Shudder is nothing if not a goldmine of content, with basically something to watch for everyone, and today we are making a list of the best 7 new movies on Shudder in December 2023 that you can watch right now. The movies included in this list are Shudder’s exclusives and resurrected. The titles are ranked according to their availability dates.
It’s A Wonderful Knife (December 1)
Synopsis: A year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, Winnie Carruthers’ life is less than wonderful — but when she wishes she’d never been born, she finds herself in a nightmare parallel universe and discovers that without her, things could be much, much worse. Now the killer is back, and she must team up with the town misfit to identify the killer and get back to her own reality. It’S A Wonderful Life by way of Scream.
Black Christmas...
It’s A Wonderful Knife (December 1)
Synopsis: A year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, Winnie Carruthers’ life is less than wonderful — but when she wishes she’d never been born, she finds herself in a nightmare parallel universe and discovers that without her, things could be much, much worse. Now the killer is back, and she must team up with the town misfit to identify the killer and get back to her own reality. It’S A Wonderful Life by way of Scream.
Black Christmas...
- 12/2/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
We just got our hands on a really cool international sales poster for Josh Lobo’s indie debut I Trapped the Devil (review), which was released in limited theaters and on VOD platforms this past April. Starring Aj Bowen (You’re Next, A Horrible Way to Die, The Signal), Jocelin Donahue (House of the Devil), Chris Sullivan (Stranger Things), Scott Poythress (The Signal), and Susan Burke (Southbound), the […]...
- 10/15/2019
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
Stars: Scott Poythress, Chris Sullivan, Jocelin Donahue, Aj Bowen, Susan Burke | Written and Directed by Josh Lobo
I have mentioned many many times that I absolutely love Christmas movies. And I mean any type of movie that has that great Christmas feeling – romantic comedy? Aslong as it’s set at Christmas, I’ll probably like it! So when horror and Christmas collide I am always first in line to watch it.
That said, I Trapped The Devil doesn’t exactly have a ‘Christmas spirit’ but it is set at Christmas,and the season does play a part in the movie. This actually had a bit of a Krampus feel to it at times (only with zero comedy). The ‘unhappy family Christmas but stuck with each other for now’ setting felt familiar. Perhaps strangely, the Christmas lights were something that stuck out while watching the movie. They add this brightly coloured...
I have mentioned many many times that I absolutely love Christmas movies. And I mean any type of movie that has that great Christmas feeling – romantic comedy? Aslong as it’s set at Christmas, I’ll probably like it! So when horror and Christmas collide I am always first in line to watch it.
That said, I Trapped The Devil doesn’t exactly have a ‘Christmas spirit’ but it is set at Christmas,and the season does play a part in the movie. This actually had a bit of a Krampus feel to it at times (only with zero comedy). The ‘unhappy family Christmas but stuck with each other for now’ setting felt familiar. Perhaps strangely, the Christmas lights were something that stuck out while watching the movie. They add this brightly coloured...
- 8/25/2019
- by Alain Elliott
- Nerdly
In the second of todays Arrow Video Frightfest preview podcasts, host Stuart Wright talks I Trapped the Devil with director Josh Lobo.
Deck the halls with fire and brimstone. Christmas is supposed to be a time for peace and joyful family reunions. But when Matt (You’Re Next icon Aj Bowen) and his wife Karen (Southbound’s Susan Burke) show up unannounced at the home of his estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress from the ‘Sleepy Hollow’ TV series) to celebrate the holidays, they are instead greeted with a horrifying surprise. Steve has trapped a man in his dark, dusty basement. But not just any old man. For Steve truly believes that his hostage is none other than the devil himself.
Catch I Trapped The Devil at Arrow Video Frightfest
22th to 26th August 2019
Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7Na.
Programme listings and film details www.frightfest.co.uk/2019films/index.
Deck the halls with fire and brimstone. Christmas is supposed to be a time for peace and joyful family reunions. But when Matt (You’Re Next icon Aj Bowen) and his wife Karen (Southbound’s Susan Burke) show up unannounced at the home of his estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress from the ‘Sleepy Hollow’ TV series) to celebrate the holidays, they are instead greeted with a horrifying surprise. Steve has trapped a man in his dark, dusty basement. But not just any old man. For Steve truly believes that his hostage is none other than the devil himself.
Catch I Trapped The Devil at Arrow Video Frightfest
22th to 26th August 2019
Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7Na.
Programme listings and film details www.frightfest.co.uk/2019films/index.
- 8/22/2019
- by Stuart Wright
- Nerdly
Stars: Karina Fontes, Casey Adams, Emily Althaus, Miranda Bailey, Martin Spanjers, Matt Peters, Susan Burke, John Getz | Written and Directed by Roxanne Benjamin
Writer-director Roxanne Benjamin makes her feature debut with this slow-burning survival thriller, having previously contributed to horror anthology movies Southbound and Xx. Showcasing a command of tension and atmosphere, the film confirms Benjamin as a genre talent to watch.
Set in the fictional Brighton Rock State Park, Body at Brighton Rock begins with rookie ranger Wendy (Karina Fontes) agreeing to swap duties with her friend Maya (Emily Althaus), partly to prove that she’s up to the job of trail maintenance and partly so Maya can flirt with a cute co-worker. Wendy duly hits the mountainous trail, putting up warning signs about bears and the dangers of hiking alone, while bopping happily away to music on her phone. Then disaster strikes – she loses her map and makes her way to a peak,...
Writer-director Roxanne Benjamin makes her feature debut with this slow-burning survival thriller, having previously contributed to horror anthology movies Southbound and Xx. Showcasing a command of tension and atmosphere, the film confirms Benjamin as a genre talent to watch.
Set in the fictional Brighton Rock State Park, Body at Brighton Rock begins with rookie ranger Wendy (Karina Fontes) agreeing to swap duties with her friend Maya (Emily Althaus), partly to prove that she’s up to the job of trail maintenance and partly so Maya can flirt with a cute co-worker. Wendy duly hits the mountainous trail, putting up warning signs about bears and the dangers of hiking alone, while bopping happily away to music on her phone. Then disaster strikes – she loses her map and makes her way to a peak,...
- 7/15/2019
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
In her four-star review, Emily Von Seele called I Trapped the Devil "cerebrally charged psychological horror at its best," and Scream Factory is looking to bring IFC Midnight's Christmas horror movie home well ahead of the holidays with a Blu-ray and DVD release on August 20th.
Written and directed by Josh Lobo, I Trapped the Devil stars Aj Bowen, Jocelin Donahue, Scott Poythress, Susan Burke, Chris Sullivan, Rowan Russell, and Josh Marrott.
No special features for the Blu-ray & DVD have been announced at this time, but we'll keep Daily Dead readers updated on future announcements, and you can check out the official Blu-ray cover art below.
From Scream Factory: "We are proud to announce that we have a new IFC Midnight title planned for release on Blu-ray & DVD on August 20th!
