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Reality Bends in Travis Milloy’s “Infinity Chamber”

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There’s a lot going on in Travis Milloy’s new sci fi/thriller Infinity Chamber.  The writer/director digs deep into classic themes to weave a tale that is one part Kafka’s The Trial, one part 2001: A Space Odyssey, with a dash of Memento to bring the two together.  Oddly enough, though the themes are present, the film still feels like something we’ve never seen before, and that is the real magic here.

Frank Lerner (Christopher Soren Kelly) wakes up in a futuristic prison cell.  He has no idea how he got there or why he would have been arrested.  His only companion in his cell is an artificial intelligence keeper named Howard who provides food and drink while monitoring Frank to ensure he doesn’t attempt escape.  While imprisoned, Frank slowly begins to remember the time just preceding his arrest.  The problem is that the information changes each time he remembers.

Through Frank’s memories, the viewer slowly learns that his captors are a part of a government regime intent on controlling the masses.  An underground alliance is intent on taking down that regime and it just might be possible that Frank is a member of that resistance.

These themes of government intrusion and violation of privacy are all too relevant today, and this brings Infinity Chamber perhaps a little too close to home.

Christopher Soren Kelly as Frank in Infinity Chamber

Milloy’s script is tightly written, however, and keenly paced.  He almost begs his viewers to solve this mystery offering different paths to the same ending over and over again.  It becomes a game.

We saw this piece of information twice.  Does that mean it’s real?  This scene had sharper color.  Is that significant?

One thing seems certain, however.  The system is breaking down, and Frank’s quest for truth might actually mean the difference between life and death.

Christopher Soren Kelly’s performance as Frank is as strong as I’ve ever seen in this kind of role.  Every emotion, every nuance comes flawlessly through the screen.  We want him to escape.  We want him to survive.  But even more, we want him to find the truth.

Jesse D. Arrow voices the A.I. life support technology, Howard, in the most human way possible.  Howard has a system of protocols he must follow, but Howard also has doubts.  He stumbles and questions his purpose and grows sympathetic to Frank as he searches for the truth.

The film’s other stellar turn comes from Cassandra Clark as Gabby, the barista who served coffee and chatted with Frank just before his arrest.  Gabby is smart and kind providing emotional support throughout Frank’s journey.  She is the heart of this film and she plays the role beautifully.

This film is a must see for fans of a good science fiction thriller wrapped in mystery.  There are no easy answers through most of the film and the final reveal even leaves a question or two for the viewer, but this is one journey that is unquestionably worth taking.

You can pre-order Infinity Chamber on iTunes ahead of its September 26, 2017 release.  For more information on the film you can check out their website or follow them on Facebook!

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The Original ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel Had an Interesting Location

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beetlejuice in Hawaii Movie

Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s sequels to hit movies weren’t as linear as they are today. It was more like “let’s re-do the situation but in a different location.” Remember Speed 2, or National Lampoon’s European Vacation? Even Aliens, as good as it is, follows a lot of the plot points of the original; people stuck on a ship, an android, a little girl in peril instead of a cat. So it makes sense that one of the most popular supernatural comedies of all time, Beetlejuice would follow the same pattern.

In 1991 Tim Burton was interested in doing a sequel to his 1988 original, it was called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian:

“The Deetz family moves to Hawaii to develop a resort. Construction begins, and it’s quickly discovered that the hotel will be sitting on top of an ancient burial ground. Beetlejuice comes in to save the day.”

Burton liked the script but wanted some re-writes so he asked then-hot screenwriter Daniel Waters who had just got done contributing to Heathers. He passed on the opportunity so producer David Geffen offered it to Troop Beverly Hills scribe Pamela Norris to no avail.

Eventually, Warner Bros. asked Kevin Smith to punch up Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, he scoffed at the idea, saying, “Didn’t we say all we needed to say in the first Beetlejuice? Must we go tropical?”

Nine years later the sequel was killed. The studio said Winona Ryder was now too old for the part and an entire re-cast needed to happen. But Burton never gave up, there were a lot of directions he wanted to take his characters, including a Disney crossover.

“We talked about lots of different things,” the director said in Entertainment Weekly. “That was early on when we were going, Beetlejuice and the Haunted MansionBeetlejuice Goes West, whatever. Lots of things came up.”

Fast-forward to 2011 when another script was pitched for a sequel. This time the writer of Burton’s Dark Shadows,  Seth Grahame-Smith was hired and he wanted to make sure the story wasn’t a cash-grabbing remake or reboot. Four years later, in 2015, a script was approved with both Ryder and Keaton saying they would return to their respective roles. In 2017 that script was revamped and then eventually shelved in 2019.

During the time the sequel script was being tossed around in Hollywood, in 2016 an artist named Alex Murillo posted what looked like one-sheets for a Beetlejuice sequel. Although they were fabricated and had no affiliation with Warner Bros. people thought they were real.

Perhaps the virality of the artwork sparked interest in a Beetlejuice sequel once again, and finally, it was confirmed in 2022 Beetlejuice 2 had a green light from a script written by Wednesday writers  Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The star of that series Jenna Ortega signed on to the new movie with filming starting in 2023. It was also confirmed that Danny Elfman would return to do the score.

Burton and Keaton agreed that the new film titled Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice wouldn’t rely on CGI or other other forms of technology. They wanted the film to feel “handmade.” The film wrapped in November 2023.

It’s been over three decades to come up with a sequel to Beetlejuice. Hopefully, since they said aloha to Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian there has been enough time and creativity to ensure Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will not only honor the characters, but fans of the original.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will open theatrically on September 6.

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Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel

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Maybe it’s because The Exorcist just celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, or maybe it’s because aging Academy Award-winning actors aren’t too proud to take on obscure roles, but Russell Crowe is visiting the Devil once again in yet another possession film. And it’s not related to his last one, The Pope’s Exorcist.

According to Collider, the film titled The Exorcism was originally going to be released under the name The Georgetown Project. Rights for its North American release were once in the hands of Miramax but then went to Vertical Entertainment. It will release on June 7 in theaters then head over to Shudder for subscribers.

Crowe will also star in this year’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter which is set to drop in theaters on August 30.

As for The Exorcism, Collider provides us with what it’s about:

“The film centers around actor Anthony Miller (Crowe), whose troubles come to the forefront as he shoots a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) has to figure out whether he’s lapsing into his past addictions, or if something even more horrific is occurring. “

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New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie

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Deadpool & Wolverine might be the buddy movie of the decade. The two heterodox superheroes are back in the latest trailer for the summer blockbuster, this time with more f-bombs than a gangster film.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Movie Trailer

This time the focus is on Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman. The adamantium-infused X-Man is having a bit of a pity party when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) arrives on the scene who then tries to convince him to team up for selfish reasons. The result is a profanity-filled trailer with a Strange surprise at the end.

Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It comes out on July 26. Here is the latest trailer, and we suggest if you are at work and your space isn’t private, you might want to put in headphones.

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