Stars: Allan Corduner, Paul Kaye, Nick Blood, Emm Wiseman, Jonathan Yunger | Written by Hank Hoffman | Directed by Oliver Park
In the wake of a young Jewish girl’s disappearance, the son of a Hasidic funeral director returns home with his pregnant wife in hopes of reconciling with his father. Little do they know that directly beneath them in the family morgue, an ancient evil with sinister plans for the unborn child lurks inside a mysterious corpse.
Alright January, you’re really scaring me now. First we got a truly great horror film in the form of Gerard Johnstone’s M3gan and now we have a decently enjoyable paranormal/supernatural horror film in the form of Oliver Park‘s The Offering, which surprised me considerably.
Usually, January is filled with the most embarrassingly bad horror movies imaginable, but for some reason, this year is an exception. While it doesn’t do anything crazy or new,...
In the wake of a young Jewish girl’s disappearance, the son of a Hasidic funeral director returns home with his pregnant wife in hopes of reconciling with his father. Little do they know that directly beneath them in the family morgue, an ancient evil with sinister plans for the unborn child lurks inside a mysterious corpse.
Alright January, you’re really scaring me now. First we got a truly great horror film in the form of Gerard Johnstone’s M3gan and now we have a decently enjoyable paranormal/supernatural horror film in the form of Oliver Park‘s The Offering, which surprised me considerably.
Usually, January is filled with the most embarrassingly bad horror movies imaginable, but for some reason, this year is an exception. While it doesn’t do anything crazy or new,...
- 1/23/2023
- by Caillou Pettis
- Nerdly
Despite 2019’s “The Vigil” making a modest splash amongst genre fans, the annals of Jewish horror movies remain pretty thin. Adding a page to those ranks is The Offering,” which actually has considerable overlap with that recent predecessor — it, too, is about a shape-shifting demon who preys on the living after the death of its latest host, whose corpse is on the premises awaiting burial.
English helmer Oliver Park’s debut feature is the slicker, somewhat showier affair of the two. But while diverting enough, it lacks that predecessor’s atmospheric dread and psychological plausibility, resulting in a jump-scare-riddled contraption ultimately more cheesy than frightening. Neon division Decal is opening the Bulgaria-shot U.S. production in 20+ U.S.markets on Jan. 13, simultaneous with its release on digital platforms.
Introductory onscreen text informs us of “one terrifying female demon” present in “myths of the Near East and Europe” at least as...
English helmer Oliver Park’s debut feature is the slicker, somewhat showier affair of the two. But while diverting enough, it lacks that predecessor’s atmospheric dread and psychological plausibility, resulting in a jump-scare-riddled contraption ultimately more cheesy than frightening. Neon division Decal is opening the Bulgaria-shot U.S. production in 20+ U.S.markets on Jan. 13, simultaneous with its release on digital platforms.
Introductory onscreen text informs us of “one terrifying female demon” present in “myths of the Near East and Europe” at least as...
- 1/9/2023
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
"Bringer of misery, taker of children… It'll make you see things, feel things… that aren't real." Decal has revealed an official trailer for an indie horror titled The Offering, which first premiered at Fantastic Fest a few months ago. It's now set for release in early January. In the wake of a young Jewish girl's disappearance, the son of a Hasidic funeral director returns home with his pregnant wife in hopes of reconciling with his father. Directly beneath them in the family morgue, an ancient evil with sinister plans for the unborn child lurks inside a mysterious corpse. The horror film stars Nick Blood, Emily Wiseman, Allan Corduner, and Paul Kaye. This looks crazy scary!! It earned positive reviews at the fest: "benefits from magnificent production design which interweaves character information & subtly obscured plot points whilst combining with Lorenzo Senatore’s cinematography to create a heady atmosphere." A must watch if you're a horror fan.
- 11/10/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The Princess Trailer — Le-Van Kiet‘s The Princess (2022) movie trailer has been released by Hulu. The Princess trailer stars Joey King, Dominic Cooper, Olga Kurylenko, and Veronica Ngo. Crew Ben Lustig and Jake Thornton wrote the screenplay for The Princess. Jack Halama created the music for the film. Lorenzo Senatore crafted the cinematography for [...]
Continue reading: The Princess (2022) Movie Trailer: Princess Joey King Refuses to Marry a Sociopath and is Locked in a Tower...
Continue reading: The Princess (2022) Movie Trailer: Princess Joey King Refuses to Marry a Sociopath and is Locked in a Tower...
