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Harrison Smith Interview, Director of ‘Death House’

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Director Harrison Smith is no stranger to the horror genre.  While he is relatively new to the director’s chair he knows how to deliver high quality genre films on a surprisingly modest budget.  Smith’s titles include; 2011’s The Fields as writer, 2012’s Six Degrees of Hell as writer, 2014’s Camp Dread as writer and director, and 2015’s ZK: Elephant’s Graveyard (aka Zombie Killers: Elephant’s Graveyard) as writer and director.  In fact, it was at Zombie Killers where Harrison Smith was approached to do the film Death House.

At the screening of ZK, Entertainment Factory producers Rick Finklestein and Steven Chase pitched Harrison the idea originally conceived the late and great Gunnar Hansen, star of 1974’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  While another writer had initially tried to flesh out the idea into a workable movie script, Entertainment Factory wanted Harrison Smith to re-write the project and direct it.  After hearing their idea Smith took on the project, scrapped the re-write, and used Hansen’s bare bones of a great concept to go to work.

Two years later we finally have a trailer for a movie that looks like it will be one hell of a good time!

I had the honor of interviewing Harrison Smith, so please read bellow and learn all about the making of Death House!

iHorror: In your own words, what is Death House about?

Harrison Smith: The film is about good and evil and its place in the world and universe. We are living in dangerous times, and the line between what is good and bad is blurred beyond recognition. We have groups on all sides of the spectrum dictating to us what is good, what is pure, what is bad, what is evil and what is politically correct and incorrect. The grey area between good and evil is perhaps the deadliest.

Take this answer and apply it to a facility that churns out death as its product, packaged as good, and you have real horror. Why? Because it’s happening all around us now.

iH: Originally Death House is the brainchild of Gunnar Hansen.  How, and when, did you join the project?

HS: My Cynema Series found here: https://horrorfuel.com/author/harrison/

This has several “Road to Death House” pieces which answer this in detail. It’s a question I get all the time, but this should give you plenty to answer.

https://horrorfuel.com/horror/creature-feature/road-death-house-part-1/

https://horrorfuel.com/horror/movies/zombie-movies/road-death-house-part-2/

https://horrorfuel.com/crypt-tv/road-death-house-pt-3/

iHorror note:  This story is a MUST read if you want to know how Harrison became involved with the movie.  I read it and attempted to condense it, but you’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t go read it in its entirety.

iH: Why has it taken so long to bring Death House to the fans?

HS: There are a number of issues and I think you will see that in those articles I listed. However the big thing was finding the right story. Gunnar was not happy with his original script, which he feared was too art house. He did let someone take a second pass and it turned into torture porn. He wasn’t happy about that, and then it came to me. On top of, add actor availability, finding the money and getting all of that together, and you see why it took over five years to get it done.

iH: What was it like bringing this ensemble of actors together?

HS: This can also be found in those articles. However it was a dream come true to be surrounded by so many of these folks. They are actors, not just horror icons, and their work is so varied and diverse. From stage to film to TV and in between you have writers, musicians…they are just such fun and eclectic people.

iH: The trailer shows one beautiful practical effect in particular, can we expect more gore?

HS: There is plenty of blood and gore. The recent CENFLO film festival had audiences groaning, hiding eyes, clapping, laughing at the blood and gore. No one is going to accuse Death House of not having enough blood. Roy Knyrim and SOTA FX outdid themselves in this department.

iH: Can horror fans expect any small nods to the movies that made these men and women famous, either in the script or the set design?

HS: This film is LOADED with Easter eggs and references to other horror. However it never trips over itself in that regard. I was once given a script which had all the characters named after major horror characters and it’s so ham fisted and dumb it takes you out of the movie before it even starts. Naming characters “Regan” or having last names like “Strode” or “Voorhees” are signs of bad writing. However, if you know your horror, you’re gonna see and hear a lot of subtle things, and if you stay for the ending credits we have the ultimate and ACTUAL best Easter Egg in the film for viewers.

iH: Did any pissing competitions take place on set for who’s the biggest, bad ass horror villain?

HS: Absolutely not. Only if you count them ragging and teasing each other. It was a pleasant and fun shoot with each one knowing they were there for Gunnar. The only issues came from a few actors who were not in the film who thought it might be all about them.

iH: Kane Hodder is a notorious on set prankster.  Did you witness any such pranks amongst the cast on set?

HS: Yes. A few I can’t say because it might piss off some people who were victims to them. However he regularly quoted Blazing Saddles, always had a funny insight, and when you got him, Moseley and Berryman together it was a class clown convention.

iH: What was your favorite scene to direct?

HS: Wow. Wasn’t asked that one before. I guess I would have to say, without offense to everyone else, that I really enjoyed the scene with Dee, Cody and Cortney making their way through the dark hallway which was this fun house tour of terror. I never let them know the things they were gonna see. They knew they were gonna see SOMETHING, but I never told them exactly what. That way their reactions would be real. And we got that. It’s terrific.

iH: Who was your favorite on screen combination of horror veterans?

HS: All of them. There were so many scenes, one does not stand out. Each one was individual in its own way.

iH: When and where can we see Death House?

HS: The film is getting a large theatrical release starting January 2017. Cities and markets to be announced but opening in 44 states.

iH: What do you hope fans take away from Death House?

HS: An open mind, lots of questions and the need to see it again to catch all that they missed. Also I hope they take away a new appreciation for the actors and the work they have given us and to the genre. It’s not all about superheroes, Marvel and Star Wars, and franchises.

iH: If Gunnar Hansen was able to see the finished movie, what do you think he would say?

HS: Being that he read the shooting script and said personally he approved of it and it had his blessing, I believe he would be happy with the finished film. I stuck to his hope to keep art in the film and not just make a splatter movie. He wanted something smart as well as entertaining, and frankly, why can’t something be both? Horror can be smart. Expect more from your entertainment and you will see better product come forth.

iHorror would like to thank Harrison Smith for taking the time out of his busy schedule for this interview!

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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