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Beyond Fest 2020 Drops Its Drive-In Schedule and Gives COVID-19 a ‘Resilient Middle Finger’

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Times have changed considerably in the wake of the pandemic. Theaters have been in limbo while the Drive-In cinema has regained its crown. Many festivals have opted to shift their scheduled programming from cities and theatrical screenings to virtual screenings online. While everyone and every venue has adjusted to these strange days in their own way, Los Angeles’ genre festival Beyond Fest has decided to keep the theatrical experience alive by bringing Beyond Fest to the drive-in this year!

After a successful Summer of sold out double features curated by Beyond Fest and the American Cinematheque at the Mission Tiki Drive-In Theater in Montclair, California, the organization decided to keep the cinemadness rolling with the annual celebration of all things genre.

 

From the press release:

“We covet the theatrical experience above all and following the overwhelming success of our drive-in program we never hesitated in keeping Beyond Fest a physical experience” said Beyond Fest Co-Founder, Christian Parkes. “We specifically wanted to give COVID-19 a resilient middle finger and provide a safe, communal respite for filmmakers and film fans to celebrate the best genre cinema on the biggest screens possible.”

“In a year that has seen the world turn upside-down, it’s good to see some things never change” Head Programmer Evrim Ersoy added. “Beyond Fest stands tall with an eclectic slate of programming that will challenge audiences and transform the drive-in experience into something never before done.”

Despite the ways the pandemic has caused chaos and uncertainty in the film and theater industries, Beyond Fest has gone above and beyond establishing a mind blowing slate of premieres, double features, triple features, retrospectives, and more for their latest event. Everything from Brandon Cronenberg’s Possessor, to a David Lynch marathon, to the Blumhouse horror comedy Freaky and beyond! The full slate and schedule is listed below for September and October. Tickets are now on-sale now and available through BeyondFest.com via EventBrite.

 

Image via Twitter

 

BEYOND FEST 2020 PROGRAM

 

9.24 SPECIAL EVENT

POSSESSOR UNCUT

West Coast Premiere

Director: Brandon Cronenberg

Country: USA

Runtime: 103 minutes

Year: 2020

+

SECONDS

Repertory Screening

Director: John Frankenheimer

Country: USA

Runtime: 106 minutes

Year: 1966

——————————

 

10.2

THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW

World Premiere

Director: Jim Cummings

Country: USA

Runtime: 83 minutes

Year: 2020

+

THE BURBS

Repertory Screening

Director: Joe Dante

Country: USA

Runtime: 103 minutes

Year: 1989

——————————–

 

10.3

BLUE VELVET

Repertory Screening

Director: David Lynch

Country: USA

Runtime: 120 minutes

Year: 1986

+

MULHOLLAND DRIVE

Repertory Screening

Director: David Lynch

Country: France, USA

Runtime: 147 minutes

Year: 2001

+

LOST HIGHWAY

Repertory Screening

Director: David Lynch

Country:France, USA

Runtime: 134 minutes

Year: 1997

————————————

 

10.4

SAINT MAUD

West Coast Premiere

Director: Rose Glass

Country: UK

Runtime: 84 minutes

Year: 2019

+

MISERY

Repertory Screening

Director: Rob Reiner

Country: USA

Runtime: 107 minutes

Year: 1990

———————————

 

10.5

SYNCHRONIC

West Coast Premiere

Directors: Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson

Country: USA

Runtime: 96 minutes

Year: 2019

+

BAD HAIR

West Coast Premiere

Director: Justin Simien

Country: USA

Runtime: 115 minutes

Year: 2020

———————————–

 

10.6

THE DARK AND THE WICKED

US Premiere

Director: Bryan Bertino

Country: USA

Runtime: 95 minutes

Year: 2020

+

THE RECKONING

US Premiere

Director: Neil Marshall

Country: UK

Runtime: 110 minutes

Year: 2020

——————————

 

10.7

ARCHENEMY

World Premiere

Director: Adam Egypt Mortimer

Country: USA

Runtime: 90 minutes

Year: 2020

+

PSYCHO GOREMAN

International Premiere

Director: Steven Kostanski

Country: Canada

Runtime: 92 minutes

Year: 2020

—————————

 

10.8

FREAKY

World Premiere – Free screening

Director: Christopher Landon

Country: USA

Runtime: 101 minutes

Year: 2020

+

TUCKER & DALE vs EVIL

Repertory Screening

Director: Eli Craig

Country: Canada

Runtime: 89 minutes

Year: 2010

—————————

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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