I Trapped The Devil – Christmas is supposed to be a time for peace and joyful family reunions. But when...
Written and directed by Josh Lobo, I Trapped the Devil stars Aj Bowen, Jocelin Donahue, Scott Poythress, Susan Burke, Chris Sullivan, Rowan Russell, and Josh Marrott.
No special features for the Blu-ray & DVD have been announced at this time, but we'll keep Daily Dead readers updated on future announcements, and you can check out the official Blu-ray cover art below.
From Scream Factory: "We are proud to announce that we have a new IFC Midnight title planned for release on Blu-ray & DVD on August 20th!
I Trapped The Devil – Christmas is supposed to be a time for peace and joyful family reunions. But when...
- 5/8/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
“I Trapped the Devil” sounds like the title of a sermon or gospel song, but it’s a very literal-minded statement coming from the mouth of a leading character in writer-director Josh Lobo’s debut feature. This being a horror film, there’s a chance he’s even literally correct, rather than simply mad. A mixed-bag frightfest, IFC’s limited theatrical release doesn’t ultimately provide quite enough reward for a slow buildup. But it proves Lobo an able helmer (if one who could probably use a co-writer next time), eking decent atmospherics and good performances within a potentially claustrophobic premise.
In a framing device, two policemen break into a seemingly empty house where something is intangibly amiss. As they’re just about to find out what that is, the film jumps back several hours earlier, when others are arriving at the same house. Matt (Aj Bowen) and wife Karen...
In a framing device, two policemen break into a seemingly empty house where something is intangibly amiss. As they’re just about to find out what that is, the film jumps back several hours earlier, when others are arriving at the same house. Matt (Aj Bowen) and wife Karen...
- 4/26/2019
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
Slow burn horror/thrillers require some very specific tools to proceed. Especially when the title is an independent one with limited money and time at its disposal, it’s easier thought of than executed. In the case of this week’s new release I Trapped the Devil, as novel concept ends up ever so slightly underwhelming. Something like this probably needed some stronger acting to keep you invested as the tension builds. Admittedly, the ending is solid, but not quite solid enough to make up for 70 or so minutes that’s come before it. This is far from a bad work, though I can’t bring myself to give it a full on recommendation. The movie is a mix of horror and thriller, told with a vast amount of patience. Set during Christmas, this is a look at a family reunion of sorts gone very wrong. When Matt (Aj Bowen...
- 4/24/2019
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
In her four-star review, Emily Von Seele called I Trapped the Devil "cerebrally charged psychological horror at its best," and ahead of the movie's theatrical and VOD release on April 26th via IFC Midnight, we've been provided with an exclusive clip to share with Daily Dead readers.
In our exclusive clip below, you can watch Steve (Scott Poythress) talk to to his brother (Aj Bowen) about the man he's holding against his will in his basement, and the chilling thing he believes he must do next.
Written and directed by Josh Lobo, I Trapped the Devil stars Aj Bowen, Jocelin Donahue, Scott Poythress, Susan Burke, Chris Sullivan, Rowan Russell, and Josh Marrott.
Synopsis: "Christmas is supposed to be a time for peace and joyful family reunions. But when Matt (Aj Bowen) and his wife Karen (Susan Burke) show up unannounced at the home of his estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress) to celebrate the holidays,...
In our exclusive clip below, you can watch Steve (Scott Poythress) talk to to his brother (Aj Bowen) about the man he's holding against his will in his basement, and the chilling thing he believes he must do next.
Written and directed by Josh Lobo, I Trapped the Devil stars Aj Bowen, Jocelin Donahue, Scott Poythress, Susan Burke, Chris Sullivan, Rowan Russell, and Josh Marrott.
Synopsis: "Christmas is supposed to be a time for peace and joyful family reunions. But when Matt (Aj Bowen) and his wife Karen (Susan Burke) show up unannounced at the home of his estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress) to celebrate the holidays,...
- 4/24/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Tragedy struck some time ago and we honestly don’t need to know the details to understand how it’s affected the three characters we’re about to meet. Steve (Scott Poythress) is the one who’s hurting from it and has been ever since. Maybe his brother Matt (Aj Bowen) thought space was needed for him to heal or maybe he was just too unsure about what he could do to help alleviate his pain and/or scared about what doing so entailed, but it’s been awhile since they’ve last seen each other. This is why Matt’s wife Karen (Susan Burke) has dragged him out during Christmas to make certain her brother-in-law wouldn’t be alone. With Steve proving less surprised than inconvenienced upon their impromptu arrival, the gesture might be too late.
Or maybe it’s just in time since writer/director Josh Lobo’s...
Or maybe it’s just in time since writer/director Josh Lobo’s...
- 4/24/2019
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
I Trapped the Devil is a film that dares to ask some really complicated questions about the nature of evil. It ruminates on them and uses the lack of a concise answer to enhance the uncertainty of its atmosphere and to create a mood that is deeply unsettling.
Matt (Aj Bowen) and Karen (Susan Burke) decide to visit Matt’s estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress) for Christmas. Their relationship is rocky, but Karen wants the couple to make the effort to reach out and bridge the gap. When they arrive, they notice immediately that Steve is acting strangely. At first, he seems overly nervous and jumpy, but as we spend more time with him, we begin to see the depth of his paranoia. Something is definitely not right. They soon learn what. Locked in Steve's basement is a man that Steve claims is the Devil himself. Has Steve lost his mind completely,...
Matt (Aj Bowen) and Karen (Susan Burke) decide to visit Matt’s estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress) for Christmas. Their relationship is rocky, but Karen wants the couple to make the effort to reach out and bridge the gap. When they arrive, they notice immediately that Steve is acting strangely. At first, he seems overly nervous and jumpy, but as we spend more time with him, we begin to see the depth of his paranoia. Something is definitely not right. They soon learn what. Locked in Steve's basement is a man that Steve claims is the Devil himself. Has Steve lost his mind completely,...
- 4/22/2019
- by Emily von Seele
- DailyDead
Josh Lobo’s Christmas-themed chiller goes to Signature Entertainment and Raven Banner.
Us sales company Yellow Veil Pictures has licensed upcoming horror feature I Trapped The Devil to Signature Entertainment for the UK and Raven Banner for Canada.
Signature has bought all rights for the UK and Ireland and plans a late autumn release through the company’s FrightFest Presents genre arm. Raven plans a launch to coincide with the film’s Us release through genre distributor IFC Midnight.
Written and directed by Josh Lobo, I Trapped The Devil stars Aj Bowen, Susan Burke and Scott Poythress in the tale...
Us sales company Yellow Veil Pictures has licensed upcoming horror feature I Trapped The Devil to Signature Entertainment for the UK and Raven Banner for Canada.
Signature has bought all rights for the UK and Ireland and plans a late autumn release through the company’s FrightFest Presents genre arm. Raven plans a launch to coincide with the film’s Us release through genre distributor IFC Midnight.
