10 Questions with Romola Garai, Director / Writer of AMULET

10 Questions with Romola Garai, Director / Writer of AMULET, which premieres at the Arrow Video FrightFest Halloween event.

Q) AMULET will receive its UK premiere at FrightFest’s Halloween event. Excited or what?

So excited! It’s a great honour to have our UK premiere at such a brilliantly subversive festival. We are very grateful! 

Q) You’re most well known as an actress but have you always wanted to write and direct films?

I’ve been writing since my teens but it wasn’t until my late 20’s that I realized I wanted to direct as well and I made my short film SCRUBBER. Now what I’d love is to write, direct and act. Never all three together though! 

Q) What was the writing process like? Were there any major inspirations and motivations that drove you?

I was very influenced by a book I read called THE BUTCHERS TRAIL about the man hunt for Slobodan Milosevic. The book talks a lot about the rights and wrongs of punishing war crimes, the worry being that if you want peace then that has to come at the cost of justice for victims. Of course I see both sides but there was part of me that longed for a kind of greater justice that could punish all those that had used war as an opportunity to be their worst selves. 

Q) Why did you choose the horror genre?

Of course horror has always been the space where dreams and subconscious are most comfortably incorporated into the film. This film is about dreams and deep seated longings. It was the obvious space for this story to sit. 

It’s a very powerful film and not afraid to journey into some contentiously dark places. Did you feel the horror genre gave you the freedom to do that?

When you make drama your experience of the action can always happen at a remove. I wanted the viewers to be complicit in liking this man and share his fear and dread. Horror allows you to force your audience into sharing the visceral emotions of the story. 

Q) The themes of war, sexual violence and ancient evil are very dominant but at the heart of the narrative it appears to be a story of gender revenge, in which an evil man must pay for his crimes against women. Would you go along with that?

Pretty much! I feel that on some level  the Christian ideas of forgiveness are too often used to protect men and to prop up a patriarchy. I think that was all swirling around in there!

Q) The casting is terrific. Tell us about the process.

The casting was an amazingly simple process! Alec was immediately mentioned to me as a possible. The list contained a lot of brilliant actors from all across the UK and Europe but I just knew that he was so sympathetic and gentle it would be impossible for the audience not to invest in his journey. At the same time he’s an incredibly smart and nice man. And a great actor!

Carla was someone whose work I was very familiar with. I’ve always loved her acting. I didn’t know if she’d respond to doing horror but we had a meeting and had just a great connection and she understood and supported the films rage so brilliantly. It was amazing to work with her.

Imelda I know as I’ve worked with her as an actor. I didn’t think for a million years she’d say yes! It was a great day to know that we had her be part of the film. She is one of my favourite actors of all time.

Q) You’ve been labelled: “An audacious new horror auteur on the scene”. How does that make you feel?

Great! 

Q) Have you plans to continue to work as a director? If so, how will you balance this with your acting career?

Absolutely. I think a lot of the scripts I’ve written may take time to get made. Some of them are pretty out there! So I’m so lucky to be able to combine that long slog with another career that I also love.

Q) Finally, what’s next for you?

Directing-wise I have several projects in development. A 17th century period romp with a dark twist, a small scale science fiction and another horror. 

Acting wise I’m playing Mary Tudor in Becoming Elizabeth, a new series for Starz which will be out in April. And I’m in Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s new film Earwig that is playing at LFF.  

AMULET plays at Arrow Video FrightFest Halloween on Sat 30th October, 6.30pm, Cineworld Leicester SQ. Romola will be attending

Tickets: https://www.frightfest.co.uk/Halloween21/AMULET.html

 

 

THE BLACK PHONE - In UK Cinemas February 2022

The phone is dead. And it’s ringing.... Director Scott Derrickson returns to his terror roots and partners again with the foremost brand in the genre, Blumhouse, with a new horror thriller.

Finney Shaw, a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.

Starring four-time Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke (The Purge) in the most terrifying role of his career and introducing Mason Thames in his first ever film role, THE BLACK PHONE is produced, directed, and co-written by Scott Derrickson, the writer-director of Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Marvel’s Doctor Strange.