- 6/3/2022
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
The post-9/11 war genre has a new defining entry, yet this robust little film – which cost a mere $5 million – won’t enjoy the exposure of The Hurt Locker. And that’s a pity, because The Outpost revitalizes the canon, landing as a blend of Jarhead and Hamburger Hill, John Irvin’s Vietnam film from 1987.
Of these two, it is actually Hill that is most pertinent, for it recounts the battle of Hill 937, a fiercely defended area that cost the lives of over 100 US and allied troops but was abandoned shortly thereafter. Such strategic idiocy would be replicated 40 years later during the war in Afghanistan, especially at Combat Outpost Keating, an army camp that was built at the bottom of a valley – a clear defensive weakness that would be dubbed ‘obviously indefensible’ in later government reports.
The Outpost tells the story of this camp in distinct one-hour halves. The first depicts...
Of these two, it is actually Hill that is most pertinent, for it recounts the battle of Hill 937, a fiercely defended area that cost the lives of over 100 US and allied troops but was abandoned shortly thereafter. Such strategic idiocy would be replicated 40 years later during the war in Afghanistan, especially at Combat Outpost Keating, an army camp that was built at the bottom of a valley – a clear defensive weakness that would be dubbed ‘obviously indefensible’ in later government reports.
The Outpost tells the story of this camp in distinct one-hour halves. The first depicts...
- 6/18/2021
- by Jack Hawkins
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Keep your eyes peeled for a potential awards ambush by under-the-radar war film “The Outpost” at the Golden Globes and Oscars. While the film is currently lingering outside the upper echelons of contenders according to our combined odds, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and motion picture academy love war movies, and if enough of those voters see the film, they might find it hard to resist this 2020 success story.
See Exclusive Video Interview: Lorenzo Senatore (‘The Outpost’ cinematographer)
In “The Outpost,” a unit of 53 U.S. Army soldiers are stationed deep in a dangerous and remote valley in the Hindu Kush mountains of Northern Afghanistan. Widely regarded as a death trap because of its location and exposure to the mountains surrounding it, the outpost is under constant fire by Taliban insurgents, culminating in the deadly Battle of Kamdesh on October 3, 2009, when hundreds of Taliban fighters vastly outnumbered and surrounded the soldiers...
See Exclusive Video Interview: Lorenzo Senatore (‘The Outpost’ cinematographer)
In “The Outpost,” a unit of 53 U.S. Army soldiers are stationed deep in a dangerous and remote valley in the Hindu Kush mountains of Northern Afghanistan. Widely regarded as a death trap because of its location and exposure to the mountains surrounding it, the outpost is under constant fire by Taliban insurgents, culminating in the deadly Battle of Kamdesh on October 3, 2009, when hundreds of Taliban fighters vastly outnumbered and surrounded the soldiers...
- 12/29/2020
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
“Death is universal, tears are universal. Everybody cries, everybody dies,” laments “The Outpost” director Rod Lurie about “Everybody Cries,” the song that he co-wrote with the film’s composer Larry Groupe and actress/singer/songwriter Rita Wilson.
The song features prominently throughout the film as an expression of grief and sorrow and ultimately acceptance of the inevitable need to move forward. It was particularly personal for Lurie, who tragically lost his son Hunter Lurie, who suddenly died during filming at 27 years of age, the same age as many of the men depicted in the film who were killed in action. “This is the defining moment of my life. For the rest of my life I’ll be finding purpose for my son,” Lurie admits when talking about how that profound loss will always be with him. Watch our exclusive video interview with the trio above.
See Exclusive Video Interview: Lorenzo Senatore...
The song features prominently throughout the film as an expression of grief and sorrow and ultimately acceptance of the inevitable need to move forward. It was particularly personal for Lurie, who tragically lost his son Hunter Lurie, who suddenly died during filming at 27 years of age, the same age as many of the men depicted in the film who were killed in action. “This is the defining moment of my life. For the rest of my life I’ll be finding purpose for my son,” Lurie admits when talking about how that profound loss will always be with him. Watch our exclusive video interview with the trio above.
See Exclusive Video Interview: Lorenzo Senatore...
- 12/23/2020
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
What kinds of collaborations with directors do today’s top cinematographers prefer? When looking for their next project, is there something specific they are looking for – the script, the director, an element of surprise? How do they decide who to hire as camera operators?
