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‘The Id’ Is A Film Fueled By Emotion! – Blu Ray Review & Star Interview

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Thommy Hutson makes his directorial debut with his feature The Id which releases today on Blu-Ray and VOD platforms. Winning Best Thriller at The Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, The Id is proving to live up to the hype as a psychological thriller delivering suspense and terror into the minds of audiences.

In May of 2016 iHorror caught up with The Id star Amanda Wyss at Texas Frightmare to speak about her new short October 23rd. The Id was also a topic of discussion and a very excited and speechless Amanda told us, “It is my role of a lifetime, it is such a beautiful gift. I can’t wait for you to see it.” Hearing those words and witnessing the pride and happiness as Amanda spoke made me excited for this film, and wanting to see it.

The film follows Meridith Lane (Amanda Wyss) a middle-aged woman caring for her wheelchair-bound father (Patrick Peduto) who is an outright bully and suffering from a horrible cough. Meredith has spent years caring for her father, preparing his meals, bathing him, dressing him every day. Preying on Meridith’s low self-esteem, her father is always getting his way and does not allow Meridith to live a normal healthy life, insulting her at every given moment. Meridith, stuck reminiscing her high school years, is a prisoner and the victim of her father’s rage and abuse. Eventually, Meridith slips away from reality and like a strong tidal wave reacts to her father’s vile, ugly threats.

The Id is a well-constructed authentic film driven by a powerhouse of emotion and rage. The Id does not offer the typical plot of a horror slasher rather giving viewers a look at the human psyche and a defined look at what mental abuse does to a person over time, especially when dished out by your very own father.

For years now Amanda Wyss has been known as Tina Gray of A Nightmare On Elm Street. In The Id, Amanda has broken away from the typecast of “Freddy’s first victim,” and gave a monumental performance and has reinvented herself as an artist. This film is for sure Amanda’s performance of a lifetime, and I know fans will enjoy it as much as I have.

This past weekend the cast and production team gathered together at the popular genre bookstore Dark Delicacies in beautiful Burbank, California for a Blu-Ray signing, and it was a spectacular scene. The Blu-Ray is quite impressive, offering many extras which are quite out of the ordinary for an independent film, but hey who am I to complain!

Blu-Ray Special Features:

  • Featurette: Needs, Wants & Desires: Behind The Scenes of The Id
  • Audio Commentary with Director/Producer Thommy Hutson and Actress Amanda Wyss
  • Deleted & Alternate Scenes
  • Behind-the-Scenes Footage
  • Audition Clips
  • Photo gallery
  • Trailers

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Actress Amanda Wyss was so kind as to grant an interview with us to speak about her experiences on The Id.

iHorror: The ID is a film charged with deep dark emotion. The emotion behind your performance is very real and powerful, what did you do to prepare for your role as Meridith Lane?

Amanda Wyss: I really tried to put myself in her shoes…Imagining what her life was like. Imagining her history with her father. Feeling it. Taking it in. I knew I had to go all in with Meridith. It’s not a role you can play cautiously or with half measures.

iH:  What did you love most about playing the character, Meridith Lane?

AW: I loved the challenge of finding the truth and humanity in her. I loved stepping into her world and making it mine for a while. Meridith is definitely my role of a lifetime to date.

iH: What was the most difficult scene to shoot in the film? Did you do anything to decompress at the end of a day’s shoot?

AW: The most difficult scenes to shoot were the more physical ones. Just logistically, and for me physically they were taxing. At the end of every day, before going back to the hotel, the director Thommy Hutson and I would go to dinner and talk over the day and go over the next day’s scenes. It was how we decompressed. We were very in sync throughout the entire shoot. It took me many months to really let Meridith go. She was deep in there!

iH: Any fun or crazy situations that you would like to share from your experience with The Id?

AW: The movie was so serious, and we were on such a tight schedule there wasn’t much room for fooling around. The crew was very protective of me and so supportive. They had my back all day every day. They called me Panda.  I look back on the experience with the most profound affection.

iH:  What future projects are you working on?

AW: I have a few movies coming out next year. The Capture, The Watcher of Park Ave, Sleep Study. I am in a Virtual Reality immersive horror short that is currently playing on youtube, apple, and google. And hopefully another collaboration with Thommy Hutson and Sean Stewart.

iH: Are you going to be making any appearances in the near future?

AW: I don’t have anything on the calendar as of now.

The Id Blu-Ray can be purchased by clicking here.

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Check Out The Trailer Below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h96y13weKP8

 

 

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

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‘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 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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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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