Fright Night Horror

Horror filmmaker Lou Simon (HazMat, All Girl’s Weekend) gives us the 411 on her new film 3 : An Eye for an Eye, releasing this August on VOD, as well as a horror anthology she’s working on next month. Having spent so much time in this genre in recent years, I imagine you must be a fan? Yes, I’m a huge fan of genre films in general and horror in particular. How did your love of horror begin? I don’t know if it’s just horror as suspenseful films – anything with mystery to solve or some sort of twist.  As a kid, I never watched cartoons. Instead, I would watch old films with my mom. Films like Alfred Hitchcock films or “Whatever happened to Baby Jane.”  My mom says that sometimes I used to figure the twists even before she did.  So I guess you can blame my mom for dark taste in entertainment. Have you intentionally made films that you, as a teenager, might’ve wanted to see? I have tried to make films with mass appeal, not for any one age in specific.  The truth is that international sales

Horror filmmaker Lou Simon (HazMat, All Girl’s Weekend) gives us the 411 on her new film 3 : An Eye for an Eye, releasing this August on VOD, as well as a horror anthology she’s working on next month. Having spent so much time in this genre in recent years, I imagine you must be a fan? Yes, I’m a huge fan of genre films in general and horror in particular. How did your love of horror begin? I don’t know if it’s just horror as suspenseful films – anything with mystery to solve or some sort of twist.  As a kid, I never watched cartoons. Instead, I would watch old films with my mom. Films like Alfred Hitchcock films or “Whatever happened to Baby Jane.”  My mom says that sometimes I used to figure the twists even before she did.  So I guess you can blame my mom for dark taste in entertainment. Have you intentionally made films that you, as a teenager, might’ve wanted to see? I have tried to make films with mass appeal, not for any one age in specific.  The truth is that international sales

To celebrate FrightFest 2018, taking place in London during the August Bank Holiday, Horror Channel is dedicating thirteen nights to past festival hits. Amongst the twenty-six fear-filled favourites, the channel will air four UK TV premieres: Simeon Halligan’s ‘terror-torial’ home invasion shocker WHITE SETTLERS; Jeff Maher’s crowd-pleasingly ghoulish orgy of sex and gore BED OF THE DEAD; Chad Archibald’s breath-choking supernatural thriller THE DROWNSMAN; and the hauntingly sinister NIGHTWORLD, directed by Patricio Valladares and starring horror icon Robert Englund. Plus, the channel is broadcasting three network premieres; Alberto Marini’s sly and witty scaremonger SUMMER CAMP; Bernard Rose’s FRANKENSTEIN, a stylishly smart update of the classic myth, starring Xavier Samuel, Danny Huston, Carrie-Anne Moss and Tony Todd, plus RUPTURE, a surreally spooky sci-fi horror from Steven Shainberg (Secretary), starring Noomi Rapace. The double bills airing every night from 9pm from August 17th

To celebrate FrightFest 2018, taking place in London during the August Bank Holiday, Horror Channel is dedicating thirteen nights to past festival hits. Amongst the twenty-six fear-filled favourites, the channel will air four UK TV premieres: Simeon Halligan’s ‘terror-torial’ home invasion shocker WHITE SETTLERS; Jeff Maher’s crowd-pleasingly ghoulish orgy of sex and gore BED OF THE DEAD; Chad Archibald’s breath-choking supernatural thriller THE DROWNSMAN; and the hauntingly sinister NIGHTWORLD, directed by Patricio Valladares and starring horror icon Robert Englund. Plus, the channel is broadcasting three network premieres; Alberto Marini’s sly and witty scaremonger SUMMER CAMP; Bernard Rose’s FRANKENSTEIN, a stylishly smart update of the classic myth, starring Xavier Samuel, Danny Huston, Carrie-Anne Moss and Tony Todd, plus RUPTURE, a surreally spooky sci-fi horror from Steven Shainberg (Secretary), starring Noomi Rapace. The double bills airing every night from 9pm from August 17th

OPEN 24 HOURS is your third time being represented at Frightfest. Why is it important you show your movies at the UK’s premier festival? FrightFest is the best horror festival in the world.  It has the best fans and the best organisers a genre director could hope for.   There is so much love and care that goes into the festival and I’m honored every time I get to be a part of it.  I’m just happy that they let me keep coming back and showing my films.   Everyone involved has become like a family to me and I really can’t thank them enough for helping me with my career and showing my films.    Where did you get the story concept for OPEN 24 HOURS? The idea of ‘Open 24 Hours’ came to me while I was shooting my first feature “Rites Of Spring” in Mississippi.  We were scouting locations for the movie and came across this time worn Gas Station on a lonely rural road.  This gas station was a character of itself and I knew that it would make a great self-contained horror movie.  I went back to