Written and directed by Josh Lobo, I Trapped The Devil stars Aj Bowen, Susan Burke and Scott Poythress in the tale...
- 4/16/2019
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
We just got our hands on a few brand new stills for Josh Lobo’s indie debut I Trapped the Devil, which will release in limited theaters and on VOD platforms April 26, 2019. Starring Aj Bowen (You’re Next, A Horrible Way to Die, The Signal), Jocelin Donahue (House of the Devil), Chris Sullivan (Stranger Things), Scott Poythress (The Signal), and Susan Burke (Southbound), the Christmas-set psychological horror focuses on […]...
- 4/12/2019
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
"There is something evil locked behind that door!"
I’ve got a trailer here for you to watch for a new Christmas-set horror movie called I Trapped The Devil. The story revolves around a man who descends into paranoia and madness after trapping what he believes to be the devil in his basement. Things end up taking a very dark, twisted turn when his estranged brother unexpectedly shows up for the holiday.
The movie actually looks like it could be pretty good and worth checking out. In the trailer, the movie is compared to The Twilight Zone. Here’s the synopsis:
Christmas is supposed to be a time for peace and joyful family reunions. But when Matt (Aj Bowen) and his wife Karen (Susan Burke) show up unannounced at the home of his estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress) to celebrate the holidays, they are instead greeted with a horrifying surprise:...
I’ve got a trailer here for you to watch for a new Christmas-set horror movie called I Trapped The Devil. The story revolves around a man who descends into paranoia and madness after trapping what he believes to be the devil in his basement. Things end up taking a very dark, twisted turn when his estranged brother unexpectedly shows up for the holiday.
The movie actually looks like it could be pretty good and worth checking out. In the trailer, the movie is compared to The Twilight Zone. Here’s the synopsis:
Christmas is supposed to be a time for peace and joyful family reunions. But when Matt (Aj Bowen) and his wife Karen (Susan Burke) show up unannounced at the home of his estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress) to celebrate the holidays, they are instead greeted with a horrifying surprise:...
- 4/8/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
You expect surprises under the tree around the holidays, but you don't expect the surprise of a man being held against his will in your brother's basement... because he thinks he's Satan. That's the hellish holiday scenario that Matt and his wife, Karen (Susan Burke), walk into in the new horror film I Trapped the Devil, and you can get an idea of what to expect in the official trailer from IFC Midnight.
Written and directed by Josh Lobo, I Trapped the Devil stars Aj Bowen, Jocelin Donahue, Scott Poythress, Susan Burke, Chris Sullivan, Rowan Russell, and Josh Marrott. IFC Midnight will release the film in theaters and VOD on April 26th.
Synopsis: "Christmas is supposed to be a time for peace and joyful family reunions. But when Matt (Aj Bowen) and his wife Karen (Susan Burke) show up unannounced at the home of his estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress) to celebrate the holidays,...
Written and directed by Josh Lobo, I Trapped the Devil stars Aj Bowen, Jocelin Donahue, Scott Poythress, Susan Burke, Chris Sullivan, Rowan Russell, and Josh Marrott. IFC Midnight will release the film in theaters and VOD on April 26th.
Synopsis: "Christmas is supposed to be a time for peace and joyful family reunions. But when Matt (Aj Bowen) and his wife Karen (Susan Burke) show up unannounced at the home of his estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress) to celebrate the holidays,...
- 4/5/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
"There is something evil locked behind that door!" IFC Midnight has debuted an official trailer for the indie horror thriller I Trapped the Devil, an intriguing horror mystery set during the Holidays. Here's what it's about: a man descends into paranoia after trapping what he believes to be the devil in his basement, but things take a dark turn when his family (his estranged brother) unexpectedly arrive for the holidays. Is it really Satan? What is truly going on here? "Either way, the stage is set for a true Christmas from hell." This crafty horror stars Aj Bowen, Jocelin Donahue, Scott Poythress, Susan Burke, Chris Sullivan, Rowan Russell, and Josh Marrott. This looks cool. Brad Miska of Bloody Disgusting makes a Twilight Zone reference in the quote (on the poster), which makes me even more intrigued. I need to check this out. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Josh Lobo's I Trapped the Devil,...
- 4/4/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
We announced last week that Josh Lobo's debut horror flick I Trapped the Devil is playing at four film festivals down in the States this month before IFC Midnight puts it out in U.S. cinemas and On Demand on April 26th. The trailer was released today. Have a look below. Christmas is supposed to be a time for peace and joyful family reunions. But when Matt (Aj Bowen) and his wife Karen (Susan Burke) show up unannounced at the home of his estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress) to celebrate the holidays, they are instead greeted with a horrifying surprise: trapped in the basement is a man. But not just any man. Steve believes that his hostage is none other than the devil himself....
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 4/3/2019
- Screen Anarchy
IFC Midnight has just released the official trailer for Josh Lobo’s excellent indie debut I Trapped the Devil, which will release in limited theaters and on VOD platforms April 26, 2019. Starring Aj Bowen (You’re Next, A Horrible Way to Die, The Signal), Jocelin Donahue (House of the Devil), Chris Sullivan (Stranger Things), Scott Poythress (The Signal), and Susan Burke (Southbound), the Christmas-set psychological horror focuses on a man’s […]...
- 4/3/2019
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Debut Film From Writer/Director Josh Lobo Starring Aj Bowen, Susan Burke (Southbound), and Scott Poythress (The Signal) In Select Cinemas and On-Demand April 26th Also screening at the following film festivals prior to release: Chattanooga Film Festival // Chattanooga, Tn Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l Film Festival // Minneapolis, …
The post IFC Midnight presents I Trapped The Devil – In Select Cinemas and On-Demand April 26th – Poster and release date announcement! appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.
The post IFC Midnight presents I Trapped The Devil – In Select Cinemas and On-Demand April 26th – Poster and release date announcement! appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.
- 3/31/2019
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
IFC Midnight is always on the forefront of genre acquisitions and they recently picked up I Trapped the Devil (previously known as A Man in the Dark) from writer/director Josh Lobo. Ahead of the April 26th select theater and VOD release date, we have details on upcoming festival screenings and the brand new poster.
Previously: New York, NY – IFC Midnight announced today that it is acquiring U.S. rights to I Trapped The Devil (formerly titled “A Man in the Dark”), written and directed by debut filmmaker Josh Lobo, who also produced alongside Spence Nicholson, Rowan Russell, and Scott Weinberg. The cast includes Chris Sullivan, Jocelin Donahue, Aj Bowen, Susan Burke (Stan Against Evil), and Scott Poythress. IFC Midnight will release the film day and date on April 26, 2019.
It’s the Christmas season, a time of peace and joy with friends and family. But when Matt (Aj Bowen) and...
