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Trent Haaga’s “68 Kill” is One Hell of a Ride
Have ever had one of those days where everything seemed to go wrong? You had a flat tire. Your boss singled you out for another new project, even though you haven’t finished the last two he threw on your desk. Your kid got sick and threw up the Beefaroni he had at lunch all over his teacher and now you’ve got to go get him. The obstacles pile up and you’re certain there is no way this day could get any worse. Trent Haaga wants you to know that it can.
68 Kill, the writer/director’s latest project produced by Snowfort Pictures and AMP International and distributed by IFC Midnight, focuses on Chip (Matthew Gray Gubler of “Criminal Minds”), a regular Joe with a regular job and a not so regular girlfriend. In fact, Liza (AnnaLynne McCord of “The Night Shift”) is just a little bit psychotic…maybe more than a little…this woman is crazy as a bag of rabid ferrets. While Chip works cleaning our septic systems, Liza supplements their income by spending time with her sugar daddy, When Liza discovers said sugar daddy has $68,000 in cash in his safe, she decides it’s the answer to all of their problems. Naturally, they just need to steal it.
Chip reluctantly agrees to help her after her repeated promises that no one would get hurt. What’s could possibly go wrong, right?
The answer is everything. Everything can go wrong, and people (mostly Chip) are going to get hurt.
Chip spends the remainder of his night discovering just how bad things can get as he tangles with one group of psychotics after another. And whether it’s Liza’s brother, who has a thing for chopping up women’s bodies in his own snuff films, or a group of drug fueled miscreants who decide to teach him a lesson, beautiful women seem to always be involved.
Haaga’s script, based on the pulp novel by Bryan Smith, keeps the violence at eleven from start to finish, and keeps the film walking the tightrope between grindhouse exploitation and a modern day comedy of errors.
This balancing act could not have worked without Gubler in the role of Chip, however. Not only do we sympathize as Chip is put through the wringer but we root for him as his reactions evolve from shocked victim to determined, if bumbling, survivor, and that’s entirely down to Gubler’s embodiment of the role. We don’t often see a script flipped this way. By the end of the film, when he’s pissing blood and making a last ditch escape, I was rooting for him, out loud, to drive. Get out of there! JUST DRIVE!
What I found most interesting about 68 Kill, however, is that unlike any other film of its kind, Chip is the victimized half of his relationship. All too often, this character would have been female, and this twist on the norm is interesting, especially in my own reactions to it. There was a feeling, in the beginning, of the film being off kilter. As the realization of what brought on that feeling set in, it was time to sit back and think about it, which was not something I expected from a movie like this.
In the end, I realized that it was not only a welcome change to see these roles reversed, but it also highlights the fact that all too often men are silent victims in abusive relationships which is a conversation we don’t have nearly enough in this country.
68 Kill is a fun, adrenaline-soaked thrill ride for fans who like a dose of dark comedy with their violence. The characters are over the top, the violence is raw and unflinching, and the laughs are plentiful. The film releases August 4, 2017. Check out the trailer below and don’t miss 68 Kill on IFC Midnight.
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Movies
First Look: On Set of ‘Welcome to Derry’ & Interview with Andy Muschietti
Rising from the sewers, drag performer and horror movie enthusiast The Real Elvirus took her fans behind the scenes of the MAX series Welcome to Derry in an exclusive hot-set tour. The show is scheduled to release sometime in 2025, but a firm date has not been set.
Filming is taking place in Canada in Port Hope, a stand-in for the fictional New England town of Derry located within the Stephen King universe. The sleepy location has been transformed into a township from the 1960s.
Welcome to Derry is the prequel series to director Andrew Muschietti’s two-part adaptation of King’s It. The series is interesting in that it’s not only about It, but all the people who live in Derry — which includes some iconic characters from the King ouvre.
Elvirus, dressed as Pennywise, tours the hot set, careful not to reveal any spoilers, and speaks with Muschietti himself, who reveals exactly how to pronounce his name: Moose-Key-etti.
The comical drag queen was given an all-access pass to the location and uses that privilege to explore props, facades and interview crew members. It’s also revealed that a second season is already greenlit.
Take a look below and let us know what you think. And are you looking forward to the MAX series Welcome to Derry?
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News
New Trailer For This Year’s Nauseating ‘In a Violent Nature’ Drops
We recently ran a story about how one audience member who watched In a Violent Nature became sick and puked. That tracks, especially if you read the reviews after its premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival where one critic from USA Today said it had “The gnarliest kills I’ve ever seen.”
What makes this slasher unique is that it’s mostly viewed from the killer’s perspective which may be a factor in why one audience member tossed their cookies during a recent screening at Chicago Critics Film Fest.
Those of you with strong stomachs can watch the movie upon its limited release in theaters on May 31. Those who want to be closer to their own john can wait until it releases on Shudder sometime after.
For now, take a look at the newest trailer below:
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News
James McAvoy Leads a Stellar Cast in the New Psychological Thriller “Control”
James McAvoy is back in action, this time in the psychological thriller “Control”. Known for his ability to elevate any film, McAvoy’s latest role promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Production is now underway, a joint effort between Studiocanal and The Picture Company, with filming taking place in Berlin at Studio Babelsberg.
“Control” is inspired by a podcast by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie and features McAvoy as Doctor Conway, a man who wakes up one day to the sound of a voice that begins to command him with chilling demands. The voice challenges his grip on reality, pushing him towards extreme actions. Julianne Moore joins McAvoy, playing a key, enigmatic character in Conway’s story.
The ensemble cast also includes talented actors such as Sarah Bolger, Nick Mohammed, Jenna Coleman, Rudi Dharmalingam, Kyle Soller, August Diehl, and Martina Gedeck. They’re directed by Robert Schwentke, known for the action-comedy “Red,” who brings his distinctive style to this thriller.
Besides “Control,” McAvoy fans can catch him in the horror remake “Speak No Evil,” set for a September 13 release. The film, also featuring Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy, follows an American family whose dream holiday turns into a nightmare.
With James McAvoy in a leading role, “Control” is poised to be a standout thriller. Its intriguing premise, coupled with a stellar cast, makes it one to keep on your radar.
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