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Fantastic Fest 2019: ‘After Midnight’ Effectively Combines a Creature Feature with A lot of Heart

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After Midnight

There is something utterly gripping about isolation horror. Those features that take their main character and place them in a solitary, or mostly solitary, location and then allow us to get to know them intimately while much conflict is sent their way. After Midnight fits very nicely into that isolation horror wheelhouse while simultaneously opening the floodgates on something warm, relatable and absorbing.

Writer-Director Jeremy Gardner, (The Battery) returns with a deconstruction of the most significant parts of a relationship with an almost Before Sunset trilogy vibe, rooted in horror sensibilities.

Speaking specifically to its approach to horror, there are a few scenes that are wildly hair-raising. Keeping the camera ever moving while focusing on the creature elements makes your heart pound between the moments of being heartfelt. Co-director, Christian Stella also handles the cinematography in After Midnight and really works some innocuous bits of sorcery in that department when it comes to conveying both the visceral and stillness. Those moments are furthered by well-placed needle drops that audibly spell out intent in their respectable scenes.

After Midnight (previously titled, Something Else) circles around Hank (Jeremy Gardner) following a separation from his girlfriend Abby (Brea Grant), who left a note and vanished from Hanks life. While attempting to cope by way of drinking copious amounts of alcohol, Hank begins to get nightly visitations from what he believes is a full fledged monster. As he attempts to trap and kill the monster, and his sanity begins to dissolve, he starts to look to his past with Abby to figure out where things went wrong in order to try to save any love the two have left.

I love a good love story and I love a good monster movie. So, guess what? This movie really had me. Similar to 2014’s Spring, this film isn’t afraid to subvert genre bending alchemy out of romance and the creature faire. Not surprising that Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, the team behind Spring and The Endless are both onboard as producers on this one.

Gardner effectively makes awkward timing work from his writing to the characters he plays there is something uniquely outside by way of cadence and something that makes his films easy to identify. Gardner continues his particular brand of natural charm that instills in the audience a very direct requirement of wanting to grab a beer and to chat with the dude.

The writing here is fantastic especially when it comes to scenes of dialogue that aren’t afraid to hold the camera on its subjects, isn’t afraid to let its character’s blossom and isn’t afraid of the romantic substance to pause the horror. It’s a film that would have worked without the otherworldly bits… but is ultimately made completely exceptional by their addition.

After Midnight is Charles Bukowski by way of a harrowing creature feature, all while maintaining a sweet streak. Fans of The Battery will be please to see Gardner continuing his richly innovative approach to indie film, and will be pleasantly surprised with the big heart and connective tissue that ties this films genres and characters together.

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Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

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The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

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lizzie borden house

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

Inside the Lizzie Borden House

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

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’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

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28 years later

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.

28 Days Later

The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.

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