The film’s screenplay is by Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill (Doctor Strange, Sinister franchise), based on the award-winning short story by Joe Hill from his New York Times bestseller 20th Century Ghosts. The film is produced by Derrickson & Cargill’s Crooked Highway and presented by Universal and Blumhouse. Jason Blum, Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill are producers on the film, which is executive produced by Ryan Turek and Christopher H. Warner.

View the trailer below...

 

 

HALLOWEEN, CHUCKY, & JOE BOB BRIGGS Apparel - Available Now at Fright-Rags

October marks the return of several horror icons - including Michael Myers, Chucky, and Joe Bob Briggs - and Fright-Rags has apparel for all three.

Ahead of this weekend's highly anticipated homecoming of Michael Myers, Fright-Rags' Halloween Kills collection is in stock. It features six shirts from the new film along with an enamel pin of The Shape's iconic mask.

Fright-Rags has also restocked classic Halloween franchise apparel, including shirts for John Carpenter's original film and seven of its sequels. The popular Halloween dad hat, heritage hat, and lounge pants are also back.

 

In honour of this week's Chucky series premiere, Fright-Rags has reprinted a sinister shirt featuring the killer doll. Several previously released Child's Play tees, hats, and lounge pants are also in stock.

Joe Bob Briggs is back with two new shirts from Fright-Rags. The beloved horror host is featured on official artwork for The Last Drive-In's Halloween Hoedown and the Monster Mash 7" record.

Halloween franchise, Halloween Kills, Chucky, and Joe Bob Briggs collections are on sale now at Fright-Rags.com.

 

RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION and THE FINAL CHAPTER - On 4K Ultra HD

One of the most successful live-action video game film franchises of all time continues its upgrade this year as RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION and RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER are released to buy on 4K ULTRA HD with new bonus material on Monday 18th October from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

 

This marks the first time that fans will be able to purchase all six films separately on 4K Ultra HD disc with High Dynamic Range and Dolby Atmos audio.  

The first four films in the franchise currently available to buy separately on 4K ULTRA HD are RESIDENT EVIL, RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE, RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION and RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE. 

Based on the popular video game series by Capcom, the Resident Evil franchise stars Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element) as Alice, a superhuman security expert pitted against the sinister Umbrella Corporation as the world’s population is transformed into flesh-eating creatures by one of its most dangerous biological weapons.    

The bonus material on RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION 4K ULTRA HD and RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER 4K ULTRA HD released on Monday 18th October are as follows:

RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION 4K ULTRA HD - BONUS FEATURES
•    Outtakes  
•    Drop (UN) Dead – Creatures Featurette  
•    Filmmakers & Cast Commentaries  
•    Deleted & Extended Scenes  
•    6 Behind-the-Scenes Featurette plus Project Alice: The Interactive Database    

RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER - 4K ULTRA HD - BONUS FEATURES
•    Retaliation mode with Paul & Milla  
•    Stunts & Weaponry  
•    Explore the hive  
•    The bad ass trinity & the women of Resident Evil  
Sneak Peek: Resident Evil: Vendetta

Buy RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION on 4K ULTRA HD at Amazon.co.uk

Buy RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER on 4K ULTRA HD at Amazon.co.uk

 

 

SCI-FI-LONDON FESTIVAL - BACK IN THE CINEMA - 19th – 26TH OCTOBER

The SCI-FI-LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 2021 has launched its cosmic 21st annual programme, which will run from the 19 OCTOBER until 26 OCTOBER 2021 with seven days of fabulous film. It will showcase a fantastic lineup with 2 world film premieres, 8 UK film premieres, 11 world short premieres and 13 UK short premieres. It will host 13 features and 50 shorts alongside its regular classic cult events such as the 48 HOUR FILM CHALLENGE and SCI-FI-QUIZ.

Opening this year's festival on the 19th October is Agata Alexander's WARNING. This film is dark, witty and spectacular. It has a stellar cast, including Annabelle Wallis, Thomas Jane, Alex Pettyfer, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Alice Eve, and the marvellous Rupert Everett. WARNING is a visually arresting, thought-provoking sci-fi exploring the meaning of life through multiple interconnected lives. This is like BLACK MIRROR just jumped out of a plane without a parachute!

