Connect with us

News

Horror Pride Month: Indie Renaissance Man Shreco Bakari

Published

on

Shreco Bakari

Shreco Bakari is one of those filmmakers that’s going places, not because he was born into privilege or has had a lot handed to him. No, it’s because like so many in the independent film world, he has a drive to create and do so in a way that pushes boundaries.

I spoke to the out gay filmmaker who is also a fourth grade teacher as part of our Horror Pride Month series, and like so many, it was important to start at the beginning.

“I became a horror fan when I was around five years old,” he told me. “My grandparents got me into it sort of indirectly. My first horror film I ever watched was Pet Sematary and it scared the hell out of me. From there, I was frightened but I was intrigued. Like, how do they make this scary? I want to watch something else scarier.”

Eventually he did, and he, like many others, has come to blame the miniseries based on Stephen King’s IT for his coulrophobia. He describes seeing the film as being traumatic, but also admits the trauma did not keep him from seeking out more.

At one point, he recalls hearing about the film Parents, and when his mother forbade him from watching it, he decided to sneak around and see it anyway.

“When I saw it, I was freaked out by it and I wouldn’t even look at my parents,” Bakari recalls laughing. “So my mom finally comes in my room and asks me what’s wrong and I told her I watched it and she yells ‘I told you not to watch that damn movie!'”

The 27 year old grew up in the 90s but it was 80s slashers that ultimately called to him and he points to the work of Wes Craven and Tobe Hooper saying he wasn’t as interested in what was new while he was growing up. He was more interested in how we got to where we were.

“The slasher brings more terror to me,” he admitted. “Someone behind a mask could be anyone. Your mom, your dad, your brother or sister. It could be anyone you know! Leatherface scared me because parts of it were supposedly based on true events. I can hear a chainsaw rev up in a haunted house and I will flip out!”

A lot of us love horror movies, but it takes something more to decide to make them, and Bakari recalls that the inspiration came after a series of rejected auditions following his 2014 stint on MTV’s Million Dollar Maze Runner.

The jobs weren’t happening and he could not figure out why. Feedback was basically non-existent and his frustration grew to the breaking point when the thought finally occurred to him that he should make his own movies.

“Keep in mind I didn’t know shit about making movies,” he said. “Cameras, writing, how to produce, all of that was a new idea to me, but it was like something snapped inside me. I remember what a theater teacher told us in school. If you’re not getting the opportunities you think you deserve, then maybe you should create your own opportunities.”

And that’s exactly what he did. Over the course of three years, he founded Foreman Empire Productions and began writing and producing his own work. By 2018, he had finished his first feature, The Ominous Project and had submitted it to the Sunshine City Film Festival in St. Petersburg, Florida.

“I will never forget getting that email on Christmas Day,” Bakari said. “It said we were one of three U.S. based feature films selected and the only horror film selected for the festival. We went to festival and received their Audience Choice Award and they told us we were the first horror film to do that. It was crazy!”

The Ominous Project is continuing its festival run and has currently been accepted into seven festivals with more on the way, but Bakari isn’t one to sit on his laurels so to speak. He’s already planning new projects and for him, diversity and inclusion isn’t an option, it’s a necessity.

In fact, he’s so committed to bringing in new voices and new experiences to the films that he creates that he’s actually the only man on staff at his production company, a decision for which he’s received no end of scrutiny and grief from outsiders.

“A lot of people think it was a stupid decision, but that’s on them. Diversity is so important right now in the entertainment industry because a lot of queer people, women, and people of color don’t get the representation they deserve,” he explained. “Until diversity is at the forefront, they deserve every opportunity. A lot of people don’t agree, but you’re crazy if you think people are going to sit around and applaud every decision you make and especially when you’re trying to do something different.”

From some men, this might sound like lip service, but one needs to do is spend a half hour chatting with Shreco Bakari to know that he believes in what he’s saying and doing.

It’s exactly this kind of passion that will spur him forward because, outside of watching the movies he saw and loved as a child, Bakari simply does not believe in looking back.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

Published

on

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

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

Published

on

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.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

Published

on

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.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Embed Gif with Clickable Title