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Oliver Blackburn unveils his masterpiece “Kristy” at the London Film Festival

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Recently, iHorror.com had the monumental honour of being invited to the premier of Oliver Blackburn’s terrifying new slasher movie, “Kristy”.  I was the lucky one chosen to go along… don’t mind if I do.

The Introduction

Despite tickets being sold out on the website, there were plenty of seats empty and I get the feeling this was deliberate, maybe to keep the premier as intimate as possible. It was quite clear to see that many of Olly’s friends and family had come to support him in what was his biggest movie to date. What a movie it was, too. After seeing and enjoying his “British, gritty, indie” entry to the big screen,“Donkey Punch”, which was filmed in only 25 days, I did set my sights high for his new work.  All movie goers know doing so is a bad idea, and can often spoil the enjoyment gained through watching a movie when knowing nothing about the director or their background. With this in mind, Olly’s work still managed to impress me beyond my expectations, and is the best slasher movie I have seen in many years. Combining elements from movies such as “The Collector” and “Scream”, it really is worth putting on your must-see cinema list.

Oliver introduced himself as the director of the movie, and pointed out that we were currently in the town where he spent many years finding his love for the cinema in a nearby local picture house named The Scarlett. You could easily feel Olly’s love for his chosen line of work, and he was very upbeat and enjoyable to listen to; appearing to make eye contact with as many people in the audience as possible. His introduction only lasted a few minutes, and when drawing to a close, he told us to keep watching to the end of the credits as the movie would not simply end there. This excited me; I love to see a sneaky bit of extra footage at the end of a movie, and possibly witness something others may have missed.

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The Film

The volume was turned up extra high and I knew what I was in for within the first two minutes of the opening credits. I was presented with a low resolution, online style video of a young female being brutally attacked and murdered, and I instantly felt compelled to look away in fear of seeing something to close to the bone (pardon the phrase). Her attackers then started to take photos of the now lifeless woman’s body in a woodland setting, showing no remorse whatsoever. Following this, was a clever insight into the purpose of the killing; an online collection of extremists promoting the idea of “Kill Kristy”. My research had pointed out that there was no one in the cast playing a character named Kristy, and when the introduction scenes explained that Kristy is actually the name given to the followers of Christianity, the movie no longer needed an explanation and I could settle into my seat and enjoy the actor’s performances.

It was a very enjoyable movie with a LOT of jumpy, but necessary moments. I never found myself rolling my eyes at pointless scares, as it all seem to flow together terrifically. It was not over the top gory, and I was told by Olly himself that this was a conscious decision. I did feel it had an adequate amount of bloodshed to whet the appetite of the horror fans, however.

Haley Bennett Ashley Greene Chris Coy
Haley Bennett Ashley Greene Chris Coy
Images courtesy of IMDB.com

The movie followed Haley Bennett as her character was hunted throughout her empty university campus by the Kristy-killing hooligans. Haley portrays the victim brilliantly, leaving no doubt that you are watching a person in immense panic. Without giving too much away, she reaches a turning point where she decides to take matters by the horns, and starts to kick ass, which is why she landed at No. 8 in Glen Packard’s Best Bad Ass Kick Ass Final Girls.

The very popular Ashley Greene is no stranger to a horror movie or two, but is normally the actor playing the sweet and innocent girl with sex appeal. In this movie, however, she finds her true calling, and plays a bad-ass, creepy bitch who is the leader of the hooded attackers. She was amazing, and in Olly’s words, put so much into her work by tirelessly researching her role. By creating a back story for her character, she found a hatred for the privileged, and pulled off something quite brilliant.

Olly pointed out that on several occasions the actors playing the villains would bond outside of work to try to bring a togetherness within their relationship to each other.  Ashley worked closely with Chris Coy, who helped further her understanding of the “partners-in-crime” scenario, as he himself has gained several years of experience in the horror industry. He is now in the cast of “Walking Dead”, and appeared on the show for the first time in season 5 episode 1. Hats off to you, Coy!

After Movie Q&A with Oliver Blackburn

The host of the event didn’t give much time for questions and I myself only managed to ask two. So, rather than writing the conversation out, I thought I would upload the recording and let you listen for yourselves. Sorry for the poor sound recording and the rustling half way though. Olly brought several roles of aluminium foil and asked us all to make Kristy Masks!

 

Some Photos from the Event:

Oliver Blackburn Intro Oliver Blackburn and Host Q&A Daniel Hegarty and Oliver Blackburn 1
Oliver Blackburn at the intro Oliver Blackburn and the Presenter of London Film Festival Me and Oliver Blackburn (Olly not ready for the shot)
Daniel Hegarty and Oliver Blackburn 2 (2) Daniel Hegarty and Oliver Blackburn 2 Daniel Hegarty and Oliver Blackburn 4
 Me and Oliver Blackburn (Me not ready for the shot) Olly trying to put the mask I made on. Olly wearing the mask.

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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