producing another supernatural home-invasion horror in the spirit of Insidious and The Conjuring. Now, young up-and-comer Gabriel Bateman has landed a lead role in said pic, which is titled Lights Out.

David F. Sandberg is directing the film, a feature adaptation of his (terrifying) 2013 short. Lawrence Grey and Eric A. Heisserer are attached as producers, with Heisserer scripting an expansion of Sandberg’s story. Heisserer’s past scripting credits include The Thing, Final Destination 5 and Hours (which he also directed).

In Lights Out, Bateman will play the young son in a family haunted by a supernatural entity that can only be seen in the dark. With everyone at risk, one family member is forced to step up and...

Lights Out is an online favorite, an eerie three minutes crafted by David F. Sandberg for the Who’s There Film Challenge. It’s been plenty shared and reached Vimeo Staff Pick thanks to a simple nailing of old school afraid of the dark horror. Now, The Conjuring’s James Wan is producing a feature adaptation of the…

The post Lights Out: James Wan Producing Feature of Eerie Short appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

The fifth annual Telluride Horror Show is getting set to kick off in Telluride, Colorado, next month, and right now we have the first batch of announced films for your perusal.

From the Press Release

The Telluride Horror Show is excited to announce the first batch of films for its 5th annual festival, scheduled for October 10-12, 2014, in beautiful Telluride, Colorado.

Features

Backwater

USA | 2013 | 94 min | Director: Christopher Schrack

Followed by a Q&A with director Christopher Schrack.

A couple camping in the woods believe they are in tremendous danger even though they can't explain what is causing their terror.

Bag Boy Lover Boy

USA | 2014 | 77 min | Director: Andres Torres

Bag Boy Lover Boy follows the lowly life of Albert, an oddball hotdog vendor who is shocked to find himself suddenly becoming the bizarre muse of enigmatic NYC photographer Ivan Worthington. But shocks come his way even more so when, amidst his...