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JT Mollner’s Outlaws And Angels Brings The Horror Element To The Frontier
Written by Patti Pauley
If you’re a resident of Las Vegas, around the Halloween season you’ve probably explored the many haunts the city has to offer. And chances are you’ve stumbled into JT Mollner’s family owned Trilogy Of Terror that rests in a desolate desert lot off the 215. Tourists may be easily fooled by so-called “haunts” that lay near conveniently near the infamous Las Vegas Strip, but locals (like myself) know where to go to get a GOOD scare, and that my friends is Freakling Bros. all the way. However, Master of fright Mollner doesn’t just dabble in Halloween haunts. He’s also an accredited filmmaker with such short films under his belt as, The Red Room, Flowers In December (starring horror icon Dee Wallace), and now a full-length western-horror-thriller- Outlaws and Angels.
Francesca Eastwood as Flo Tilden
Before my viewing of the Sundance Festival hit, I was already concerned about how I was going into it regarding my feelings about “westerns” in general. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the genre. It’s honestly just not my type of my movie, and there’s very few I can actually swallow. However beyond that, I really didn’t know a WHOLE lot about it, other than it was made by my favorite haunt entrepreneur; and going in blind is exactly how you want to approach this film. So I want to avoid a ton of plot details for future viewers, as I put this this into the same audience-mindset category as 10 Cloverfield Lane. The less you know, the more you’re going to love and appreciate all the WTFs this movie has in store.
The film is set in the wild days of the Frontier in the late 1800s, where you were either a good law-abiding Christian that works night and day, or an outlaw on the run. Was there really ever an in-between in those days? As I sat down with my bowl of popcorn and pushed the play button, I almost choked on a kernel in a seriously epic WTF moment within the first two minutes of this film. That’s when I knew this wasn’t some ordinary Western thriller. This was a film that qualifies for the Western-Horror sub-genre. Much like last year’s Bone Tomahawk, this film has a lot of gore and scenes that WILL make you squeamish. Commonly, the use of gore is a substitute for good storytelling. However, Outlaws and Angels doesn’t overcompensate for anything here. The balance of a unique plot, a haunting score behind it, and beautiful visuals through the camera lens make this sub-genre Horror-Western a piece of art that any true lover of movies will absolutely appreciate in all its glory.
This film kept me glued to the screen from start to finish with plenty of plot twists to keep me interested in how things were going to play out with the characters involved. Without spoiling TOO much, the story revolves around a home-invasion led by outlaw on the run Henry played by Chad Michael Murray (House Of Wax) and his obedient band of thugs who force their way into the town preacher’s (Ben Bowder) home, where he resides with his wife (Teri Polo) and two daughters (Francesca Eastwood- daughter of infamous Clint Eastwood, and Madison Beaty). Luke Wilson (Old School) acts as Josiah, a bounty hunter on the trail of Henry and his gang along with his own set of comrades which includes Steven Michael Quezada (Breaking Bad). The home-invasion plot fuels a back-story for one unlikely character and births a new beginning of merciless revenge against those who really have it coming. It all comes together quite nicely when all the pieces of the puzzle finally fit and ending on a satisfying note for me as a viewer.
Now, I can’t leave this review without talking about Chad Michael Murray for a split-hair second. I was absolutely blown away by the former One Tree Hill star’s acting chops regarding his gritty role as Henry. He is a joy to watch as a scumbag outlaw (with a few moral exceptions), not overly dramatic as some actors tend to overdo the whole western accent going full John Wayne when it isn’t necessary. It felt more like Kurt Russell was his spirit animal. And I have to acknowledge it was a breath of fresh air to see him in a role one normally wouldn’t think to see him in.
You can currently rent or buy Outlaws and Angels over at Amazon by clicking here, and I would urge any lovers of Western, psychological thrillers, or gore-hounds to immediately give this film a look-see.
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Movies
Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed
The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.
Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.
The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.
Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”
Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.
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News
Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween
Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.
The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.
“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.
Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.
The prize also includes:
An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings
A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear
A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room
A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course
The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II
Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two
“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”
Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.
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Movies
’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power
Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.
Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.
Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.
There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.
The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.
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