Connect with us

News

Review: ‘The Haunting of Sharon Tate’ Makes a Bold Choice

Published

on

The Haunting of Sharon Tate

It’s a bold move to create a film about a real-life murder with a new concept based on a curious interview comment, but I guess that makes Daniel Farrands a bold man.

The Haunting of Sharon Tate – written and directed by Farrands – begins with a recreation of an interview between Sharon Tate and Fate magazine in which she recalls a dream she had (a premonition?) that sounds eerily similar to the circumstances of her own murder.

From there, the film follows the very pregnant Tate (as played by Hilary Duff of Lizzie McGuire fame) in the days leading up to the Manson Family murders. She senses that there’s something amiss – there are several bits of dialogue about fate, changing fate, and being trapped by fate – and things gradually get a little creepy around the house. Ghostly figures, odd sounds, hallucinations, the whole nine yards.

Unfortunately, the “haunting” elements feel – at times – tacked-on for the sake of the scare. The most effective scenes generate tension with some genuine horror-movie moments, but their conclusion just makes that build-up fall flat. As for the story itself, the script takes some extreme creative license with the progression of events.

via Saban Films

The concept for the film is – as mentioned – a bold move, but it’s a creative way to approach a story we’re all familiar with. Is it in poor taste? Arguably, yes. There’s one particular scene about halfway through the film that feels more than a shade exploitative. But, regardless, The Haunting of Sharon Tate dives right in and refuses to look back.

From a technical standpoint, the film has an appropriately dreamy quality to it. Color filters amplify every radiant tone, and regular close-ups feel like that single-point focus that often happens in dreams. Bits of dialogue that were re-done in post-production sound isolated and unnatural — which is occasionally distracting — but it really adds to that dreamlike aura of the film. It’s easy to get lost in the unreality of it all.

via Saban Films

The film really meditates on the aforementioned theme of fate and often questions Tate’s credibility as a reliable narrator. She’s haunted by vivid nightmares and becomes increasingly paranoid about the sincerity and support of those around her. Her friends — who believe that she’s just overstressed — wave off her outbursts and concerns. The very pregnant Tate is soothed, dismissed, and placated; it’s reminiscent of the gaslighting in Rosemary’s Baby, but the effect isn’t quite the same.

There’s an earnest effort from the actors — including Duff, who clearly cares about her character –- but their interactions come off as a bit stilted. Perhaps it’s the ADR, or perhaps it’s the dialogue, but their performances sometimes feel like they’re not all acting in the same movie.

Wisely, Farrands trusts in his audience’s knowledge of the case and uses it to smooth out (some) heavy-handed exposition. He’ll allude to facts of the case (for example, that Manson believed the home was still inhabited by a record producer, Terry Melcher, who he was trying to contact), but the fictional side takes a large, heavy-handed jump, forcing you to drop the details and just go on this journey with them. 

The effect is a curious one. The Haunting of Sharon Tate unapologetically takes the audience on a wild ride that puts a spin on a horrific and well-known real-world event.  It’s a film that takes bold liberties, injecting its own philosophical twist into the mix. What you have to decide — as an audience — is if this concept works for you.

The Haunting of Sharon Tate is written and directed by Daniel Farrands (The Amityville Murders, Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy), and stars Hilary Duff (Younger, Lizzie McGuire), Jonathan Bennett (Awkward, Mean Girls), and Lydia Hearst (Z Nation, South of Hell, #Horror).
You can see it i
n theaters and on demand as of April 5, 2019.

via Saban Films

'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