These were just some of the questions answered by four of filmdom’s best lensers during Gold Derby’s Meet the Btl Experts panel, conducted virtually by this writer. Watch our full group interview with Bryce Fortner (“I’m Your Woman”), Shelly Johnson (“Greyhound”), Martin Ruhe (“The Midnight Sky”) and Lorenzo Senatore (“The Outpost”) above.
All four of our panelists also took part in separate individual interviews that delved deeper into their own films. Watch each of these by clicking on their names below.
Shelly Johnson is best-known for such films as “Bill and Ted Face the Music,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Expendables 2,” “Jurassic Park III” and “The Wolfman.
These were just some of the questions answered by four of filmdom’s best lensers during Gold Derby’s Meet the Btl Experts panel, conducted virtually by this writer. Watch our full group interview with Bryce Fortner (“I’m Your Woman”), Shelly Johnson (“Greyhound”), Martin Ruhe (“The Midnight Sky”) and Lorenzo Senatore (“The Outpost”) above.
All four of our panelists also took part in separate individual interviews that delved deeper into their own films. Watch each of these by clicking on their names below.
Shelly Johnson is best-known for such films as “Bill and Ted Face the Music,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Expendables 2,” “Jurassic Park III” and “The Wolfman.
- 12/9/2020
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Lorenzo Senatore vividly recalls the moment when he found that Scott Eastwood, the leading man in his new movie “The Outpost,” had broken his ankle just weeks before filming was to start. “We had to shut down for three weeks and shift the schedule around so as to not have him shoot first as had been in the original. He was in 70% of the movie. But it gave us a chance for some extra prep, so in the end everything worked out for the best.” Senatore was part of Gold Derby’s Meet the Btl Experts panel, conducted virtually by this writer (watch above).
“The Outpost,” which is directed by Rod Lurie, tells the true story of the 2009 Battle of Kamdes in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan. A unit of 54 American GIs are based at a small camp located deep in a valley. They are forced to defend themselves...
“The Outpost,” which is directed by Rod Lurie, tells the true story of the 2009 Battle of Kamdes in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan. A unit of 54 American GIs are based at a small camp located deep in a valley. They are forced to defend themselves...
- 12/9/2020
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Four top film cinematographers will reveal the secrets behind their crafts when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Btl Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 Oscar contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to be published on Wednesday, December 2, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our executive editor Paul Sheehan and a group chat with Paul and all of the DPs together.
RSVP today by clicking here to book your reservations. We’ll send you a reminder a few before the start of the show so you won’t miss watching.
This “Meet the Btl Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“Greyhound” (Apple TV+): Shelly Johnson
Johnson’s career has included such projects as “Bill and Ted Face the Music,” “The Expendables 2,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Wolfman” and “Jurassic Park III.
RSVP today by clicking here to book your reservations. We’ll send you a reminder a few before the start of the show so you won’t miss watching.
This “Meet the Btl Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“Greyhound” (Apple TV+): Shelly Johnson
Johnson’s career has included such projects as “Bill and Ted Face the Music,” “The Expendables 2,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Wolfman” and “Jurassic Park III.
- 11/25/2020
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: Derek Kolstad, scribe and creator of the John Wick franchise and co-writer of the upcoming Marvel mini-series The Falcon And the Winter Soldier, is teaming up with Swiss producer-distributor Ascot Elite Entertainment, director Claudio Fah (Northmen – A Viking Saga) and producer Christopher Milburn (Unhinged) on action-thriller Acolyte.
The longtime Kolstad passion project, about a simple man who reveals himself to be anything but as he assembles his old crew to rescue his kidnapped wife, has attracted DoP Lorenzo Senatore (Hellboy) and will be produced by Ascot Elite’s Ralph S. Dietrich, Karin G. Dietrich and Stephan Giger with Milburn serving as executive producer.
The casting process is underway in London and Ascot Elite is aiming for the film to become the first in a series of related features.
Leading Swiss distributor Ascot Elite, which also acquires for Germany and Austria, has released films this year including Unhinged, Bill & Ted Face The Music,...
The longtime Kolstad passion project, about a simple man who reveals himself to be anything but as he assembles his old crew to rescue his kidnapped wife, has attracted DoP Lorenzo Senatore (Hellboy) and will be produced by Ascot Elite’s Ralph S. Dietrich, Karin G. Dietrich and Stephan Giger with Milburn serving as executive producer.
The casting process is underway in London and Ascot Elite is aiming for the film to become the first in a series of related features.
Leading Swiss distributor Ascot Elite, which also acquires for Germany and Austria, has released films this year including Unhinged, Bill & Ted Face The Music,...