Previously: New York, NY – IFC Midnight announced today that it is acquiring U.S. rights to I Trapped The Devil (formerly titled “A Man in the Dark”), written and directed by debut filmmaker Josh Lobo, who also produced alongside Spence Nicholson, Rowan Russell, and Scott Weinberg. The cast includes Chris Sullivan, Jocelin Donahue, Aj Bowen, Susan Burke (Stan Against Evil), and Scott Poythress. IFC Midnight will release the film day and date on April 26, 2019.
It’s the Christmas season, a time of peace and joy with friends and family. But when Matt (Aj Bowen) and...
- 3/29/2019
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
I Trapped the Devil is the debut feature of director Josh Lobo. Previously titled A Man in the Dark, this is a film from Yellow Veil Pictures, set to release via IFC Films. Set during Christmas, a family reunites for the holiday. But, one of the family members has a kidnap victim in the basement and this victim might just be the devil himself! I Trapped the Devil stars: Aj Bowen (You're Next), Chris Sullivan ("Stranger Things"), Jocelin Donahue (House of the Devil), Scott Poythress and Susan Burke. This indie horror title will release this April. I Trapped the Devil is set for a film festival run. This title is expected to show at the following cinema extravaganzas: the Chattanooga Film Festival, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival, Motor City Nightmares and Phoenix Film Festival. Following this run, this title will show in several other theatres, while simultaneously moving to Digital platforms on April 26th.
- 3/29/2019
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
When our friends at Yellow Veil Pictures announced their arrival last Summer they already had Josh Lobo's debut feature film I Trapped The Devil on their sales slate. Back then we knew it as A Man In The Dark but it has since donned that fancy new moniker, I Trapped the Devil. Christmas is supposed to be a time for peace and joyful family reunions. But when Matt (Aj Bowen) and his wife Karen (Susan Burke) show up unannounced at the home of his estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress) to celebrate the holidays, they are instead greeted with a horrifying surprise: trapped in the basement is a man. But not just any man. Steve believes that his hostage is none other than the devil...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 3/29/2019
- Screen Anarchy
IFC Midnight has shared with Bloody an exclusive look at the poster art for Josh Lobo’s excellent indie I Trapped the Devil, which will release in limited theaters and on VOD platforms April 26, 2019. Starring Aj Bowen (You’re Next, A Horrible Way to Die, The Signal), Jocelin Donahue (House of the Devil), Chris Sullivan (Stranger Things), Scott Poythress (The Signal), and Susan Burke (Southbound), the Christmas-set psychological horror […]...
- 3/28/2019
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
"You need to stay and secure the area." Magnolia Pictures has debuted the first trailer for an indie horror survival thriller film titled Body at Brighton Rock, the second feature film following Southbound from filmmaker Roxanne Benjamin. The story follows a novice park ranger who discovers a body, and must spend the night guarding a potential crime scene on a remote mountain trail as night descends. Karina Fontes stars as Wendy, with a cast including Casey Adams, Emily Althaus, Miranda Bailey, Martin Spanjers, Matt Peters, Susan Burke, John Getz, and Brodie Reed. Plus a big bear! Or so it seems... Perhaps this trailer shows too much, but it's also just trying to get our attention in the swarm of so many films. This just premiered at SXSW this month to some mixed but mostly good reviews, one describing it as "an intriguing cinematic rumination on the effects of isolation and fear.
- 3/18/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
As the year 2019 continues to just fly by, the SXSW Film Festival is already right around the corner, kicking off on Friday in Austin, Texas. Not only does SXSW boast several impressive studio horror premieres this year, both opening and closing the festival, but it also features a Murderers' Row of talent in their Midnighters slate as well. This writer will once again be on site at the fest representing Daily Dead, and while I am really excited about everything on my docket over the next few weeks, here are 13 things happening at SXSW 2019 that have me especially amped to check out throughout all the film-related festivities.
Us (Director/Screenwriter: Jordan Peele)
I mean, it’s a new horror movie from Jordan Peele featuring a stellar cast oozing with raw talent. What more could I possibly need?
Festival Synopsis: An original nightmare from Oscar-winner Jordan Peele (Get Out), starring Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke,...
Us (Director/Screenwriter: Jordan Peele)
I mean, it’s a new horror movie from Jordan Peele featuring a stellar cast oozing with raw talent. What more could I possibly need?
Festival Synopsis: An original nightmare from Oscar-winner Jordan Peele (Get Out), starring Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke,...
- 3/5/2019
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
The SXSW Film Festival has added more to their already robust lineup including the world premieres of the forthcoming remake of Pet Sematary and the horror The Curse of La Llorona as well as a screening of the series finale of Comedy Central’s Broad City and the second of season of YouTube’s Cobra Kai. In addition, they have unveiled a massive slate of Midnighters, Festival Favorites, Shorts, Episodic Pilots and Virtual Cinema Projects. The 26th edition of the South by Southwest Conference and Festival runs March 8-17 in Austin.
The film fest will end with a horrific scream courtesy of Pet Sematary which is based on the seminal horror novel by Stephen King. The horror stars Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, and John Lithgow and is the second film iteration of the popular novel. The first was released in 1989 and was followed by a sequel in 1992.
Also set to...
The film fest will end with a horrific scream courtesy of Pet Sematary which is based on the seminal horror novel by Stephen King. The horror stars Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, and John Lithgow and is the second film iteration of the popular novel. The first was released in 1989 and was followed by a sequel in 1992.
Also set to...
- 2/6/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The South by Southwest Conference and Festivals has announced the remainder of its 2019 SXSW festival lineup, which will include Paramount Pictures’ “Pet Sematary” as its closing night film.
Michael Chaves’ “The Curse of La Llorona” has also been added to the lineup, as well as Helen Hunt’s “I See You,” Elisabeth Moss’ “Her Smell,” Alex Gibney’s “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley,” “Lupita Nyong’o’s “Little Monsters” and Olivia Colman’s “Them That Follow.”
In the Documentary Spotlight section, “I Am Richard Pryor” and “Salvage” have been added.
Also Read: Jordan Peele's 'Us' to Open 2019 SXSW Film Festival
“Pet Sematary” is directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer and is based on the horror novel by Stephen King. It follows Dr. Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), who, after relocating with his wife and their two young children to rural Maine, discovers a burial ground near their home.
Michael Chaves’ “The Curse of La Llorona” has also been added to the lineup, as well as Helen Hunt’s “I See You,” Elisabeth Moss’ “Her Smell,” Alex Gibney’s “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley,” “Lupita Nyong’o’s “Little Monsters” and Olivia Colman’s “Them That Follow.”
In the Documentary Spotlight section, “I Am Richard Pryor” and “Salvage” have been added.
Also Read: Jordan Peele's 'Us' to Open 2019 SXSW Film Festival
“Pet Sematary” is directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer and is based on the horror novel by Stephen King. It follows Dr. Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), who, after relocating with his wife and their two young children to rural Maine, discovers a burial ground near their home.
