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INTERVIEW: Brandon Christensen, Dir. of ‘Z’ Now Streaming & on DVD

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Jett Klyne & Keegan Connor Tracy in "Z"

Director Brandon Christensen’s latest movie Z was just recently released On Demand, DVD, and Blu-Ray. It’s been streaming on Shudder for a while.

His previous movie Still/Born was also on Shudder and became a hit among subscribers. He recently talked to iHorror about Z, the psychology behind it, and working with leading lady Keegan Connor Tracy.

Brandon Christensen

iHorror: I watched Z. It’s currently playing on Shudder and it was just released on VOD, DVD and Blue-ray. Shudder seems to be rising to the top for streaming horror movies. What do you think of having your film be an “original” and what do you think of the platform overall?

Brandon Christensen: “I’m a huge fan of Shudder. They released my first film Still/Born as well. It kinda took on a life of its own because they really understood the film and they were able to push it out and market it properly which we really didn’t get with our regular release.

I just think that they are legit horror fans. You know they are a super-small company, but they have Sam Zimmerman who is sort of curating everything for them and he does a great job of finding hidden treasure that are out there and finding cult favorites and stuff like that to populate their catalog. They just have an incredible passion for horror and it shows in how vast a varied their lineup is. I’ve been able to work with them closely as they were getting our films and it’s always great.

They’re very fair to filmmakers. They treat them with respect, and they like to collaborate on a lot of stuff. I’m a big Shudder fan.”

Do they produce films?

“They do a little bit, yeah.”

When you read Colin’s screenplay for Z, what stood out for you in it?

“Well, Z was actually something that my wife and I wrote the very first draft of. Colin actually came on for the second draft and he and I wrote that together.

 Z and Still/Born kind of explore mental illness in a way. In both, characters suffer from bouts of anxiety. Were those themes that you wanted to deeply explore or am I reading too much into it?

“No, I think in Still/Born especially we had looked into different mental illnesses that we could use to kind of balance the demon with. And I think in Z it’s a very similar thing. The film talks about nature versus nurture a lot and sort of what is inherited through your bloodline and what is passed on just by, you know, they way you raised your kids.

So we definitely have this link in the family (in the movie) where it seems like the father had a terrible situation happening with Beth when she was a kid now that Beth is his age she’s having a terrible time with her kid.

You can sort of slap a supernatural label on it and go ‘oh no it’s Z.’ But I think if you look a little bit deeper it kind of talks a little bit about what we are doing to our own kids and how that’s going to affect them when they’re older.”

Keegan Connor Tracy in “Z”

Yeah, that came through for me. Your main character Beth, played by Keegan Connor Tracy, finds a way to sort of cure herself of the demons. Keegan has a degree in psychology I read. Did she have any input with you on the movie and that aspect of the story?

“Yeah definitely. She definitely brought a lot to the table there. She had a lot of suggestions for the scripts and stuff that we were able to implement. And she did a ton of work on the character—she was building it up for herself. She had a big binder of notes and things like that. She would refer to them in conversations. I think her degree definitely helped there.”

It’s almost like two movies in one. The first half focuses on the child then the twist and then the second half deals with personal trauma.

On another note, tell me this Brandon, did you mean to throw a few shout-outs to Steven Spielberg in the movie?

“I can’t think of any. You know what they were?”

First, there is an electronic toy scene and they seem to come alive on their own. Then there’s a shot with a television and static like in Poltergeist, and there is an alphabet learning toy in Z similar to the Speak & Spell E.T. used to phone home.

But, what else are you working on? Are you working on anything we can look forward to in the near future?

“I’ve got a film that I’m shooting in October. It’s a little bit different than Z and Still/Born. There’s no moms involved, there’s no kids involved thankfully. So it’s a really small cast; a really small production.

It’s gonna be totally different. There’s no supernatural entities or anything like that which is really exciting. The monsters are the people in film. So it’s going to be really fun to play with those characters.

But, going back to your question about Spielberg real quick, I think that—I think Spielberg has kind of imprinted so many touchstones on filmmakers. I think it’s probably hard not to be influenced by him. You just learn so much from watching his work through osmosis that it’s probably not a surprise that things that he has created are still kind of making their way through the matrix, so to speak.”

I loved Z. I’m glad it’s on Shudder and other mediums now. I’m glad more people are getting to see it and I look forward to your next film. Do you shoot mainly in Canada?

“My first two films I did. But this next one I’m actually shooting in the states. I live in Vegas and we’re shooting just outside of Vegas in Charleston, it’s kind of a mountainy area: it’s really pretty.”

Well, thank you, Brandon, talk to you soon.

“You too. Bye.”

Z is now available on VOD, Digital HD, DVD and Blu-ray.

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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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