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Review: ‘Island Zero’ is Nostalgic Sci-Fi/Horror Fun

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What is it about little islands off the coast of Maine? They just seem to breed scary stories, andĀ Island Zero, the new film from director Josh Gerritsen is the latest in a long and distinguished line.

Something is wrong in the small fishing village where the film is set. The fish have vanished and the lobster traps are coming up empty.

No one knows why, and at first they consider it just an off season, if you will. But when people begin to disappear into the night, mutilated corpses begin washing up on shore, and a silent predator seems to move among them, the villagers soon begin to realize that going broke is the least of their worries.

Gerritsen assembled a talented cast for his directorial debut mixing studio actors with local actors and crew, the film radiates authenticity as the residents of the island and the interloping visitors struggle to find common ground.

Laila Robins plays Maggie, the village’s seasonal doctor who left the military when she could no longer stomach the violence, with quiet confidence. This is a woman who knows how to handle herself in the most intense of situations, whether that situation is squaring off with chattering Ruth (played to the hilt by Anabel Graetz) in her office or taking aim at the vicious creatures who are hunting them.

Laila Robins as Maggie in Island Zero

Then there’s Adam Wade McLaughlin who plays a scientist named Sam who studies sudden extinction scenarios and who believes an apex predator of some sort is behind not only the disappearance of sea life but also the attacks on the humans on the island. Sam lost his first wife at sea, and McLaughlin brings every ounce of emotional turmoil he can muster to the role.

Also of note is Matthew Wilkas in the role of Titus, a visiting novelist whose motives, of course, may not be as simple as writing a new bestseller. Wilkas is deliciously ambiguous in the role, never giving away one hint about his identity off-island that he doesn’t mean to.

Now, this is a creature feature, after all, and it would be remiss not to bring up the brilliance of their mechanics or the way in which Gerritsen and his crew deftly bring them to life, but that is all I’ll say about that. It’s best to experienceĀ Island Zero un-spoiled by too much information in that area. Just know that they are frighteningly efficient killers and some of the most unique we’ve seen in quite some time.

Cinematographer Mark Farney skillfully makes you feel the cold in every wintry blue and white and dread in the deep shadows created by firelight.

As a whole,Ā Island Zero works because on a basic level, it is a story about people. Certainly there are monsters and enough gore to satiate the appetite of gorehound viewers, but as with every story of its kind, the island can be saved only when islander and outsider learn to work together.

That’s why these stories are so effective, and Gerritsen ultimately proves that he has what it takes to tell this kind of story which bodes well for whatever his next project may be.

Island Zero will be available on VOD on May 15, 2018. Check out the trailer below!

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Brad DourifĀ Says He’s Retiring Except For One Important Role

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Brad Dourif has been doing movies for nearly 50 years. Now it seems he is walking away from the industry at 74 to enjoy his golden years. Except, there is a caveat.

Recently, digital entertainment publication JoBlo’s Tyler Nichols talked to some of the Chucky television series cast members. During the interview, Dourif made an announcement.

“Dourif said that heā€™s retired from acting,” says Nichols. “The only reason he came back for the show was because of his daughter Fiona and he considers Chucky creator Don Mancini to be family. But for non-Chucky stuff, he considers himself retired.”

Dourif has voiced the possessed doll since 1988 (minus the 2019 reboot). The original movie “Child’s Play” has become such a cult classic it’s at the top of some people’s best chillers of all time. Chucky himself is ingrained in pop culture history much like Frankenstein or Jason Voorhees.

While Dourif may be known for his famous voiceover, he is also an Oscar-nominated actor for his part in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Another famous horror role is The Gemini Killer in William Peter Blatty’s Exorcist III. And who can forget Betazoid Lon SuderĀ in Star Trek: Voyager?

The good news is that Don Mancini is already pitching a concept for season four of Chucky which might also include a feature-length movie with a series tie-in. So, Although Dourif says he is retiring from the industry, ironically he is Chucky’s friend till the end.

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Editorial

7 Great ‘Scream’ Fan Films & Shorts Worth a Watch

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The Scream franchise is such an iconic series, that many budding filmmakers take inspiration from it and make their own sequels or, at least, build upon the original universe created by screenwriter Kevin Williamson. YouTube is the perfect medium to showcase these talents (and budgets) with fan-made homages with their own personal twists.

The great thing about Ghostface is that he can appear anywhere, in any town, he just needs the signature mask, knife, and unhinged motive. Thanks to Fair Use laws it’s possible to expand upon Wes Craven’s creation by simply getting a group of young adults together and killing them off one by one. Oh, and don’t forget the twist. You’ll notice that Roger Jackson’s famous Ghostface voice is uncanny valley, but you get the gist.

We have gathered five fan films/shorts related to Scream that we thought were pretty good. Although they can’t possibly match the beats of a $33 million blockbuster, they get by on what they have. But who needs money? If you’re talented and motivated anything is possible as proven by these filmmakers who are well on their way to the big leagues.

Take a look at the below films and let us know what you think. And while you’re at it, leave these young filmmakers a thumbs up, or leave them a comment to encourage them to create more films. Besides, where else are you going to see Ghostface vs. a Katana all set to a hip-hop soundtrack?

Scream Live (2023)

Scream Live

Ghostface (2021)

Ghostface

Ghost Face (2023)

Ghost Face

Don’t Scream (2022)

Don’t Scream

Scream: A Fan Film (2023)

Scream: A Fan Film

The Scream (2023)

The Scream

A Scream Fan Film (2023)

A Scream Fan Film
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Another Creepy Spider Movie Hits Shudder This Month

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Good spider films are a theme this year. First, we had Sting and then there was Infested. The former is still in theaters and the latter is coming to Shudder starting April 26.

Infested has been getting some good reviews. People are saying that it’s not only a great creature feature but also a social commentary on racism in France.

According to IMDb: Writer/directorĀ SĆ©bastien VanicekĀ was looking for ideas around the discrimination faced by black and Arab-looking people in France, and that led him to spiders, which are rarely welcome in homes; whenever they’re spotted, they’re swatted. As everyone in the story (people and spiders) is treated like vermin by society, the title came to him naturally.

Shudder has become the gold standard for streaming horror content. Since 2016, the service has been offering fans an expansive library of genre movies. in 2017, they began to stream exclusive content.

Since then Shudder has become a powerhouse in the film festival circuit, buying distribution rights to movies, or just producing some of their own. Just like Netflix, they give a film a short theatrical run before adding it to their library exclusively for subscribers.

Late Night With the Devil is a great example. It was released theatrically on March 22 and will begin streaming on the platform starting April 19.

While not getting the same buzz as Late Night, Infested is a festival favorite and many have said if you suffer from arachnophobia, you might want to take heed before watching it.

Infested

According to the synopsis, our main character, Kalib is turning 30 and dealing with some family issues. “Heā€™s fighting with his sister over an inheritance and has cut ties with his best friend. Fascinated by exotic animals, he finds a venomous spider in a shop and brings it back to his apartment. It only takes a moment for the spider to escape and reproduce, turning the whole building into a dreadful web trap. The only option for Kaleb and his friends is to find a way out and survive.”

The film will be available to watch on Shudder starting April 26.

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