OPEN 24 HOURS is your third time being represented at Frightfest. Why is it important you show your movies at the UK’s premier festival? FrightFest is the best horror festival in the world.  It has the best fans and the best organisers a genre director could hope for.   There is so much love and care that goes into the festival and I’m honored every time I get to be a part of it.  I’m just happy that they let me keep coming back and showing my films.   Everyone involved has become like a family to me and I really can’t thank them enough for helping me with my career and showing my films.    Where did you get the story concept for OPEN 24 HOURS? The idea of ‘Open 24 Hours’ came to me while I was shooting my first feature “Rites Of Spring” in Mississippi.  We were scouting locations for the movie and came across this time worn Gas Station on a lonely rural road.  This gas station was a character of itself and I knew that it would make a great self-contained horror movie.  I went back to

What is it about the Punk movement you like so much? It informs so much of THE RANGER… I’m incredibly drawn to punk’s spirit of rebellion and its embracing of individuality.  Growing up in the suburbs, there was so much pressure to fit in, to be seen as “normal,” and going to punk shows was thrilling for me because it helped me realize it was okay to want other things. I went to college in Philadelphia at the University of the Arts and studied screenwriting, where my classmate, Giaco, wrote a script that would eventually become THE RANGER. I fell in love with the concept of a group of punks going up against this figure of authority, someone who deems them less than, because they don’t conform to what he values as worthy.  I find personality types like this terrifying-- ones that say you have to fit into some cookie-cutter mould or else you’re living your life wrong. Punk is all about fighting that. You started out at Larry Fessenden’s Glass Eye Pix in the marketing department and moved

What is it about the Punk movement you like so much? It informs so much of THE RANGER… I’m incredibly drawn to punk’s spirit of rebellion and its embracing of individuality.  Growing up in the suburbs, there was so much pressure to fit in, to be seen as “normal,” and going to punk shows was thrilling for me because it helped me realize it was okay to want other things. I went to college in Philadelphia at the University of the Arts and studied screenwriting, where my classmate, Giaco, wrote a script that would eventually become THE RANGER. I fell in love with the concept of a group of punks going up against this figure of authority, someone who deems them less than, because they don’t conform to what he values as worthy.  I find personality types like this terrifying-- ones that say you have to fit into some cookie-cutter mould or else you’re living your life wrong. Punk is all about fighting that. You started out at Larry Fessenden’s Glass Eye Pix in the marketing department and moved

It Lives is out on DVD on 6th August 2018. And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies on DVD to give away. Synopsis A lone scientist maintains a bunker in preparation for a coming nuclear disaster. Isolated deep underground his worst fears are realised when communication is lost and he is trapped with no knowledge of events on the surface. The walls begin to close in and a terrifying series of events make him question his sanity. But is he losing his mind, or is there something else in the bunker with him? Starring Andrew Kinsler & Peter McCrohon Click here to buy from Amazon (Opens in a new window) For your chance to win just answer the question below. COMPETITION CLOSED Terms and conditions 1. Closing date 13-08-18 2. No alternative prize is available 3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first. 4. Winners will be chosen random

It Lives is out on DVD on 6th August 2018. And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies on DVD to give away. Synopsis A lone scientist maintains a bunker in preparation for a coming nuclear disaster. Isolated deep underground his worst fears are realised when communication is lost and he is trapped with no knowledge of events on the surface. The walls begin to close in and a terrifying series of events make him question his sanity. But is he losing his mind, or is there something else in the bunker with him? Starring Andrew Kinsler & Peter McCrohon Click here to buy from Amazon (Opens in a new window) For your chance to win just answer the question below. COMPETITION CLOSED Terms and conditions 1. Closing date 13-08-18 2. No alternative prize is available 3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first. 4. Winners will be chosen random

Two extra films have been added to the record-breaking 2018 line-up: PIMPED is director David Barker’s modern transgressive erotic thriller, an Hitchcocktail of elevated suspense and shock in the revered style of Brian De Palma, And If you’ve never seen John Carpenter’s HALLOWEEN on the big screen, now’s your best chance. The inclusion of this 4K restoration needs no explanation in anticipation of a new Michael Myers slasher being released in October.  Check screening details on the FrightFest website. Ahead of single tickets going on sale from Sat 21st July, we’re thrilled to announce our current slate of guests, which includes Poldark star Aidan Turner, who will be with his co-star Caitlin Fitzgerald, director Robert Krzykowski and composer Joe Kraemer for THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT. Leading ladies shine this year. Joining THE RANGER director Jenn Wexler on opening night is The Transfiguration star Chloe Levine. Also delighting audiences are Brittany Allan (It Sta

