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Exclusive: A Conversation With Headless Producer Kara Erdel

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In our ongoing coverage of indie film Headless – a spin-off of Found (which Elvira called “as horror as horror gets”), here’s a conversation we recently had with Kara Erdel, who is co-producing the film with Found director Scott Schirmer, and happens to be married to Nathan Erdel, who’s writing the script.

Check out the Kickstarter here.

iHorror: As co-producer, describe your role in the making of this film.

Kara Erdel: Co-producing Headless is really exciting for me because I’ll get to have my fingers into a little bit of everything. Right now we’re all in Kickstarter mode, so my main focus is there, trying to get the word out on social media in every way possible, helping maintain a presence and keep people excited. After the campaign is over, Scott and I will be breaking down the screenplay together, line by line, to pick out the things that need to be created, bought, and scheduled; we’ll scout and secure all of the locations – basically, we are the facilitators to get the script off the page and into people’s eyeballs.

I’m a total Type-A personality at heart, so organizing and mobilizing really serves that, but my favorite part by far is being on set. I like being available to everyone – as a problem-solver, a caretaker, a means to keep the train running – a diplomat, a cool head, whatever I need to be at any particular moment. I love being that resource and being able to take care of my people – it’s just unbelievably important, and little things go SO far when you’re deep into a shoot. I like being the one to figure out what those things are. It’s very much about taking care of the family.


iH: How long have you been in the movie-making business? Can you tell me a little bit about your background?

KE: I think it’s safe to say I’ve spent the better part of the last five to ten years in the filmmaking world. I’ve kind of been all over the place – I’ve had a few tiny acting jobs, including a role in the short movie Come, which was directed by Arthur Cullipher, our fearless leader on Headless. It’s weird, though – I spent a long, long time being immersed in indie filmmaking culture without really finding my place, and then I took on my first producing job – on my husband Nathan’s short, Unwelcome, from the summer of 2013 through the spring of 2014. Maybe it sounds cliché, but it was kind of like coming home – I just sort of innately knew what to do, and I really fell in love with producing during that shoot. So I’m collecting as many projects as I can now, trying to build up my name a little so I can keep doing this for as long as long as I can – or at least as long as people will let me boss them around on their sets!

iH: Might we see you appear in Headless?

KE: I suppose anything is possible! I really fell in love with the work that goes on behind the camera, though, and feel the most comfortable there. That said, it WOULD be pretty boss to get all bloodied up and be dead on-screen or something. Who knows!

iH: How has the Kickstarter process been?

KE: Man, you know, it’s been so gratifying – and surprising, and fun, and a little nerve-wracking. I think that’s normal. But people have just gotten behind us and rallied around us in this way that really speaks to the strength and longevity of Found. It’s really cool that people believe in the project and want to help us make it a reality. It’s really a really encouraging sense of community. We are building the Headless Army! At the moment, we’re coming up on the halfway mark for the campaign, and we’re just about halfway funded – so I think we’re in pretty good shape. We are really lucky – and very, very, grateful.

Note: The Kickstarter only has 9 days left as of the time of this writing, and has raised over $10,000 of its $15,000 goal. 

iH: Making movies isn’t your full-time job. Can you tell us a little about what you do? 

KE: My day job is at the Indiana University Biology Department; I’ve been there a little over five years. So I’m not “in the business” at the moment, which of course isn’t optimal, but it’s very convenient to our situation. I’m pretty lucky, though. It’s a great job for a VERY small department, and I have a lot of freedom, which is rare when you work for a university. Definitely can’t complain.

iH: It sounds like you’ve spent a lot of time with everyone involved in Found, but I didn’t see your name in the credits. Did you work on the movie? What is your experience working with everyone involved? 

KE: It’s true – I didn’t work on Found. They offered me a small role very early on (which I think was for a victim in the Headless portion, ironically), but I had some family stuff going on at the time that was keeping me really busy, and I had to turn it down. Obviously, now I wish things had been different!

As far as working with the Forbidden Films guys goes – they are really special. So much talent there. And quite a few of them were a HUGE help to us on Unwelcome – Leya Taylor was actually our Director of Photography, Shane Beasley and Arthur Cullipher did our makeups – in fact, the bulk of that short was shot in Shane’s house. He basically re-modeled his apartment for us and let us tromp in and out of there for eight weeks – that dude is true blue. I would pretty much do anything those guys asked me to do – and it’s really cool to be a part of Bloomington’s little filmmaking community. We’re sort of a skeleton crew – which is really a pretty fitting descriptor when you think about it – but we’re starting to make things happen! It’s really exciting.

For more on Found and Headless, read our interviews with author Todd Rigney (the brain from which both were born), Found director/Headless producer Scott Schirmer, and Headless screenwriter Nathan Erdel. You can also see our write-up of Unwelcome here. Found is due out on DVD this fall.

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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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