- 2/6/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
This year’s SXSW has finally rounded out the rest of its film festival program, including its popular Midnighters section, along with Festival Favorites, late-addition features and the closing night film for the 6th edition of the festival, running March 8 – 17 in Austin, Texas. This year’s program encompasses 131 feature films including 101 world premieres, 9 North American premieres, 3 U.S. premieres, and 64 films from first-time filmmakers.
In a nod to the festival’s affinity for genre films, this year’s event will close with the world premiere of Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer’s new version of “Pet Sematary.” Kolsch and Widmyer’s film is based on the beloved Stephen King novel of the same name, and stars Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, and John Lithgow. Paramount Pictures will release the film on April 5.
In that same vein, the festival has also unveiled its list of Midnighters. Featuring 10 new world premieres, the slate includes dark comedies,...
In a nod to the festival’s affinity for genre films, this year’s event will close with the world premiere of Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer’s new version of “Pet Sematary.” Kolsch and Widmyer’s film is based on the beloved Stephen King novel of the same name, and stars Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, and John Lithgow. Paramount Pictures will release the film on April 5.
In that same vein, the festival has also unveiled its list of Midnighters. Featuring 10 new world premieres, the slate includes dark comedies,...
- 2/6/2019
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Distributor sets April 26 Us release.
IFC Midnight has picked up Us rights from Yellow Veil Pictures to I Trapped The Devil, which will screen to international buyers at the Efm in Berlin.
Josh Lobo made his feature directorial debut on the film, formerly known as A Man In The Dark, and IFC Midnight has scheduled an April 26 release.
Aj Bowen, Susan Burke and Scott Poythress star in the story, which takes place during Christmas season as a man and his wife turn up unannounced at the home of the man’s estranged brother and are disturbed when he claims he...
IFC Midnight has picked up Us rights from Yellow Veil Pictures to I Trapped The Devil, which will screen to international buyers at the Efm in Berlin.
Josh Lobo made his feature directorial debut on the film, formerly known as A Man In The Dark, and IFC Midnight has scheduled an April 26 release.
Aj Bowen, Susan Burke and Scott Poythress star in the story, which takes place during Christmas season as a man and his wife turn up unannounced at the home of the man’s estranged brother and are disturbed when he claims he...
- 2/5/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
IFC Midnight is always on the forefront of genre acquisitions, and I look forward to seeing what they add to their catalog each year. Today, it was announced that they picked up I Trapped the Devil (previously known as A Man in the Dark) from writer/director Josh Lobo:
New York, NY – IFC Midnight announced today that it is acquiring U.S. rights to I Trapped The Devil (formerly titled “A Man in the Dark”), written and directed by debut filmmaker Josh Lobo, who also produced alongside Spence Nicholson, Rowan Russell, and Scott Weinberg. The cast includes Chris Sullivan, Jocelin Donahue, Aj Bowen, Susan Burke (Stan Against Evil), and Scott Poythress. IFC Midnight will release the film day and date on April 26, 2019.
It’s the Christmas season, a time of peace and joy with friends and family. But when Matt (Aj Bowen) and his wife Karen (Susan Burke) show...
New York, NY – IFC Midnight announced today that it is acquiring U.S. rights to I Trapped The Devil (formerly titled “A Man in the Dark”), written and directed by debut filmmaker Josh Lobo, who also produced alongside Spence Nicholson, Rowan Russell, and Scott Weinberg. The cast includes Chris Sullivan, Jocelin Donahue, Aj Bowen, Susan Burke (Stan Against Evil), and Scott Poythress. IFC Midnight will release the film day and date on April 26, 2019.
It’s the Christmas season, a time of peace and joy with friends and family. But when Matt (Aj Bowen) and his wife Karen (Susan Burke) show...
- 2/5/2019
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
IFC Midnight has acquired Josh Lobo’s directorial debut I Trapped the Devil (formerly A Man in the Dark) ahead of this year’s festival run, Bloody Disgusting learned. Starring Aj Bowen (You’re Next, A Horrible Way to Die, The Signal), Jocelin Donahue (House of the Devil), Chris Sullivan (Stranger Things), Scott Poythress (The Signal), and Susan Burke (Southbound), the Christmas-set “Twilight Zone”-esque psychological horror focuses on man’s descent into […]...
- 2/5/2019
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: IFC Midnight is acquiring U.S. rights to I Trapped the Devil, a Christmas horror film written and directed by first-time filmmaker Josh Lobo. This Is Us‘ Chris Sullivan, Jocelin Donahue, Aj Bowen, Susan Burke and Scott Poythress star, and the genre label plans an April 26, 2019 day-and-date release.
Film sales company Yellow Veil Pictures, which negotiated the deal for the filmmakers, will next screen the pic, formerly known as A Man in the Dark, for international buyers February 9 at the European Film Market in Berlin.
Penned by Lobo and set during the Christmas season, the plot kicks into gear when when Matt (Bowen) and his wife Karen (Burke) show up unannounced at the home of his estranged brother Steve (Poythress) to celebrate the holidays, but instead they are greeted with a disturbing surprise: Held hostage in Steve’s basement is a man — though not just any man. Steve
believes...
Film sales company Yellow Veil Pictures, which negotiated the deal for the filmmakers, will next screen the pic, formerly known as A Man in the Dark, for international buyers February 9 at the European Film Market in Berlin.
Penned by Lobo and set during the Christmas season, the plot kicks into gear when when Matt (Bowen) and his wife Karen (Burke) show up unannounced at the home of his estranged brother Steve (Poythress) to celebrate the holidays, but instead they are greeted with a disturbing surprise: Held hostage in Steve’s basement is a man — though not just any man. Steve
believes...
- 2/5/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Great news for festival darling Luz and the Christmas-themed A Man in the Dark, as both have been acquired by Yellow Veil Pictures, a distribution arm that focuses on films coming out of the Frontières Market and Fantasia International Film Festival. Also in today's Highlights: a look at the new Game of Thrones beer from Brewery Ommegang and HBO, Bizzare States co-hosts Jessica Chobot and Andrew Bowser celebrate 200 episodes with an event at San Diego Comic-Con, and Brooke Lewis joins the cast of the thriller To Avenge.
Yellow Veil Pictures Acquires Luz and A Man in the Dark: Press Release: "Montreal, Canada, July 16, 2018 -- Yellow Veil Pictures, Inc. a new worldwide film sales company focusing exclusively on arthouse genre cinema launches out of the Frontières Co-Production Market at the Fantasia International Film Festival.
Formed by Hugues Barbier, Ithaca Fantastik Founder and Festival Manager and Acquisitions for Raven Banner, Brooklyn Horror...
Yellow Veil Pictures Acquires Luz and A Man in the Dark: Press Release: "Montreal, Canada, July 16, 2018 -- Yellow Veil Pictures, Inc. a new worldwide film sales company focusing exclusively on arthouse genre cinema launches out of the Frontières Co-Production Market at the Fantasia International Film Festival.
Formed by Hugues Barbier, Ithaca Fantastik Founder and Festival Manager and Acquisitions for Raven Banner, Brooklyn Horror...