 

Doomsday is coming. But from where? Global warming, the isolation and breakdown of society, because the immortals hate us mortals. Maybe from the asteroids charging toward the planet?
 
The festival's Closing Night on the 26 October at Stratford Picturehouse is the World Premiere of MOON HEART. M, played by Peru's most illustrious actor, Haydeé Cáceres, is alone, almost invisible to society, not an outcast, just old, poor, homeless and ignored. Her only friend is a lone ant. M's world is full of nostalgic memories and a dark presence that haunts her. Then one day, a 'mechanical angel' arrives to help change her life. At its core, this is a film about marginalisation and the abandonment and mental anguish that homeless people suffer. However, it is also an extraordinarily warm film with an outstanding lead performance.  WINNER OF THE SFL 'BEST FEATURE FILM 2021' AWARD

Other major Film Premiere Galas this year include the World Premiere of REPEAT, by UK director Richard Millar. Professor Ryan Moore (Tom England) believes that his new device communicates with those who have 'passed'. He is obsessed with the project because his daughter, Samantha, has been missing without a trace for months, and he fears the worst. But, in one experiment, it appears he has made contact with Samantha. His grief is awful, but he thinks he has found a way to 'bring her back'. But will the truth of what happened be even more devastating.

The cast includes: Charlotte Ritchie, llila-Jean Wood and Nina Wadia, who is well known from EastEnders and, Goodness Gracious Me.

UK Premieres include:

EXPOSURE 36. (Dir. Mackenzie G. Maur, Country: USA, Year: 2021
Runtime: 90 mins Language: English.) DIRECTOR IN ATTENDANCE
Set in New York, three days before the world will end, we meet Cam, a struggling and grieving photographer. Coping with addiction, Cam's only plan is to succumb to his substance abuse as the world collapses around him. His one ambition is to capture final days on a roll of 35mm film. But his plan is disrupted when his friend goes missing, putting him on a journey to find out what happened and who's responsible. The film was partly shot during the Covid-lockdown in the USA. This adds a sublime realism to the film's portrayal of loneliness, guilt, and isolation.
Cast: Charles Ouda, Jennifer Leigh Whitehead, Nick Smithson
 
TIONG BAHRU SOCIAL CLUB (Dir: Tan Bee Thiam Country: Singapore, Year: 2021, Runtime: 89 mins, Language: Chinese, English, Malay, Tamil (English subtitles).
Ah Bee's life is a dull, monotonous one and he seems stuck in a rut. Then, one day, the opportunity arises to work at the new Tiong Bahru Social Club, a data-driven project to create the happiest neighbourhood in the world. His encounters with the neighbourhood's residents and the authority that runs the place reveal the absurdity of life. This candy-coloured satire flirts with Art Deco nostalgia set in Singapore's most 'gentrified' district. With a sprinkle of THE TRUMAN SHOW and a dash of BLACK MIRROR, though much less pretentious, this is an incisive subtle film, with humour as
offbeat as it is caustic. Never has a futuristic dystopia been so heartwarming.
Cast: Thomas Pang, Goh Guat Kian, Jo Tan
 
STRAWBERRY MANSION (Dir: Kentucker Audley and Albert Birney, Country: USA, Year: 2021, Runtime: 91 mins, Language: English.)
Maybe tomorrow, an all-seeing surveillance state will start to invade our innermost thoughts and dreams. And, of course, we'll be subject to 'dream audits' to collect taxes on our unconscious lives. So, one day, mild-mannered government agent James Preble travels to a remote farmhouse to audit the dreams of Bella Isadora, an eccentric artist. But Bella's vast dream archive hides a secret that offers him a chance at love — and maybe a way out of his dull life. This gorgeous production draws on almost every filmmaking style and technique — as if someone had given Gaspar Noé happy pills.
Cast: Kentucker Audley, Albert Birney, Penny Fuller
 
