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Interview: ‘The First Purge’ Director Gerard McMurray

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After directing the first three Purge films, James DeMonaco selected Gerard McMurray to direct The First Purge.  “After writing and directing three Purge films in five years, I was ready to hand over the directing duties,” says DeMonaco.  “Gerard saw the Purge films as I see them—as genre films but also as sociopolitical commentaries about race, and class, and gun control in our country.” 

In this interview, Gerard McMurray talks about the making of the making of The First Purge and the unique influences he brought to the film, which details the evolution of Purge Night.  The First Purge opens in theaters on July 4. 

DG: Gerard, what attracted you to this project?

GM: What attracted me to this particular Purge film was James DeMonaco’s script.  It was terrific and took place inside of an urban neighborhood.  The story felt very personal to me; it felt like home. I instantly identified with the main characters, and I had a vision immediately. Also, The First Purge has a spirit of resistance that I identify with.  My father taught me from an early age to stand up for myself, to fight for what is right, and to protect my community. So, I saw a lot of my own ideals in the main character. The storyline is layered, and I relished the opportunity to make some great political commentary on the present state of our country through a story whose society closely mirrors our own. This is a huge opportunity to do something unique, fresh, and contemporary.

DG: After James DeMonaco directed the first three Purge films, what do you think you brought to this fourth film that’s unique from other directors who might have made this film, including James?

GM: I think I bring a very different cultural tone to the film.  This story takes place on Staten Island and follows the journey of a group of Black and Brown people seeking to survive the First Purge night.  I grew up in the 7th ward of New Orleans, which is a predominantly Black neighborhood. The characters in this Purge and their journey mirror some experiences that I have had in my lifetime. I feel like my life experience, as a Black man in America, gives me a unique perspective on telling an authentic story about what the Purge could look like inside of an inner-city neighborhood.

DG: Gerard, what was the visual strategy that you and your cinematographer discussed prior to the start of filming, and how would you describe the look and tone of the film?

GM: While defining the look and tone of the film with my cinematographer, I aimed to distinguish this film from the other Purge movies, since it is a prequel, not a sequel. Previous discussions with Blumhouse and Platinum Dunes, made it clear to me that they liked the visual look of my first film, Burning Sands, and wanted to do something closer to it tonally, than they did in other Purge movies. 

I explained my vision for this film as an homage to 1990s hood movies.  I grew up as a teenager in the ’90s, so movies like Do the Right Thing, Boyz N the Hood, Menace II Society, New Jack City, King of New York, and other films from that era weighed heavily on my choices for shot selection and overall tone.  I feel like the contrast between ’90’s-style and a modern horror/action adventure/political thriller make for an interesting interpretation of The First Purge and add a new flavor to the film. Aesthetically, it was important for to me to enhance the texture of the environments, and portray the various cultures represented in the movie with beauty and elegance. 

I also wanted the movie to look big, so I chose to do a lot of wide and crane shots, capturing the community while making the action sequences and personal interactions much closer and intimate. I want the audience to feel the dramatic and emotional journeys of the characters, to feel fear with them, as well as love, to get a thrill of the desperation they experienced on Purge night. At moments, we let the camera flow and dance with the characters, to give the audience a feeling of reality and humanity with them showing that, ultimately, the Purge affects everyone—regardless of their skin color and economic status.

DG: How would you describe the mayhem and violence that takes place in this film, compared to the previous films, and what do you think audiences will find most compelling, frightening, about this film?

GM: The previous Purge films all have their own unique personality.  I wanted my take on the Purge to stand out. I wanted to return to that intimacy that we saw in the first movie, while incorporating that feeling of being out in the neighborhood, to show all the gleeful mayhem taking place in the streets.

My goal was to keep the Purge violence feeling as real as possible so the type of mayhem and violence in my film echoes things that I fear, which I think makes this film have its own unique level of scariness and terror for audiences. I wanted my film to have a grit and a realness to it that makes people feel like “Wow, this could happen in real life.” The contrast between seeing these very relatable characters have to deal with the realities of Purge night adds a different dimension of scariness to this film.

DG: Other than being an origin film, a prequel, what do you think sets this film apart from the previous three films?

GM: This film is different because it is set during the first Purge night, so the characters don’t really know what to expect.  In other Purge films, society has become used to the Purge, and a lot of people even enjoy it. But in this film, no one really knows what to do, so you get a different experience.  

Also, this Purge doesn’t spend time in the suburbs, dealing with the experience of middle- and upper-class people.  Here, we are in the inner-city, experiencing it through the eyes of the people. Seeing the film from the perspective of the streets and the fear and terror these citizens have gives this film a different feel.  As Jay-Z says, “The streets is watching.”

DG: What did the Buffalo filming location bring to this film that’s unique from other locations you might have chosen, and how would you describe the setting of the film?

GM: The City of Buffalo was an amazing place to shoot and Mayor Byron Brown and the Buffalo film commission really showed us love.  Having access to every resource the city had to offer was incredibly helpful. Also, I think Buffalo itself lent a certain spirit for this film.  When I imagined this Purge, I knew that it had to feel like an American city. American cities have a certain texture that is hard to replicate. Also, considering the setting for the film is the inner-city, I knew that we had to have a certain aesthetic when it came to the people and the environment.  Buffalo was a great place to shoot because it has a strong Black and Latino presence. I felt like I could make Buffalo feel like Staten Island—based on the texture of the streets, the stores— and that I could cast local actors that looked like the people I grew up with. Buffalo really offered an authenticity that I liked.

DG: How would you describe the human dynamic that exists in this film?

GM: The human dynamic of my Purge lives within its characters and their varied experiences.  I tried to create empathetic characters experiencing the gambit of raw human emotions that the audience can relate to.  I also wanted to explore the innate need for human beings to do violent things, to Purge, and to show people giving into this need to Purge and relishing in the freedom that it brings them.  I think that we take a multi-faceted approach to showing humanity in this film, and the many different ways humanity can manifest itself on Purge night.

DG: What is the name of Marisa Tomei’s character in this film, and how would you describe her role in this film?

GM: Marisa Tomei’s character is named The Architect because she is the psychologist who came up with the whole idea of The Purge.  She feels that Purging is part of humanity, and that if people could give into their desires once a year, it would help alleviate some of the crime and violence that are consuming the country on a daily basis.  In that vein, she is simply a scientist testing out her hypothesis in a controlled scientific experiment with human volunteers.

However, her character is also there to show the human side of those in power, and to show a different perspective of someone working with the NFFA.  I want to thank Marisa for her honest portrayal, and her immense contribution to our film.

DG: What was the biggest challenge you faced in making this film?

GM: I think the biggest challenge in making this film has come down to making it scary.  This film has so many elements, but at its core it is still a horror film. I feel comfortable communicating human emotions to the audience by putting the characters into situations where they experience fear and terror, but those things don’t necessarily translate into a good scare that will get audiences jumping out of their seats.  But having the creative input from James DeMonaco, who created the world of The Purge, and producer Sébastien Lemercier helped me to tease out the tension in those moments, which made them scary. I hope that audiences enjoy what we have put together for them.

 

 

 

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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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