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Blood & Beer: Inside ‘The Oak Room’ with New Trailer and Exclusive Set Visit

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The Oak Room

During a raging snowstorm, a drifter returns home to the blue-collar bar located in the remote Canadian town where he was born. When he offers to settle an old debt with a grizzled bartender by telling him a story, the night’s events quickly spin into a dark tale of mistaken identities, double-crosses and shocking violence. You’re not going to believe what happened at The Oak Room.

I wander onto the set and immediately I’m struck by the level of detail that’s gone into the creation of a dimly lit, basement-level, small town bar. Every meticulously created label, every tchotchke and wall hanging, every drunkenly-scrawled signature on the bathroom stall, it all builds the world of The Oak Room, rich in texture. 

The set carries a bit of a weight to it, holding the energy of the previous scene. Actors RJ Mitte (Breaking Bad) and Peter Outerbridge (Suicide Squad) laugh between takes, shedding the terse tones they held moments before. Originally, The Oak Room was a stage play, and you can sense it. The dialogue glides as the actors work through extended takes.

The Oak Room via Black Fawn Films

The stage version premiered at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2013. Actor Ari Millen (I’ll Take Your Dead) — who also stars in the film — had thought that it might be a good choice for an adaptation, so he brought the script to director Cody Calahan.

“He called me and said, I’m going to send you the script, you’ve got to read it.” Calahan recalled, “I was about to get on a plane for LA, and he was like, just do me a favor, whatever you have to do on the plane, don’t do it. Just read the script.” By the time the plane had landed, the script had been devoured and a plan was starting to form: “We started right away and over the last two years, took it from the theatrical version into the film version.” 

One of the theatrical elements that has been maintained throughout shooting The Oak Room is the use of long takes — up to 15 minutes at a time — to really give the actors room to breathe. “We do a bunch of rehearsals, we do a rehearsal for camera crew and all that, then we dive right in.” Calahan noted, “When you kind of let the actor go, and there’s no stopping and starting,” he grinned, “It’s pretty awesome.”

The Oak Room via Black Fawn Films

Between these extended takes, I slipped behind the scenes to meet with RJ Mitte and Peter Outerbridge to delve into the secrets and stories of The Oak Room

“It’s written very much like a play, and plays are very extravagant for many reasons.” elaborated Mitte, “Everything that we do in editing — trying to create the beats on stage — you do it live. With this, we have time to alter the beat.” It gives the actors the flexibility to really dig in and find the scene. Mitte smiled, “You find that space and live in that space, and it’s really, really good.”

As organic as it is to shoot long scenes, it creates a unique set of complications for DP Jeff Maher, said Calahan. “We’re capturing the scenes and not dictating, okay, you can only look this way because I want that shot,” he explained, “Which is really tough for Jeff because he’s got to make all the shots creative, unique and entertaining.”

“He’s got to adapt,” he continued, “So they’re running 12 foot long dollies so that when we do the rehearsal, if he sees a moment that’s not working, he’s able to fly over to the other side.” It’s an effective way to shoot the static scenes, and it certainly keeps everyone on their toes. 

The Oak Room via Black Fawn Films

But the complexities don’t end there. “We’re shooting it chronologically, which is very rare to do in films.” Outerbridge shared, “You shoot everything out of order when you shoot films. So we’re shooting it like a play.”

“It’s a play, it’s an actor piece,” he continued, “It’s like two guys in a bar, talking for two hours. Now, that in itself is a challenge.” But it’s not just two talking heads; there’s a few tricky twists to this particular tale. “It’s a story about a guy who walks into a bar, and tells the bartender a story about a guy who walks into a bar, who tells the bartender a story about a guy who walks into a bar.” laughed Outerbridge, “And then eventually, it loops back to the first bartender.”

With such a dense script to work from, it was important that the film be economical while not cutting the meat of the story. “The great thing about the script is that the plot is in the dialogue,” said Calahan, “We really don’t cut away to a lot of storytelling elements. It’s in what they say; the story’s in what the dialogue is dictating. So the more dialogue you cut, the more story you cut.”

Cutting the story down is a whole other challenge; it’s tightly woven to preserve an evocatively ambiguous ending. “It will be left to the audience — if they’ve been paying attention — to try to figure out what is happening,” explained Outerbridge, “Who’s getting redemption and who’s getting revenge.”

“It’s really left up for interpretation on whether or not you want to believe that it happened one way or the other.” commented Mitte, “Is this real? Or is this fake? Is this guy lying to me? Or is this guy telling the truth? And you don’t really know. As many questions as we answer, we raise a lot more questions. And we leave them there.”

“Depending on what version of the ending you think is about to happen, it becomes a totally different film in each version.” Outerbridge hinted, “One begins with a murder mystery, one becomes a horror movie, or one becomes like a ghost story.”

“It’s unique.” Agreed Mitte, “It’s a one of a kind story, it’s a one of a kind script, and what you see is definitely going to be wild.”

The Oak Room

The Oak Room via Black Fawn Films

Spotting a severed unnamed body part (no spoilers here), I can tell that what Mitte said is indeed accurate. Calahan, Outerbridge, and Mitte all seem genuinely excited about the project, and their enthusiasm really pulled me in. “We’re a rare film,” said Mitte, “I feel that what we have is a special movie with a very special group of people that really honed their craft and have the skills to make it great.”

The Oak Room is filled with great detail and care. Nuances are carefully rehearsed and placed with just the right amount of off-the-cuff attitude so that it feels natural. Like the Oak Room itself, it feels very comfortable and real, though there’s something that’s sharpened the edge.

So what exactly happened in The Oak Room? “They’ve made a point of keeping it as ambiguous as possible. But there is a backstory to it,” said Outerbridge, “[Calahan] knows what that is. The writer, Peter Genoway, knows what that is. But they haven’t told us.”

They’ve painted a compelling picture — a nice compliment to the tense undercurrent of the scene they’ve been working on. “You know that something bad is going to happen,” Calahan quipped, “You’re just waiting for that moment.”

Walking away from the set, I immediately wanted to know more. From the way the film was shot to the script’s layered and cryptic conclusion, the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to see how it all unfolds. Months later, I still need to know. 

So if you’re intrigued by a complex thriller with a good hook and a strong weight, definitely check out The Oak Room. Pull up a stool, grab a drink, and settle in. Things are about to get interesting.

 

Breakthrough Entertainment Inc. and Black Fawn Films will be bringing The Oak Room to Cannes’ upcoming virtual film market “Marche du Film”, where first viewings of the film will be taking place on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. You can view the brand new trailer and poster below.

 

The Oak Room

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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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