- 7/17/2018
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Following her well-received segments in the horror anthology films Southbound and Xx, Roxanne Benjamin is making her feature-length debut with Body at Brighton Rock, a new survival thriller that's been acquired by Magnet Releasing.
Body At Brighton Rock is expected to be released later this year, and we'll be sure to keep you updated when more news is announced. In the meantime, we have the official press release below with additional details:
Press Release: New York, NY (January 29, 2018) – Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today that they have acquired worldwide rights to survival thriller Body At Brighton Rock from Soapbox Films and Protostar Pictures, based off an original screenplay by acclaimed writer and director Roxanne Benjamin (Xx, Southbound). The feature debut from Benjamin stars Karina Fontes as an inexperienced park ranger who must spend the night guarding a potential crime scene on a remote mountain trail.
Produced by Christopher Alender,...
Body At Brighton Rock is expected to be released later this year, and we'll be sure to keep you updated when more news is announced. In the meantime, we have the official press release below with additional details:
Press Release: New York, NY (January 29, 2018) – Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today that they have acquired worldwide rights to survival thriller Body At Brighton Rock from Soapbox Films and Protostar Pictures, based off an original screenplay by acclaimed writer and director Roxanne Benjamin (Xx, Southbound). The feature debut from Benjamin stars Karina Fontes as an inexperienced park ranger who must spend the night guarding a potential crime scene on a remote mountain trail.
Produced by Christopher Alender,...
- 1/30/2018
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
*full disclosure: an online screener of this film was provided by Orchard TV. **there is one spoiler after the review. Directors: Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner, Patrick Horvath and Radio Silence. Writers: Roxanne Benjamin, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, David Bruckner, Susan Burke, Dallas Richard Hallam and Patrick Horvath. Cast: Chad Villella, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Hannah Marks, Tipper Newton, Brad Miska and Kristina Pesic. Southbound is an indie horror anthology film, from four directors. Patrick Horvath, of The Signal (2007) fame, brings one of four stories. Though, an initial viewing would make the film appear as if it is five short films; the circular ending brings the film back upon itself. Southbound also brings an inconsistent morality to the screen as one good character finds escape, while another does not. The film also keeps its characters' histories and motivations hidden. This makes an interpretation of the plot difficult. But, the writers do agree on a trapped theme.
- 2/14/2016
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Kicking off with a special screening of The Forest with star Natalie Dormer in attendance, and finishing in racy rock-fuelled style with Sean Byrne’s The Devil’s Candy, the UK’s favourite horror fantasy event returns to Glasgow Film Festival with another stellar line-up to shock, chill and thrill. A record thirteen films will screen from Thursday 25th February to Saturday 27th February, alongside a selection of unmissable shorts, guest director Q & A’s, great give-aways and a sneak preview of Paul Hyett’s Heretiks, with the popular director in attendance.
The line-up starts at 9pm on Thurs 25 Feb with the UK Premiere of The Forest starring Natalie Dormer searching for her twin sister in Japan’s most haunted location, the fabled Sea of Trees. The ‘Game of Thrones’ star is making her first appearance at Glasgow Film Festival and is thrilled to be headlining this gala event the...
The line-up starts at 9pm on Thurs 25 Feb with the UK Premiere of The Forest starring Natalie Dormer searching for her twin sister in Japan’s most haunted location, the fabled Sea of Trees. The ‘Game of Thrones’ star is making her first appearance at Glasgow Film Festival and is thrilled to be headlining this gala event the...
- 1/11/2016
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
The American Film Institute announced today the films that will screen in the World Cinema, Breakthrough, Midnight, Shorts and Cinema’s Legacy programs at AFI Fest 2015 presented by Audi.
AFI Fest will take place November 5 – 12, 2015, in the heart of Hollywood. Screenings, Galas and events will be held at the historic Tcl Chinese Theatre, the Tcl Chinese 6 Theatres, Dolby Theatre, the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian, the El Capitan Theatre and The Hollywood Roosevelt.
World Cinema showcases the most acclaimed international films of the year; Breakthrough highlights true discoveries of the programming process; Midnight selections will grip audiences with terror; and Cinema’s Legacy highlights classic movies and films about cinema. World Cinema and Breakthrough selections are among the films eligible for Audience Awards. Shorts selections are eligible for the Grand Jury Prize, which qualifies the winner for Academy Award®consideration. This year’s Shorts jury features filmmaker Janicza Bravo,...
AFI Fest will take place November 5 – 12, 2015, in the heart of Hollywood. Screenings, Galas and events will be held at the historic Tcl Chinese Theatre, the Tcl Chinese 6 Theatres, Dolby Theatre, the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian, the El Capitan Theatre and The Hollywood Roosevelt.
World Cinema showcases the most acclaimed international films of the year; Breakthrough highlights true discoveries of the programming process; Midnight selections will grip audiences with terror; and Cinema’s Legacy highlights classic movies and films about cinema. World Cinema and Breakthrough selections are among the films eligible for Audience Awards. Shorts selections are eligible for the Grand Jury Prize, which qualifies the winner for Academy Award®consideration. This year’s Shorts jury features filmmaker Janicza Bravo,...
- 10/22/2015
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Southbound
Written by Roxanne Benjamin, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, David Bruckner, Susan Burke, Dallas Hallam & Patrick Horvath
Directed by Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner, Patrick Horvath & Radio Silence
USA, 2015
Heavily promoted as a film by the creators of V/H/S, Southbound is a horror anthology movie that eschews the found footage format in favor of applying a traditional cinematic narrative that recounts several interconnected tales. Southbound does a fantastic job taking advantage of the anthology format. The film successfully links all five of its stories together with creative tracking shots (Birdman style). The approach is slightly better than a novelty. Combining the various segments into a continuous timeline is a cool visual trick that carries the movie’s manic energy forward from story to story.
As is the case with anthologies, there isn’t much time to tell a story and each of Southbound’s protagonists gets dropped into their segment and really hits the ground running.
Written by Roxanne Benjamin, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, David Bruckner, Susan Burke, Dallas Hallam & Patrick Horvath
Directed by Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner, Patrick Horvath & Radio Silence
USA, 2015
Heavily promoted as a film by the creators of V/H/S, Southbound is a horror anthology movie that eschews the found footage format in favor of applying a traditional cinematic narrative that recounts several interconnected tales. Southbound does a fantastic job taking advantage of the anthology format. The film successfully links all five of its stories together with creative tracking shots (Birdman style). The approach is slightly better than a novelty. Combining the various segments into a continuous timeline is a cool visual trick that carries the movie’s manic energy forward from story to story.
As is the case with anthologies, there isn’t much time to tell a story and each of Southbound’s protagonists gets dropped into their segment and really hits the ground running.