- 10/23/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
You might expect director Rod Lurie (West Point class of 1984 with four years in military service) to push the flag-waving aspect of a film about the war in Afghanistan. Though The Outpost pays heartfelt tribute to the soldiers who fought and died during the bloody 2009 Battle of Kamdesh, he opens fire on the military hubris and stupidity that put these soldiers there in the first place. While President Obama talked of withdrawing troops, Army brass ordered a small unit of 53 U.S. soldiers to hold down Camp Outpost Keating, located...
- 7/3/2020
- by Peter Travers
- Rollingstone.com
A little more than an hour into Rod Lurie’s “The Outpost,” an American soldier wakes up in a remote camp in the hills of northern Afghanistan and grumbles, “Just another f—ing day in Afghanistan.”
But the day in question is Oct. 3, 2009 — and as “The Outpost” makes unforgettably clear, it was anything but just another day.
A riveting combat movie that aims to put viewers alongside American soldiers in the midst of one of the bloodiest battles in the long-running war, “The Outpost” takes the measure of what a few dozen men endured and finds heroism not in enemies killed but in compadres saved.
In telling the story of an attack by hundreds of Taliban fighters on 53 U.S. soldiers, the film delivers one of the most harrowing combat sequences in recent memory; the sustained assault, which nearly destroyed the outpost, occupies most of the film’s final hour...
But the day in question is Oct. 3, 2009 — and as “The Outpost” makes unforgettably clear, it was anything but just another day.
A riveting combat movie that aims to put viewers alongside American soldiers in the midst of one of the bloodiest battles in the long-running war, “The Outpost” takes the measure of what a few dozen men endured and finds heroism not in enemies killed but in compadres saved.
In telling the story of an attack by hundreds of Taliban fighters on 53 U.S. soldiers, the film delivers one of the most harrowing combat sequences in recent memory; the sustained assault, which nearly destroyed the outpost, occupies most of the film’s final hour...
- 6/30/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The war in Afghanistan has not gotten much cinematic attention. Whether it’s because of films concentrating on the Iraq War more, the relatively recent nature of the conflict, or the inherent messiness of it all, there’s just a hole in the culture. Enter in Rod Lurie, who saw something in The Outpost, coming out of the Jake Tapper book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor. The end result is not just one of Lurie’s best works, but a movie that is equally clear-headed about the war, while always being respectful to the individuals who were on the front lines. Hitting some theaters, as well as On Demand services this weekend, it’s one of the best efforts of the year, so far. This film is a war drama, depicting the events of the Battle of Kamdesh, what would be the bloodiest American engagement of the...
- 6/29/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Rod Lurie is an incredibly underrated director. In particular, his three political films in The Contender, Deterrence, and Nothing but the Truth, really are phenomenal works. Catching up on an exciting new Trailer from earlier in the week, we have Lurie’s latest movie, the Afghanistan war drama The Outpost. Not only is the Trailer quite intriguing, the flick itself has the added bonus of planning to actually play in theaters in early July. More on that in a few short paragraphs, and of course you can see the Trailer below. First, though, lets talk about the project a little bit. The film is a war drama, centered on a small team of U.S. soldiers battling against hundreds of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, culminating in what would be the most violent skirmish in that war. Here’s the official description: “In this military thriller, based on The New York Times best-selling non-fiction book,...
- 5/24/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Stars: David Harbour, Sasha Lane, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Mark Stanley, Brian Gleeson, Penelope Mitchell, Mario de la Rosa, Atanas Srebrev, Dawn Sherrer | Written by Andrew Cosby | Directed by Neil Marshall
Hellboy, formerly known as Hellboy: The Blood Queen, is directed by Game of Thrones alumni and Dog Soldiers director Neil Marshall. It stands as a complete reboot of the franchise after Guillermo del Toro’s cult classic duology that failed to light the box office with disappointing returns. Gone is Ron Perlman as the titular character and replacing the iconic actor is Stranger Things star David Harbour, so at least it has that going for it, right?
This reboot of Hellboy is lifeless and soulless. The acting, from newcomer to the franchise, Sasha Lane is dreadful; meanwhile star David Harbour fails to bring any form of charisma or charm for a character that should be the epitome of sarcasm.
Hellboy, formerly known as Hellboy: The Blood Queen, is directed by Game of Thrones alumni and Dog Soldiers director Neil Marshall. It stands as a complete reboot of the franchise after Guillermo del Toro’s cult classic duology that failed to light the box office with disappointing returns. Gone is Ron Perlman as the titular character and replacing the iconic actor is Stranger Things star David Harbour, so at least it has that going for it, right?
