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Interview With Walter Hill On ‘The Assignment’

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Pioneer filmmaker Walter Hill has finally completed a project that he has spent nearly 40 years developing, The Assignment. The film has been described as “electrifying” and delivering a “neo-noir twist to audiences. Known specifically for his fantastic action movies, Hill has spent some time in the science fiction and horror realm as well. In 1979, Hill co-produced the science fiction blockbuster Alien, starring Sigourney Weaver, and served as producer or executive producer on three sequels. From 1989-1996 he served as Executive Producer of HBO’s Tales From The Crypt, including the two spin-off films, Demon Knight & Bordello of Blood. Hill’s illustrious career has allowed him to work as a writer, director, and producer on many projects for the last 50 years, and he continues to move forward with no evidence of slowing down. When asked about Sigourney Weaver in this newest venture she was described as “very different in this one.” The film also stars The Fast and Furious franchise star, Michelle Rodriguez.

The Assignment is available NOW on Ultra VOD and in select theaters April 7th

Film Synopsis:

Director Walter Hill gives the revenge film a modern neo-noir twist with this electrifying thriller. Hitman Frank Kitchen (Michelle Rodriguez) is given a lethal assignment, but after being double-crossed, discovers he’s no longer the man he was.  Having been surgically altered, Frank now has the body of a woman. Seeking vengeance, he heads for a showdown with his assailant (Sigourney Weaver), a brilliant surgeon with a chilling agenda of her own. The Assignment has been Rated R with a run time of 95 minutes.

Here is your chance to see Walter Hill in person and watch the film, The Assignment! Details below.

Thursday, April 6 – 7:30 PM                                        WALTER HILL IN PERSON

Los Angeles Premiere! THE ASSIGNMENT, 2017, Saban Films, 95 min. Director Walter Hill gives the revenge film a modern neo-noir twist with this electrifying thriller. Hitman Frank Kitchen (Michelle Rodriguez) is given a lethal assignment, but after being double-crossed, discovers he’s no longer the man he was. Having been surgically altered, Frank now has the body of a woman. Seeking vengeance, he heads for a showdown with his assailant (Sigourney Weaver), a brilliant surgeon with a chilling agenda of her own. Discussion following with director Walter Hill

 

 

Interview with Walter Hill – Director/Writer

 

Walter Hill (photo credit by Nicolas Aproux).

Walter Hill: Hello.

Ryan T. Cusick: Hi Walter, how are you?

WH: I’m fine Ryan, how are you?

RTC: I am doing well, thank you.

WH: Where are you?

RTC: I’m over in Lancaster [California].

WH: California?

RTC: Yeah, it is about sixty miles north of LA.

WH: Oh yeah, I know where it is.

RTC: Kind of in the middle of nowhere.

WH: I drove by there on my way to Vegas not too long ago.

RTC: I read that the name of the film was originally Tom Boy: Revenger’s Tale before it became The Assignment. Do you believe that is going to have an adverse effect on your film?

WH: Changing the title?

RTC: Yeah.

WH: Well I don’t know. That is kind of unknowable, isn’t it? If you ask me did I prefer the original title?, I did, but these are commercial things that have to do with distribution, etc. The movie in England is called Tomboy, in France, it is called The Revenger, the graphic novel in France is called Body and Soul. I don’t know about other countries, so it is a film right now with many titles. It was made under the title Tomboy: Revenger’s Tale so in my head, it is still kind of that. But they seemed very pleased with The Assignment, so “you role with the punches” and you…what is the other one since I am dealing with clichés here?

RTC: [Laughs]

WH: ..”You play the hand you’re dealt.”

RTC: I am sure that it will be fine. It just seems like I have been seeing that more lately with films – getting changed, I am sure that has always occurred over the years.

WH: Well I am not going to try and run away from it, it’s not my style. You know the word Tomboy is felt to be politically incorrect in certain circles I think that is pretty limiting. At the same time, you don’t want a title that is going to go out there and offend people.

RTC: Exactly.

WH: In the time between when the script was written, and the film was shot, and now, somehow the word [Tomboy] had slipped into disrepute in America, it is not in England. So, I do think political correctness is a terrible thing that is becoming very infectious; I am not fond of identity politics, political correctness and all that, I think we are all in the same boat, and we should kind of operate that way. But I am a product of a different time I guess we have to say, like the interview process, like this. You find yourself talking to people constantly, I have been a director over 40 years. I’ve got to be talking to people who I have been a director longer than they have been alive! So the reference points are somewhat different in lives and experiences, shared culture.

RTC: You have had to have seen so much. I was looking at that this morning, the many years you have been involved with film, and over forty years that is quite amazing.

WH: That is as a director. As a writer it is very close to fifty years I have been making a living with all this. Well listen, its been a lot of fun and I am not complaining the last thing I appreciate is people who complain about their lot in life. I’ve had a good run, and you know, you do the best you can with what you got, and it has worked out pretty well. I know that I am constantly running into people, they are amazed that I’ve got another movie coming out. So many of my peers are no longer active.

RTC: You do have this one, and I saw that you are producing the new Alien film.

WH: Well, I really don’t have anything to do with that. My name is on it for a contractual thing. There will be an announcement of what I am up to; next, I am not supposed to say anything, I think within the next day or two there will be an announcement of what I am going to do next. I am also working on a script with an author of an off-Broadway play I’m trying to convert into a low budget feature. So there is plenty of stuff to do.

RTC: Walter can you describe the movie The Assignment.

WH: Well I can. It is a revenge story where a doctor, a medical doctor who lost her license seeks revenge against a hit man who killed a member of her family. She is an intellectual, superior type. She is pitted against this fellow who is a Darwinian survival of the lowest part of the criminal world, it is done in a neo-noir comic book style I think it’s rather reminiscent of the Tales From The Crypt that I did, and it is a piece of entertainment.

RTC: That is great, I am looking forward as I am sure everyone else is to seeing Sigourney Weaver again on the screen.

WH: Well she is very different in this one, as we see her and I hope you enjoy it.

RTC: I am sure I will. Thank you, and just before we depart one of my favorite projects you have worked on has been Tales From The Crypt.

WH: Oh really? Well, there is a good chance you will like this [The Assignment] then because this is very much in that spirit and in style.

RTC: Perfect, well thank you so much for talking with me today, and hopefully, we can do this again in the future.

WH: Okay Ryan, I look forward to it.

RTC: Take Care.

 

 

 

-About The Author-

Ryan T. Cusick is a writer for ihorror.com and very much enjoys conversation and writing about anything within the horror genre. Horror first sparked his interest after watching the original, The Amityville Horror when he was the tender age of three. Ryan lives in California with his wife and Eleven-year-old daughter, who is also expressing interest in the horror genre. Ryan recently received his Master’s Degree in Psychology and has aspirations to write a novel. Ryan can be followed on Twitter @Nytmare112

 

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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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