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[Interview] SyFy’s ‘Blood Drive’ Star – Alan Ritchson.

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Something bloody is happening over at SyFy, and no it’s not Sharknado 5! In the grindhouse tradition comes the over the top gory television show Blood Drive and it’s set to buzz through the fast lane on Wednesday, June 14th with a 13 episode run for Season 1. Blood Drive is over the top blood – soaked fun with amusing twists and turns, and the show is very addictive.

Synopsis:

In an alternate reality of the near future it all begins in Los Angeles, where water is as scarce as oil, gas costs $60 per gallon, and restaurant grades are by human blood type. Looking for police protection, it will cost you a vein or a molar. The story leads us to the last good cop left in the city, Arthur Bailey (Alan Ritchson), as he comes across a twisted cross-country death race where the master of ceremonies is a vaudevillian nightmare and the drivers are homicidal deviants. Arthur’s only hope of survival is joining forces with a dangerous femme fatale who has the need for speed (Christina Ochoa). Oh, and forget gasoline, these cars run on human blood.

We recently had the opportunity to speak to Blood Drive star Alan Ritchson who portrays Arthur Bailey. Bailey has the wit of an LAPD officer but looks a hell of a lot like a Ken doll. Bailey is a good cop who cares about people, even though the city has fallen apart. As for Ritchson, he began his career playing Aquaman on the television series Smallville. Ritchson is known for his work as Gloss in the popular franchise The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Raphael in Michael Bay’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and as the groomsman Kip in The Wedding Ringer with Kevin Hart.

Alan Ritchson is absolutely fantastic in this series and believes that Blood Drive “Is the greatest show ever!” and I would have to agree, it is pretty damn awesome!

Check out our interview below where we speak to Ritchson about Blood Drive and his future endeavors.

 

iHorror Interview With Alan Ritchson

Alan Ritchson (Photo Credit – IMDb.com).

Ryan T. Cusick: Hey Alan, how are you?

Alan Ritchson: Good, how are you, man?

RTC: I’m good. How did you become involved with Blood Drive?

AR: My first interaction with it was my manager sent me a script, and I opened up the e-mail and the first thing that I noticed it was a SyFy show so I called my manager to ask why he would send me this knowing I wasn’t looking to do something in that genre. I flew through the pages, and I was like, “Oh My God! This is like the greatest show of all time, I’m so into this. It’s so original, the characters jump off the page, the voice of the show is just so there, and I am all into very original creative fun content that just entertains people. I really wanted to do it, and I said, “Let’s go for it,” so we went through the process. I have seen how much freedom SyFy has given the show and how much effort that they have put into it. It is such a huge risk because everyone wants to be the show that is like “there is nothing like it on TV.” But there is nothing like this ever before on TV. So I think they [SyFy] have that badge and it is to their credit because they took a giant risk spending money on this show and still who knows who is going to watch this and how many are going to watch this. Even if it is just a season, I am so proud to be a part of it and to be part of a network that is willing to take such a chance in a world where nobody is taking chances anymore. Everybody is finding content that has all these mitigating risk factors where it is based on something before, and I’m embarrassed at my first instinct to push back just looking at the network, and now I am very proud to be a part of it. That is how I got introduced from it.

RTC: That is awesome, and I do agree that a lot of content now is based on something before and then a lot of networks will only green light a couple of episodes.

AR: Yeah, they committed, your right.

RTC: I think 13 right? 13 Episodes?

AR: Yeah, and each one gets better. All the scripts were written after I had read the first script. When I let them know that I was interested, they were kind of enough to send me the whole season, and I read the entire season. First of all, I have never been a part of any series even when it is well into its life where I had read the entire season up front and to kind of see what this world was, on the whole, I was like, “Holy shit this is epic! ” Every episode gets better and draws you in deeper and makes you care more about these characters in the world that therein and their journey, I was sold on just reading the scripts.

RTC: What really drew me in on your character, in particular, was the fact that all this stuff was happening, this guy could lose his life at any moment, but he still cares about the people that they are dumping into these cars.

