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Writer/Director Randy Gonzalez Talks Real Fear in His Horror/Comedy Short ‘Amigos’

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Randy Gonzalez is sitting on a gold mine. Actually, it’s a short film called Amigos, but I’m not sure that in the long run “gold mine” wouldn’t be a more accurate term.

The horror comedy short has only just begun its festival run, but it’s already generating big buzz for its timely subject matter, intense performances, and darkly comedic moments.

In the film, two Latino men (Gonzalez and his co-director Gino Vento) find themselves chained to a radiator by a white guy who claims he’s trying to save them. Little do they know that he really is, and their worst nightmare is just outside the door…

No I’m not going to tell you what happens, of course. I will say, however, that Amigos looks deep into the issues of racism in America and poses a terrifying possibly not-too-distant future.

I had the good fortune of not only meeting but speaking on a panel with Gonzalez at this year’s Nightmares Film Festival in Columbus, Ohio, and he agreed to sit down and chat with me about his journey and how the film came to be.

“I’ve known Gino [Vento] for a long time,” he explained. “We were in a hardcore punk band and toured the world together before we ever decided to try acting. We went to acting classes and started getting booked at auditions, and finally, I was like ‘We should try directing and making our own movie.’ It was just the next step.”

They decided a short film would work best for their first solo project and they sat down to hammer out a concept that they thought would work when they hit on something they both knew all too well.

“We were trying to figure out why two guys could be trapped in this apartment,” Gonzalez said. “Why would they be there? What could be so scary? And I said, ‘Well, racism is terrifying,’ and we knew exactly where we were going from there.”

The film tackles racism and its fallout without flinching. There are monsters in Amigos but the monsters are all-too-human, and like so many horror comedies the laughter is born out of very real tension.

Horror has always tapped into societal fears, reaching into the dark parts of the collective unconscious and creating pathways for audiences to purge their anxieties, and Gonzalez and Vento navigate this landscape beautifully.

“With everything that’s going on right now and with the person who is in office at the moment, there just seems to be this hate coming off people right now,” he said. “They see someone in office promoting that kind of vibe to people in marginalized communities, and they think they can do it, too.”

It’s a hard reality for many to face, but no one feels it more keenly than members of those marginalized communities right now which is why Gonzalez and Vento have been so excited about audience reception for the film.

“That’s the best feeling as a first time filmmaker,” Gonzalez pointed. “I’ve seen it with two audiences now and they laughed and cheered at the same parts both times. And hearing the applause at the end? That’s just awesome.”

Amigos is currently making the rounds on the film festival circuit so there’s a good chance that it will be playing near you soon! Check out the trailer below.

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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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