- 9/24/2015
- by Victor Stiff
- SoundOnSight
Breaking Bad is over and what a finale it was, although it may have been predictable based on what we knew from the flash forward at the start of the season, it still didn’t disappoint and was full of stirring and thrilling moments. More importantly, now that this is over, Netflix crucially need to up their game.
Hansel and Gretel and Texas Chainsaw, two pretty dire entries from earlier this year, just are not going to cut it against Argo and The Perks of Being a Wallflower regardless of who did what at the box office. Netflix seem to have the monopoly on quality catalogue titles this week with some little seen gems with Permanent Midnight and Orange County but this means nothing to the public and mostly registers with nerds like me.
This isn’t a suggestion that the company is in trouble at all but consider what...
Hansel and Gretel and Texas Chainsaw, two pretty dire entries from earlier this year, just are not going to cut it against Argo and The Perks of Being a Wallflower regardless of who did what at the box office. Netflix seem to have the monopoly on quality catalogue titles this week with some little seen gems with Permanent Midnight and Orange County but this means nothing to the public and mostly registers with nerds like me.
This isn’t a suggestion that the company is in trouble at all but consider what...
- 10/7/2013
- by Chris Holt
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Last year, audiences couldn’t find two more distinct movies dealing with alcoholism than Flight and Smashed. While Robert Zemeckis‘s film dealt with an all-out reckless drunk, big dramatic plot points, and John Goodman, director James Ponsoldt’s Smashed approaches the matter with a more character-driven and religion-less narrative, with the assistance of the film’s co-writer, Susan Burke. Burke, who also works as standup comedian, didn’t want the lead character in Smashed, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, to suffer simply because she’s an alcoholic. It isn’t a movie that punishes its characters or says with a million exclamation points, “Drinking is bad.” Smashed isn’t grim in the way we generally associate movies featuring alcoholism, but a dramedy that isn’t built around misery porn and, as Burke says, indie quirks. Screenwriter Susan Burke made the time recently to discuss with us the advantages writing a film over standup can have, avoiding...
- 4/12/2013
- by Jack Giroux
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Chicago – I’m upset I didn’t see “Smashed” in time to produce my year-end lists for 2012 (Sony Pictures Classics inexplicably never sent a screener and I missed it in theaters). Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s stellar lead performance and Aaron Paul’s pitch-perfect support would have been included in both of my performance pieces. They’re so good here, balancing the truth of youthful addiction in ways that we rarely see in film.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
That’s the key reason that “Smashed” works as well as it does — truth. Director James Ponsoldt is a true talent (and his new film, “The Spectacular Now,” will be playing the Chicago Critics Film Festival next month), finding honesty in what could have been cliched situations. It helps that he has an actress as fully committed as Winstead, playing a role that constantly threatens to segue into something Hollywood or predictable but never allowing her to do so.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
That’s the key reason that “Smashed” works as well as it does — truth. Director James Ponsoldt is a true talent (and his new film, “The Spectacular Now,” will be playing the Chicago Critics Film Festival next month), finding honesty in what could have been cliched situations. It helps that he has an actress as fully committed as Winstead, playing a role that constantly threatens to segue into something Hollywood or predictable but never allowing her to do so.
- 3/20/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
DVD Review
Smashed
Directed by: James Ponsoldt
Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, Octavia Spencer
Running Time: 1 hr 21 mins
Rating: R
Due Out: March 12, 2013
Plot: An alcoholic schoolteacher (Winstead) decides it’s time to sober up. Her quest for sobriety puts a strain on her life and marriage.
Who’S It For? Those who are looking for a good drama that balances a lighter side shouldn’t regret watching Smashed. Fans of Mary Elizabeth Winstead should walk away loving her more, and skeptics just might be won over.
Movie:
Smashed is a very good second feature from James Ponsoldt. It’s not flawless, but my problems are mostly confined to the opening fifteen minutes. So, like the film, I want to get my issues out of the way first. That way I can spend most of my time delivering praise.
One thing I found a little...
Smashed
Directed by: James Ponsoldt
Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, Octavia Spencer
Running Time: 1 hr 21 mins
Rating: R
Due Out: March 12, 2013
Plot: An alcoholic schoolteacher (Winstead) decides it’s time to sober up. Her quest for sobriety puts a strain on her life and marriage.
Who’S It For? Those who are looking for a good drama that balances a lighter side shouldn’t regret watching Smashed. Fans of Mary Elizabeth Winstead should walk away loving her more, and skeptics just might be won over.
Movie:
Smashed is a very good second feature from James Ponsoldt. It’s not flawless, but my problems are mostly confined to the opening fifteen minutes. So, like the film, I want to get my issues out of the way first. That way I can spend most of my time delivering praise.
One thing I found a little...
- 3/12/2013
- by Shane T. Nier
- The Scorecard Review
For a good many years drunkenness was a joke in Hollywood movies. Since Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend, the harrowing 1945 movie that won Oscars for best film, director and actor, things have been different. Smashed is a valuable, non-judgmental addition to the cinema of addiction, centring on Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a Los Angeles primary-school teacher, and her husband Charlie (Aaron Paul), a journalist working from home. The movie is as much about lies, self-deception and mutual dependency as it is about drinking, and it takes place over 18 months or so, beginning and ending virtually in mid-sentence.
The hungover Kate gets wound up in front of her class and vomits beside the blackboard. She covers up by accepting a bright young pupil's conjecture that she's pregnant and gets stuck with the lie and the sympathy it provokes from the school's principal. A fellow teacher, now a recovering alcoholic, draws her into AA,...
The hungover Kate gets wound up in front of her class and vomits beside the blackboard. She covers up by accepting a bright young pupil's conjecture that she's pregnant and gets stuck with the lie and the sympathy it provokes from the school's principal. A fellow teacher, now a recovering alcoholic, draws her into AA,...
- 12/16/2012
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
It’s the other alchoholic-gets-a-wakeup-call movie of 2012, though Smashed is a lot less flashy than Flight: its $500K budget might possibly stretch to cover about two seconds of Flight’s plane-crash FX, but that’s it. And this one -- from director James Ponsoldt, who cowrote with Susan Burke, based partly on her own experiences -- eschews that other film’s swagger and sense of heighted reality to give us a wounded protagonist all of us are much more likely to be able to identify with. I mean, it’s hard to imagine anyone who might wonder whether they should have that third beer or fourth martini being put off by the tale of a hero flyboy who saves hundreds of lives despite the fact that he’s stoned and drunk at the time. But Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) Kate, a down-to-earth Los Angeles elementary school...
- 12/14/2012
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
James Ponsoldt’s Smashed saw its world debut at Sundance at the start of the year, and leading lady Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s performance has been Oscar-buzzed ever since.
The film won the Special Jury Prize at the festival, and just last month, Winstead’s performance was recognised once more when the Independent Spirit Awards nominations were announced, nominating her for Best Actress.
It opened in a limited release in the Us back in October, and has been continuing its expansion over the weeks since then, and will now be released in the UK this Friday. Sony have released the UK variant of the trailer, and though it is essentially identical to the first trailer we saw in September, it’s nice to know for 100% certain that it has secured the UK release it deserves.