This reboot of Hellboy is lifeless and soulless. The acting, from newcomer to the franchise, Sasha Lane is dreadful; meanwhile star David Harbour fails to bring any form of charisma or charm for a character that should be the epitome of sarcasm.
- 4/12/2019
- by Jak-Luke Sharp
- Nerdly
Hellboy the comic-book character was born of an unholy union of woman and demon. But the latest “Hellboy” movie was born of clashes between director Neil Marshall and two of the film’s 16 producers.
Insiders on the film told TheWrap about a series of disagreements that boiled over when the producers decided to replace Marshall’s go-to cinematographer, Sam McCurdy. Other spats involved rehearsals, star David Harbour and the design of a tree, insiders said.
Two people familiar with the situation said McCurdy was fired simply for doing what Marshall asked him to do, and that producers Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin were trying to send a message to Marshall that despite being the film’s director, Marshall was not in charge.
An attorney for Levin said that was not the case. “While my client will not comment on why Sam McCurdy was fired as that is a private matter,...
Insiders on the film told TheWrap about a series of disagreements that boiled over when the producers decided to replace Marshall’s go-to cinematographer, Sam McCurdy. Other spats involved rehearsals, star David Harbour and the design of a tree, insiders said.
Two people familiar with the situation said McCurdy was fired simply for doing what Marshall asked him to do, and that producers Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin were trying to send a message to Marshall that despite being the film’s director, Marshall was not in charge.
An attorney for Levin said that was not the case. “While my client will not comment on why Sam McCurdy was fired as that is a private matter,...
- 4/11/2019
- by Umberto Gonzalez and Tim Molloy
- The Wrap
Mike Mignola’s “Hellboy” has always been a story of dramatic contrasts. Here is Hellboy: a musclebound demon monster who fights evil and behaves like a blue-collar schlub, even though he’s the last great hope for humanity (and also is prophesied to destroy it). The horrifying creatures and stark color palette exist in clear opposition to the human and whimsical characters. What’s scary is also humdrum, and what’s humdrum is totally epic.
The first two “Hellboy” movies, directed by Guillermo del Toro, adapted Mignola’s creation into superhero stories tinged with fairy tale theater. They were sympathetic, hopeful films with tragic creatures and, at the center of the franchise, a charming romance. But that’s just one way to adapt it. The reboot by Neil Marshall (“Doomsday”) takes as many of Mignola’s contrasts as possible and shoves them into a single film, creating a sprawling saga of clashing conceits,...
The first two “Hellboy” movies, directed by Guillermo del Toro, adapted Mignola’s creation into superhero stories tinged with fairy tale theater. They were sympathetic, hopeful films with tragic creatures and, at the center of the franchise, a charming romance. But that’s just one way to adapt it. The reboot by Neil Marshall (“Doomsday”) takes as many of Mignola’s contrasts as possible and shoves them into a single film, creating a sprawling saga of clashing conceits,...
- 4/10/2019
- by William Bibbiani
- The Wrap
Confession: I'm a dog lover. So take this praise with a grain of salt if you must – but Megan Leavey had me at first bark. Based on a true story (no, really!), this war drama deftly sidesteps the paths that suck you down in sentimental quicksand. Oh, you'll cry all right. But the movie earns your tears.
Kate Mara is raw and riveting in the title role, a marine who ends up in combat in Iraq with Rex, a bomb-sniffing German shepherd in the Military Police K9 unit. Nobody likes Rex.
Kate Mara is raw and riveting in the title role, a marine who ends up in combat in Iraq with Rex, a bomb-sniffing German shepherd in the Military Police K9 unit. Nobody likes Rex.
- 6/8/2017
- Rollingstone.com
The new faith-based movie Risen is set to open in theaters winter of 2016.
Starring Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love), Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Peter Firth (“Spooks”) and Cliff Curtis (Live Free or Die Hard), and directed by Kevin Reynolds (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), the action drama will be released on Friday, January 22.
Risen is the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection and the weeks that followed, as seen through the eyes of an unbelieving Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a high-ranking Roman Military Tribune. Clavius and his aide Lucius (Tom Felton) are instructed by Pontius Pilate to ensure Jesus’ radical followers don’t steal his body and claim resurrection. When the body goes missing within days, Clavius sets out on a mission to locate the missing body in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.
Risen is produced by Mickey Liddell (The Grey), Patrick Aiello (As Above,...