NIGHT RAIDERS (Dir: Danis Goulet, Country: Canada/New Zealand, Year: 2021, Runtime: 97 mins, Language: English/Cree.)
The year is 2043, and North America has been shattered by war. The totalitarian regime that remains now forces children into brutal military training to fight in the futile war. To save her daughter, Waseese, from this fate, Niska has been hiding them in the woods, living a reclusive life dominated by fear of discovery. When the pair are forced into the remnants of the city, Waseese is captured along with several others. Niska finds herself among the 'Night Raiders', a group of indigenous rebels who plan to free their children. 'Goulet's debut feature is a captivating film that astutely uses the sci-fi genre to criticise the treatment of First Nations people.'
Cast: Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Brooklyn Letexier-Hart, Alex Tarrant
 
GLASS HOUSE (Dir: Kelsey Egan, Country: South Africa, Year: 2021, Runtime: 94 mins, Language: English.)
The world we know has gone and the 'shred' altered our minds. And yet in this desolate, destroyed world, one family exists, out of sight. The daughters work the land, their mother rules with an iron hand. Then, one day the sisters are seduced by a stranger who shatters their peace and stirs up a past best left undisturbed. Glasshouse has a haunting score, beautiful photography and superbly detailed production design.
'This debut feature by Egan is one of the most tightly written and piercingly observed science fiction films we have seen for years.
Cast: Jessica Alexander, Hilton Pelser, Brent Vermeulen, Adrienne Pearce, Kitty Harris, Anja Taljaard
 
12 MONTHS OF KAI. (Dir: Mutsumi Kameyama, Country: Japan, Year: 2020, Runtime: 83 mins, Language: Japanese (English subtitles). DIRECTOR IN ATTENDANCE
Something has changed in a world where 'personal carebots' are commonplace and cater to our every need. Kyoka, who lives in Tokyo and has a successful career, decides to get a personal care humanoid (PCH) Kai. He is perfect. He learns quickly and knows Kyoka so well. However, Kai seems to have real emotions, and Kyoka is lost in this new relationship. Her friends are worried for her, but soon they will all have to confront an unexpected change in the world. Cast: Ayaka Nakagouchi, Kosei Kudo
 
VISITOR (Dir: Alberto Evangelio, Country: Spain, Year: 2021, Runtime: 91mins, Language: Spanish/Catalan(English subtitles) DIRECTOR IN ATTENDANCE
Marga lost her sister in a tragic accident when they were children. Years later, she has relationship problems and decides to get some space and visit the old family home. But strange things start happening, and she discovers a portal to another reality, one where her sister is alive and grown-up. In that parallel dimension, her sister and her other self warn Marga that something terrible is about to happen, but who can she trust?
Cast: Jan Cornet, Iria del Rio, Miquel Fernández
 
ESLUNA: THE CROWN OF BABYLON (Dir: Denver Jackson, Country: Canada, Year: 2021, Runtime: 102 mins, Language: English)
Esluna is ruled by descendants of a sacred bloodline, where technology is powered by the highly advanced relics of the ancients. Raised by the monks who protect the relics of the old world, MAEVE is a treasure hunter who uses her skills to find other artefacts for the leaders. When her mentor, Caz, is kidnapped by a militia group run by a rogue monk, Maeve learns of a powerful relic known as 'THE CROWN OF BABYLON', rumoured to have the power to bring back the dead. She teams up with Bataar, a young man who mysteriously came to Esluna from another world years ago and worked with Caz to find the crown at the time of her abduction. Now, they must find the crown, save Caz, and stop the rogue from endangering the lives of everyone they know. A thrilling animated action-adventure set in the retro-futuristic world of Esluna, and great fun for all the family!
Cast: Grace Chan, Shawn O'Hara, Ariel Hack, Alain Williams.
 
Our Stranger Than Fiction Documentary strand has two remarkable films:
 
TUNE INTO THE FUTURE (Dir: Eric Schockmel, Country: Luxembourg, Year: 2020, Runtime: 72 mins, Language: English.)
One hundred years before the internet, a self-declared tech guru started preaching the future to his flock of outsiders. Meet the most influential nerd you may never have heard of: Hugo Gernsback. Decades ahead of the curve, he foresaw Skype, jetpacks, space mining and drones. But even though he would accumulate over 80 patents throughout his life and befriend the likes of Edison and Tesla, his most influential invention remains Science Fiction!
 