Two extra films have been added to the record-breaking 2018 line-up: PIMPED is director David Barker’s modern transgressive erotic thriller, an Hitchcocktail of elevated suspense and shock in the revered style of Brian De Palma, And If you’ve never seen John Carpenter’s HALLOWEEN on the big screen, now’s your best chance. The inclusion of this 4K restoration needs no explanation in anticipation of a new Michael Myers slasher being released in October.  Check screening details on the FrightFest website. Ahead of single tickets going on sale from Sat 21st July, we’re thrilled to announce our current slate of guests, which includes Poldark star Aidan Turner, who will be with his co-star Caitlin Fitzgerald, director Robert Krzykowski and composer Joe Kraemer for THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT. Leading ladies shine this year. Joining THE RANGER director Jenn Wexler on opening night is The Transfiguration star Chloe Levine. Also delighting audiences are Brittany Allan (It Sta

Did you write the film as a vehicle for Casper Van Dien or did you simply realize, looking back, that he was the best man for the job? We looked for a celebrity actor who would play himself and have fun doing it.  That takes a special kind of actor who can push his own ego aside and just go along for the ride.  Casper was perfect for that because he’s such a talented, fun, and incredibly nice human being which is important on a low budget set where the creature comforts are very limited compared to those you might find on larger productions. Do you recall how and where you pitched Casper the movie? I like to meet and socialize with my “name” actors before I cast them to see I how it will be working with them, especially since with "Darkness" we would be in a closed, haunted, old hotel with no air-conditioning, in Missouri, in the middle of August.  So, our casting director set up a meeting at a restaurant with Casper and his fiancé Jennifer Wenger, my wife and producing partn

Did you write the film as a vehicle for Casper Van Dien or did you simply realize, looking back, that he was the best man for the job? We looked for a celebrity actor who would play himself and have fun doing it.  That takes a special kind of actor who can push his own ego aside and just go along for the ride.  Casper was perfect for that because he’s such a talented, fun, and incredibly nice human being which is important on a low budget set where the creature comforts are very limited compared to those you might find on larger productions. Do you recall how and where you pitched Casper the movie? I like to meet and socialize with my “name” actors before I cast them to see I how it will be working with them, especially since with "Darkness" we would be in a closed, haunted, old hotel with no air-conditioning, in Missouri, in the middle of August.  So, our casting director set up a meeting at a restaurant with Casper and his fiancé Jennifer Wenger, my wife and producing partn

SECOND YEAR FOR HORROR FEATURE WRITERS INITIATIVE IN ASSOCIATION WITH QUEENSBURY PICTURES   After the success of last year's inaugural 'New Blood' search for new writers in the horror genre, the hunt is on for another batch of scribes to cook up a potent cauldron of original ideas and devilish tales. And the search starts today!   New Blood 2 finds FrightFest once again teamed with Giles Edwards of Queensbury Pictures, which aims to find new writers and nurture their project from script to screen.   One of last year's entries, thriller BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION, is now in pre-production, and is one of Queensbury Pictures' first titles out of the traps. Written by Phil Drinkwater and Tim Woodall, it will be directed by Jacob Gentry (The Signal, Syncronicity).   Giles Edwards of Queensbury Pictures said: "2017's edition of New Blood threw up a slew of vibrant, bold and riotously diverse pitches. But the hunt for great material doesn't pause for breath. P

Ouija Séance : Origin of Evil filmmaker Andrea Mugnaini explains that she’s always been fascinated with the world of the paranormal. How long have you been on the film for now, Andrea?  I was 19 when I was attending the first year of “science of communication” at the University of Florence. In the café of the University there was an advertising poster of a local film school that often caught my attention. I decided to go and take a look, a few months later I shot my first short film and now that I’m 36 I’m still shooting. Was it an idea you came up with? Yes, I’ve always been very fascinated by the world of paranormal since I was a child. Once, at a dinner party, I had the opportunity to chat with a girl who had personally experienced a Ouija session that had gone wrong. She was really shocked by the incident and her story struck me deeply. I few days later I started writing the script. Where did you get inspiration from? After the first chat with the girl at the dinner party I intervi

Ouija Séance : Origin of Evil filmmaker Andrea Mugnaini explains that she’s always been fascinated with the world of the paranormal. How long have you been on the film for now, Andrea?  I was 19 when I was attending the first year of “science of communication” at the University of Florence. In the café of the University there was an advertising poster of a local film school that often caught my attention. I decided to go and take a look, a few months later I shot my first short film and now that I’m 36 I’m still shooting. Was it an idea you came up with? Yes, I’ve always been very fascinated by the world of paranormal since I was a child. Once, at a dinner party, I had the opportunity to chat with a girl who had personally experienced a Ouija session that had gone wrong. She was really shocked by the incident and her story struck me deeply. I few days later I started writing the script. Where did you get inspiration from? After the first chat with the girl at the dinner party I intervi