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An Interview With Filmmaker Chris Von Hoffmann – ‘Drifter’

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Post-apocalyptic Horror-Thriller Drifter hit select theaters this past Friday and will be available on VOD and iTunes on February 28th. Recently iHorror was granted the opportunity to speak with co-writer and director Chris Von Hoffman about Drifter, and the different processes that occurred while creating such a crazy film!

SYNOPSIS: A pair of outlaw brothers are held captive in a desolate town run by a small family of psychotic cannibalistic lunatics and their sadistic Mayor.

IN THEATERS: February 24, 2017
AVAILABLE ON VOD AND iTUNES: February 28, 2017

 

 

Interview With Writer, Director, Producer – Chris Von Hoffmann – Drifter

 

Ryan T. Cusick: Chris, you have had your hands in everything, directing, writing, producing, cinematography, the list goes on. Is there any particular job you prefer over the other.

Chris Von Hoffman: Oddly enough on top of all those jobs, I was also an actor for six years in New York. However directing is definitely it for me.

There was a point a few years ago when I first started independently writing, producing and directing my own short films that I thought perhaps producing was my thing but the more short films I made, the more of a reality check I received that though I love the controlling, micromanaging aspects of producing, directing is certainly where I feel most secure.

Cinematography I admire but would never want to pursue it. I have no problem breaking down compositions, but it is the lighting I struggle with.

RTC: Where did the idea/inspiration come from when you wrote Drifter with Aria Emory?

CVH: I had the initial title and concept when I was 16. It was just one of many unfinished script ideas I was writing out back then. The original concept still dealt with two brothers who enter a strange town, but instead of cannibal savages, the town was possessed by a supernatural force. A literal ghost town basically. It wasn’t until a decade later that I decided to pull this idea out from the archives and seriously approach it to be my first feature film. I changed the villains to cannibals because I felt that gave the film a more ferocious edge plus it was a budget issue.

Aria and I started developing the script in fall 2014. He had written his draft then I rewrote all of it to cater more to my aesthetic. I knew I wanted it to be more than just a character driven atmospheric desert thriller. I wanted to have way more fun with it. I wanted to crank everything up and create this hybrid genre mash-up surreal exploitation comic book that would on the surface serve as hopefully an exciting new take on the cannibal sub-genre but also if you pay closer attention, it works as an ultimate love letter and deconstruction of genre movies.

RTC: This film was very dark, and your actors and actresses went places I am sure they had never gone before. What did the casting process consist of?

CVH: The casting process was very unconventional. Every actor except for one were all people I had either worked with in the past or were very familiar with their work through plays I had seen them in or some raw short films they’d done. Most of them all came from this acting school in North Hollywood called Playhouse West. Not a single audition took place. It was pure instinct on the casting.

I knew based off their previous performances, that they would be willing to go all the way because the only way this film would work is if everyone went all the way with their emotions and physicality. Which they all thankfully did.

RTC: In my opinion, the film had a satisfying conclusion; it did not follow the typical formula. Had this always been your original ending?

CVH: Not quite. The original climax was a lot bigger in scope and actually ended with a showdown back outside in the town, but after reading it over and over, I found myself more confused by how it played out more than anything. It was just too much going that was completely unnecessary. The budget wasn’t able to support all that was going on either. I just felt instead of making this really convoluted climax, why not just end it where it organically makes sense? At the dinner table.

I also wanted this film to be as nihilistic and mean-spirited as I possibly could make it so by doing the things I did in the climax I felt it was all completely appropriate and justified.

RTC: Drifter is a calling card to many films that fans have adored over the years! I was just in awe, to say the least. Was this something that had always been intentional during the writing process?

CVH: Absolutely. I felt my first feature film had to be extremely personal with the way I told the story, so I thought let me just unleash the ultimate nostalgia film out of my system completely. Let me just assemble a large chunk of all the films I’ve loved since birth, mash them all up in a blender and machine gun everything onto the screen. I intentionally wanted this film to be a love letter to genre and a celebration of movies in general.

RTC: The location, the budget, and the planning for getting an independent film of this caliber created I am sure is an overall great challenge, more than some will ever know. What particular challenges on this shoot did you face? And were you able to overcome them?

CVH: The most frustrating, complicated and migraine inducing part of making this film was without a doubt pre-production, especially considering the lack of manpower.

The filming and post-production went quite smoothly and were more or less straightforward only because all the nightmares took place during the planning of the logistics. I certainly at times had bit off more than I could chew but I just didn’t want to settle for anything less. It was my mission to make my first film as epic as I possibly could make it despite the micro-funds, so I just had to keep pushing all the way. You simply JUST DO IT.

Perhaps the more specific challenge was finding all the locations. I was my own location manager because I simply couldn’t afford one so I burned a lot of gas money and got old before my time trying to find these obscure locations deep in the desert. If the locations looked cheap, this film would get laughed off the screen, so I knew I needed to find not only unique locations deep in the desert that took the production value to the next level but ALSO not break the bank. That combination made this an extremely frustrating task considering this particular film is driven by the set pieces.

RTC: This film’s theme, setting, and character arches are unique and very dark, did this leave room for any joking or clowning around on set? Or on the other hand, was everyone in character most of the time?

CVH: Most of the actors usually kept to themselves which I preferred. I wanted them all to stay in character as much as they were willing to while on set.

To say there was no joking on set would be a complete lie because there was, however, I myself don’t really like to joke around. My movie means more to me than anything on the planet, so I don’t want to waste a single second clowning around. Laugh when the work is done.

RTC: Are you currently working on any projects that you can speak about?

CVH: I’m in pre- production on my second feature film right now that we’re shooting later in the spring. The script is locked, and we’re deep into casting at the moment.

Thank you so much for speaking with me. Hopefully, we can do it again real soon!

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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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