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Director Adam Robitel Takes us Behind the Scenes of “Insidious: The Last Key”

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Adam Robitel knew he was seeing something special when he attended a showing of the very first Insidious film at the LA Film School years ago, and he recognized even then, the power of Lin Shaye’s performance as Elise Rainer. In fact, he told James Wan just that after that fateful screening.

“I told James that if Lin hadn’t nailed that monologue about the Further, if she hadn’t been as committed as she was, I don’t know that it would have all worked,” the director explained as we chatted recently.

Little did he know then, that not only would Shaye’s character become central to the franchise, but that he would also be directing the latest entry in the franchise: Insidious: The Last Key. From the moment he got the job, however, he knew he had enormous shoes to fill.

“I consider Leigh Whannell and James Wan the new godfathers of supernatural horror,” he says. “They raised the bar, and then they broke the bar.”

So, when his name was put on a shortlist to direct the latest film, he knew he had to bring his A-game, and he went in to audition with storyboards and a look book with a brand new face of evil to confront Elise Rainier. He called the demon KeyFace and he was born from the elements already present in the first draft of the script.

“The script had a lot of images of keys and locks and prisons, and it felt a lot more like a psychological thriller than the other films had,” Robitel pointed out. “It was a perfect setup to bring in another iconic demonic figure to the franchise.”

The director’s pitch worked and he was soon working with Whannell to finalize script elements and preparing to take on his first major studio film. It was a dizzying prospect to go from an independent film like The Taking of Deborah Logan which had no budget for advertising to the full might of Universal.

As filming began, he found himself in the unusual position of directing his longtime friend and former co-star from 2001 Maniacs, Lin Shaye. After three films, the actress has a firm hold on who Elise is and what she would and wouldn’t do, so Robitel gave her the space and support she needed to fully realize the emotional journey of this particular film, sometimes with comedic results.

They needed a car for Elise, and they were presented with four or five options, and Robitel, thinking Elise is a person who really cares about the environment, picked out a Prius. When Lin got to the set, she looked at the car and shook her head.

“She says, ‘A Prius? Elise would not drive a damned Prius!'” Robitel related laughing. “Then she points to this old beater truck down the street that belonged to a neighbor, and says, ‘That’s what Elise would drive.’ So we talked to the guy who owned it and borrowed the truck for the day, and it really was the right choice for Elise!”

Robitel loves that ownership, and admits that it made it easier when it was time to ask Shaye to go further than she’d ever gone before for the role comparing her to a superhero meeting her arch-nemesis while simultaneously confronting the abusive past that made her the strong individual she is today.

To make it believable, he needed an actor capable of matching her strength and tenacity. He found his man in Javier Botet, monster actor extraordinaire.

“Javier is unique in the world,” he says. “He has Marfan Syndrome, which causes his skeletal system to be elongated and it gives him this amazing ability to move his body in unusual ways.”

The actor’s heavy prosthetic make-up and thick contact lenses made it difficult to communicate, however, so Robitel found himself demonstrating the movements he wanted and allowing the actor to mimic them while bringing his own physicality to the scene. The effect is altogether terrifying, and KeyFace is perhaps the franchise’s most menacing demon to date because he is synonymous with the abuse that Elise suffered as a child.

“My style as a director has been to hire good people and then stay out of their way,” he explained, “and it really could not have worked out any better on Insidious: The Last Key.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Insidious: The Last Key is currently in theaters. Check out the trailer below and prepare yourself to journey into the Further once more.

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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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