Starring Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love), Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Peter Firth (“Spooks”) and Cliff Curtis (Live Free or Die Hard), and directed by Kevin Reynolds (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), the action drama will be released on Friday, January 22.
Risen is the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection and the weeks that followed, as seen through the eyes of an unbelieving Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a high-ranking Roman Military Tribune. Clavius and his aide Lucius (Tom Felton) are instructed by Pontius Pilate to ensure Jesus’ radical followers don’t steal his body and claim resurrection. When the body goes missing within days, Clavius sets out on a mission to locate the missing body in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.
Risen is produced by Mickey Liddell (The Grey), Patrick Aiello (As Above,...
- 5/4/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Cannes film review, Market screening
Mr. Peterson's got a better cell phone than you. His cool gizmo tells him winning slot machines, leads him to babes, alerts him to hot stocks. That's the too-good-to-be-true premise of this taut sci-fi/horror thriller, which cagily meshes new technology with proven genres.
The Gift is a male-fantasy story trip that blasts through international hot spots, techno-charged with quick cuts, sound salvos and testosterone-fueled action. It may score solid numbers overseas with the teenage action crowd, but in the U.S. it seems best fit for an outlet such as cable channel Spike TV, whose viewers will be pleased with its cut-to-the-chase, cut-the-chit-chat storytelling.
That old horror storyline staple -- that man's hubris leads him to scientific creations that will turn on him -- is "The Gift's" solid story infrastructure. In this case, the U.S. National Security folk have created a veritable monster through cyberspace -- Big Brother will be everywhere, unless our hero and a cadre of F.B.I. specialists can thwart the system.
Greg Marcks' apt fast-forward direction is invigorated by the sharp technical team's aesthetic expertise and the crisp lead performances of Shane West, Edward Burns and Ving Rhames. The Gift blazes over plot holes and holds aloft its cyber mumbo-jumbo narrative. As the National Security chief, Martin Sheen's sonorous barking lends credibility to the film's urgent premise.
Cast: Shane West, Edward Burns, Ving Rhames, Yuri Kutsenko, Sergey Gubanov, Martin Sheen, Steven Elder. Director: Greg Marcks. Screenwriters: Kevin Elders, Michael Nitsberg. Producers: Alexander Leyvinan, Steve Richards, Roee Sharon. Director of photography: Lorenzo Senatore . Production designer: Antonello Rubino. Costume designer: Alison Freer, Maria Mladenoza. Editor:Joseph Gutowski .
Dark Castle Presents a Mobicom Entertainment Production
Sales: Hyde Park International.
No MPAA rating, 119 minutes.
Mr. Peterson's got a better cell phone than you. His cool gizmo tells him winning slot machines, leads him to babes, alerts him to hot stocks. That's the too-good-to-be-true premise of this taut sci-fi/horror thriller, which cagily meshes new technology with proven genres.
The Gift is a male-fantasy story trip that blasts through international hot spots, techno-charged with quick cuts, sound salvos and testosterone-fueled action. It may score solid numbers overseas with the teenage action crowd, but in the U.S. it seems best fit for an outlet such as cable channel Spike TV, whose viewers will be pleased with its cut-to-the-chase, cut-the-chit-chat storytelling.
That old horror storyline staple -- that man's hubris leads him to scientific creations that will turn on him -- is "The Gift's" solid story infrastructure. In this case, the U.S. National Security folk have created a veritable monster through cyberspace -- Big Brother will be everywhere, unless our hero and a cadre of F.B.I. specialists can thwart the system.
Greg Marcks' apt fast-forward direction is invigorated by the sharp technical team's aesthetic expertise and the crisp lead performances of Shane West, Edward Burns and Ving Rhames. The Gift blazes over plot holes and holds aloft its cyber mumbo-jumbo narrative. As the National Security chief, Martin Sheen's sonorous barking lends credibility to the film's urgent premise.
Cast: Shane West, Edward Burns, Ving Rhames, Yuri Kutsenko, Sergey Gubanov, Martin Sheen, Steven Elder. Director: Greg Marcks. Screenwriters: Kevin Elders, Michael Nitsberg. Producers: Alexander Leyvinan, Steve Richards, Roee Sharon. Director of photography: Lorenzo Senatore . Production designer: Antonello Rubino. Costume designer: Alison Freer, Maria Mladenoza. Editor:Joseph Gutowski .
Dark Castle Presents a Mobicom Entertainment Production
Sales: Hyde Park International.
No MPAA rating, 119 minutes.
- 5/16/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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