SCREENS WITH SHORT:
MY BRAIN IS BIGGER: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELEKTRO, THE SMOKING ROBOT
Dir. Ian Johnston, Canada, 10mins, English, UK PREMIERE
A whimsical look at the life of America's first celebrity robot, Elektro. He was the 'next big thing', from the World's Fair to Soft-porn star... and then he disappeared.
 
THE HIGH FRONTIER: THE UNTOLD STORY OF GERARD K. O'NEILL
(Dir: Ryan Stuit, Country: USA, Year: 2020, Runtime: 91 mins, Language: English.)
Gerard K. O'Neill was a physicist and space colony pioneer. In 1977, he wrote The High Frontier: Human Colonies in Space, A book that sparked an enormous grassroots movement to 'open the high frontier' to make space available and beneficial for all mankind. The film is told through "Gerry's Kids", as they affectionately call themselves; his peers, family, and the younger generation who followed that movement and are now in charge of the modern-day space industry.
 
SCREENS WITH SHORT:
ARTIST DEPICTION BY STEVE R. DODD
Dir. Brett Ryan Bonowicz, USA, 19mins, English, World Premiere Steve Dodd has painted space scenes since the 1970s. Working at home with no phone, internet or computer, he has created hundreds of beautiful 'spacescapes': visions of a positive future amongst the stars. This is his first recorded interview.
 
For the full line up visit the website: sci-fi-london.com #SFL2021

Vampire thriller DEAD & BEAUTIFUL - Premiering on Shudder November

Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, will premiere vampire thriller DEAD & BEAUTIFUL, written and directed by visionary filmmaker David Verbeek, Thursday, 4TH November in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

In DEAD & BEAUTIFUL, five rich, spoiled Asian twenty-somethings (Gijs Blom, Aviis Zhong, Yen Tsao, Philip Juan, Anechka Marchenko) are suffering from upper-class ennui, unsure how to spend their days when so little is expected from them. In search of excitement, the five friends form the “Circle,” a group where they take turns designing a unique, extravagant experience for the others. But things go wrong when the privileged urbanites awaken after a night out, to find they have developed vampire fangs and an unquenchable thirst for flesh, blood, and adventure at any price.

DEAD & BEAUTIFUL is David Verbeek’s seventh feature. Among his previous films are the award-winning Full Contact, which premiered at TIFF in 2015 and R U There, which played Cannes’ Un Certain Regard in 2010. The film is produced by Erik Glijnis (Pleasure) and Leontine Petit (The Lobster) of Lemming Film, in co-production with House on Fire International, Nukleus Film, and Woods of Light Film. Indie Sales is handling international sales. 

View the trailer below...

For a 7-day, risk-free trial, visit www.shudder.com.

 

 

Horror novel FAMULI CANI - available now from Amazon

Author Alan Golbourn recently got in contact to tell us about his new horror novel, FAMULI CANI, which is currently available from Amazon.

From the press release...

When best friends David and John are made redundant, they decide to go away with another close friend, Grant, to David's Uncle's farm up in Scotland, in the Rothiemurchus Forest. David soon learns of strange and terrible things happening on the farm, where some of the animals are found mysteriously mutilated and slaughtered.

David's Uncle also informs them of other starnge phenomena, including whispers in the wind and a strange, constant sensation of being watching by someone, or something.  Driven by concern for his Aunt and Uncle and fueled by curiousity, David is determined to travel up North, against his Uncle's wishes.

Things soon start to happen even before David and his friends set off as they are targetted by frightening and inexplicable events and messages warning them to stay away, so that one friend is too scared to go, leaving only two to make the long distance drive. Despite more frightening and unimaginable things happening on their way up to the Highlands, the two friends, now fearing for their lives, remain determined to reach the farm

With their minds racing with all sorts of theories, they will soon face an unparalled horror, with pure evil awaiting them and an old Scottish folklore proving to be terrifyingly true.

Buy the book from Amazon.co.uk