AR: Yeah, I was drawn to the same thing. Anyone can read the headlines these days and feel like “Am I really the last decent person on Earth?” It is really easy to feel the way he must feel, everyone is sold out, it is all just relativism, “Whatever works for your man, whatever gets you through the day, ” and I think that is a tough world to exist in. For him to be willing to lose it all to try and make the world a better place, I feel like it is an important message, and one I’m proud to try my best to bring to life and even in this insane world, it really does to me a lot of ways parallel the world that we live in and my journey to try and make the world a better place. Yeah, so I was kind of drawn into the same thing.  

RTC: I think that is something the world needs is a character like that.

AR: No doubt. It is also something that feels familiar I think a lot of the characters from the 80s. I think of all Harrison Ford’s characters, maybe he is not squeaky clean but it “belonged to the museum,” he had his ideals, and he would fight tooth and nail to do the right thing even if it seemed ridiculous to everyone else or would cost him. I think that it harkens back to those old 80s characters in a really great way and it feels familiar too.

RTC: Definitely, I think that you hit the nail right on the head with that one. When your character first found the race in the first episode I for sure thought that he was going to be a bad ass that has almost a superhero type strength, it was the exact opposite, and I was thinking “man I am digging this.”

AR: Yeah, I love that about him. I think that our real strength comes from our fallibility and weakness and that is the thing that we are most attracted to and the most afraid to reveal. And the fact that this dude gets his ass kicked almost every chance he gets for some creative purposes, it’s a lot of fun. A little painful to deal with at times, but a lot of fun to bring to life.

RTC: On the set did you do all of your own stunts?

AR: Just about, I would certainly try to. My goal was always to make my stunt guy the most bored dude on set. I definitely fought tooth and nail to do everything. I even got to do some really great dead man stop on cables. If I am running out of a building and I don’t see someone ten feet in front of me with a two by four, and they hit me in the face, one of the ways we pull that off is with a cable that is anchored to the ground. I run full speed, and that thing stops, and it is called a dead man stop. A lot of people don’t want to do it or can’t do it. They weren’t going to let me do it, and I was like, “How are you going to shoot this? You are going to shoot it from behind, and the whole world is going to watch this, and they are going to know that some stunt guy did it and that is why you can’t see my face, and everyone is going to feel cheated. They are not going to feel like we are doing our part to bring this story to life which should take a toll on the body.” We argued for like twenty minutes and finally [Laughs] I walked over out the cable on my back, and I did it. I said, “There I’m fine, see.” [Sarcastically]  

RTC: [Laughs] Were there any funny moments on set? Or a set clown?

AR: [Laughs] You know it is such a dark show there was not a ton a lot of laughs out loud funny moments and to be honest with you, racing the clock so hard. We did the impossible. We were making a full hour of action filled gore and cleanups were necessary because the place was just massacred. We were doing things that we should never have been able to pull off, somehow with the amazing crew and production team we did, seven days I think we were doing episodes in unheard of. So there was such a sense of urgency.

RTC: So, what’s next for you? Are you going to continue with TV or do you have more movies coming out?  

AR: I am exploring a couple of TV opportunities right now. I just got back from Bulgaria shooting a film called Ghosts of War its a pretty cool World War II thriller, that will be out in 2018 I am real excited about. But for the most part, my attention has been turned to activity behind the camera. If I had my way, I would spend the rest of my career as a writer & director. I am less interested in being in front of the camera. As much as I love it and I feel like it was one of the things I was meant to do, I really enjoy creating new content. I am working to develop my own shows and brands.

RTC: Hopefully you touch on some sci-fi and horror.

AR: Actually my thing is creating more “family friendly adventures.” I have three young boys so I think that inspires it. Also my childhood, I am a product of the 80s and 90s when there was nothing but endless summers and Goonies, E.T., and Sandlot – great sort of boyhood adventures that reflected my life. That tends to be the kind of stuff I create. I have a project right now called Treehouse TimeMachine.

RTC: That is awesome! You know most films like you mentioned Goonies and Sandlot sure do stand up to the test of time because they are very much available and seem to touch every generation. Well, thank you so much it was great speaking with you today.

AR: Thank you too, take care.

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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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