“Kate and Charlie like to have a good time. Their marriage thrives on a shared fondness for music,...
The film won the Special Jury Prize at the festival, and just last month, Winstead’s performance was recognised once more when the Independent Spirit Awards nominations were announced, nominating her for Best Actress.
It opened in a limited release in the Us back in October, and has been continuing its expansion over the weeks since then, and will now be released in the UK this Friday. Sony have released the UK variant of the trailer, and though it is essentially identical to the first trailer we saw in September, it’s nice to know for 100% certain that it has secured the UK release it deserves.
“Kate and Charlie like to have a good time. Their marriage thrives on a shared fondness for music,...
- 12/11/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
"It starts with the script" is an old chestnut which just happens to be true. I get a kick out of talking to actors, directors and studio heads, but by far my favorite conversations are with such writers as Michael Arndt or Tony Kushner. These people are smart! Years ago after interviewing the Coens for "Raising Arizona," I abandoned my fledgling efforts at screenwriting. I could never be that good. One of the new tools in the Oscar campaign arsenal is the internet. Some studios are putting screenplays up online for easy reading access. You can check out at least ten of the competitors for original screenplay. Universal posts "This is 40" by Judd Apatow, among others, while Sony Pictures Classics boasts "Amour" by Michael Haneke and "Smashed" by James Ponsoldt and Susan Burke, Lionsgate/Summit has "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," by Stephen Chbosky as well as "Arbitrage,...
- 12/5/2012
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
One of the best recent films about addiction of any kind, Smashed serves as familiar material for director James Ponsoldt, whose previous film Off the Black piercingly examined the chronic alcoholism of an ageing baseball umpire. This time opting to observe the effects of alcohol addiction upon younger subjects, Ponsoldt mines co-writer Susan Burke’s own substance abuse issues to produce a riveting, affecting, superbly acted drama.
As much as it is about alcoholism, Smashed is first and foremost a love story; the opening scenes of the film in which we meet married couple Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Charlie (Aaron Paul), it is clear that their mutual love of alcohol only strengthens their bond and enhances their love for one another. Ponsoldt also plausibly demonstrates how they function – albeit scarcely – in their day-to-day lives; Charlie lives off his rich parents, while Kate teaches young schoolchildren,...
One of the best recent films about addiction of any kind, Smashed serves as familiar material for director James Ponsoldt, whose previous film Off the Black piercingly examined the chronic alcoholism of an ageing baseball umpire. This time opting to observe the effects of alcohol addiction upon younger subjects, Ponsoldt mines co-writer Susan Burke’s own substance abuse issues to produce a riveting, affecting, superbly acted drama.
As much as it is about alcoholism, Smashed is first and foremost a love story; the opening scenes of the film in which we meet married couple Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Charlie (Aaron Paul), it is clear that their mutual love of alcohol only strengthens their bond and enhances their love for one another. Ponsoldt also plausibly demonstrates how they function – albeit scarcely – in their day-to-day lives; Charlie lives off his rich parents, while Kate teaches young schoolchildren,...
- 11/18/2012
- by Shaun Munro
- Obsessed with Film
The Oscar buzz has been surrounding Mary Elizabeth Winstead for her performance in Smashed all year, since the film debuted at Sundance back in January, where it jointly won the Special Jury Prize.
I absolutely loved the film when it continued its festival circuit at Tiff, and with the film currently in limited release in the Us, Sony have finally announced that they’ll be releasing the film here in the UK on 14th December.
Winstead stars opposite Aaron Paul, with the leading duo playing a functioning alcoholic couple, and when the former realises what a mess her life has become, her path to sobriety is not an easy one.
“Kate and Charlie like to have a good time. Their marriage thrives on a shared fondness for music, laughter . . . and getting smashed. When Kate’s partying spirals into hard-core asocial behavior, compromising her job as an elementary schoolteacher, something’s got to give.
I absolutely loved the film when it continued its festival circuit at Tiff, and with the film currently in limited release in the Us, Sony have finally announced that they’ll be releasing the film here in the UK on 14th December.
Winstead stars opposite Aaron Paul, with the leading duo playing a functioning alcoholic couple, and when the former realises what a mess her life has become, her path to sobriety is not an easy one.
“Kate and Charlie like to have a good time. Their marriage thrives on a shared fondness for music, laughter . . . and getting smashed. When Kate’s partying spirals into hard-core asocial behavior, compromising her job as an elementary schoolteacher, something’s got to give.
- 11/9/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Sony Classics and Lionsgate / Summit have opened up their For Your Consideration doors and added four new screenplays to the growing list of Oscar screenplays for you to download including Stephen Chbosky's excellent screenplay for The Perks of Being a Wallflower and James Ponsoldt and Susan Burke's screenplay for Smashed, which includes a fantastic speech at the end of the film from Mary Elizabeth Winstead's character, Kate. These four scripts are added to the list of six previous scripts from Focus and Universal bringing the current total to ten, but more will certainly be on the way soon enough. You can download any of the screenplays available directly below. Sony Classics Celeste and Jesse Forever (Download the Script) Smashed (Download the Script) Lionsgate / Summit / Roadside Attractions The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Download the Script) Arbitrage (Download the Script) Focus Features Moonrise Kingdom (Download the Script) ParaNorman...
- 11/8/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Smashed
Written by James Ponsoldt and Susan Burke
Directed by James Ponsoldt
USA 2012 imdb
Simon Howell’s Tiff review
The reason to see Smashed is an amazing performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead as an alcoholic 1st grade teacher, married to an equally alcoholic music critic. Winstead’s Kate is walking a tightrope made of broken bottles, teetering somewhere between comedy and tragedy like a drunken Hexadecimal. Kate and Charlie (Aaron Paul) are the life of the party, any party, every party. It is only when a hungover Kate throws up in front of her 1st grade class (after taking a few nips from the flask in her car to fortify her for the day) and her students come to the conclusion that she’s pregnant, that Kate begins to believe that she has a problem. For a teacher, Kate is a very slow learner and it takes even more disturbing...
Written by James Ponsoldt and Susan Burke
Directed by James Ponsoldt
USA 2012 imdb
Simon Howell’s Tiff review
The reason to see Smashed is an amazing performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead as an alcoholic 1st grade teacher, married to an equally alcoholic music critic. Winstead’s Kate is walking a tightrope made of broken bottles, teetering somewhere between comedy and tragedy like a drunken Hexadecimal. Kate and Charlie (Aaron Paul) are the life of the party, any party, every party. It is only when a hungover Kate throws up in front of her 1st grade class (after taking a few nips from the flask in her car to fortify her for the day) and her students come to the conclusion that she’s pregnant, that Kate begins to believe that she has a problem. For a teacher, Kate is a very slow learner and it takes even more disturbing...
- 11/2/2012
- by Michael Ryan
- SoundOnSight
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