Restoration wit William Congreve opined that music had charms to soothe the savage breast, but in “The Sonata,” it has power to summon the savage beast — you know, the one usually depicted with horns, tail, and a pitchfork. This handsome horror meller set primarily in France benefits considerably from location shooting in cheaper, but picturesque Latvia. It’s Looks 10, Personality 4, however, as director Andrew Desmond and collaborator Arthur Morin’s screenplay doesn’t quite provide enough incident to properly milk its own premise, making for a supernatural thriller that ends just as it’s beginning to work up a sweat.
Opening on 11 U.S. screens Jan. 10 (simultaneous with on-demand release), it’s a watchable if ultimately underwhelming exercise. Perhaps the most notable element here is one of the late Rutger Hauer’s final performances, though he completed several other projects after this late-arriving import, which has played festivals and theatrical...
Opening on 11 U.S. screens Jan. 10 (simultaneous with on-demand release), it’s a watchable if ultimately underwhelming exercise. Perhaps the most notable element here is one of the late Rutger Hauer’s final performances, though he completed several other projects after this late-arriving import, which has played festivals and theatrical...
- 1/10/2020
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
Screen Media has picked up all North American rights to “The Sonata,” a thriller that features one of the late actor Rutger Hauer’s final film roles.
“The Sonata” centers on young violinist Rose (Freya Tingley) who inherits an old mansion after the death of her composer father (Hauer). After moving in, she discovers that his final work was a mysterious musical score with strange symbols that unlock keys to her father’s shadowy past, unleashing a horror beyond imagination. Screen Media is planning a theatrical and VOD release in early 2020.
The film has already sold key foreign territories and played as part of Lincoln Center’s “Scary Movies” summer series and at the Popcorn Frights Film Festival. “The Sonata” was co-written and directed by Andrew Desmond, marking his first time behind the camera for a feature-length production. “The Sonata” was co-written by Arthur Morin.
Tingley, best known for her work on “Hemlock Grove,...
“The Sonata” centers on young violinist Rose (Freya Tingley) who inherits an old mansion after the death of her composer father (Hauer). After moving in, she discovers that his final work was a mysterious musical score with strange symbols that unlock keys to her father’s shadowy past, unleashing a horror beyond imagination. Screen Media is planning a theatrical and VOD release in early 2020.
The film has already sold key foreign territories and played as part of Lincoln Center’s “Scary Movies” summer series and at the Popcorn Frights Film Festival. “The Sonata” was co-written and directed by Andrew Desmond, marking his first time behind the camera for a feature-length production. “The Sonata” was co-written by Arthur Morin.
Tingley, best known for her work on “Hemlock Grove,...
- 9/6/2019
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Andrew Desmond on the set of The Sonata Photo: courtesy of Andrew Desmond
Screening at this year's Frightfest, Andrew Desmond's handsome occult thriller The Sonata made quite an impression. It's the story of young violinist Rose (played by Freya Tingley) who learns that her estranged father, a famous composer who spent his later years in obscurity, has passed away, leaving her his mansion in France. Visiting with the intention of selling the property, she discovers that that's not all he's left her - there's a piece of music there, apparently waiting for her, which just might be a work of genius. To decipher it, however, she has to follow a series of clues which gradually lead her - and her manager Charles - into very dark places. It's a remarkably polished feature début and I asked Andrew what led him to take on something so ambitious in the first place.
Screening at this year's Frightfest, Andrew Desmond's handsome occult thriller The Sonata made quite an impression. It's the story of young violinist Rose (played by Freya Tingley) who learns that her estranged father, a famous composer who spent his later years in obscurity, has passed away, leaving her his mansion in France. Visiting with the intention of selling the property, she discovers that that's not all he's left her - there's a piece of music there, apparently waiting for her, which just might be a work of genius. To decipher it, however, she has to follow a series of clues which gradually lead her - and her manager Charles - into very dark places. It's a remarkably polished feature début and I asked Andrew what led him to take on something so ambitious in the first place.
- 9/4/2019
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Stars: Freya Tingley, Simon Abkarian, James Faulkner, Rutger Hauer, Catherine Schaub-Abkarian, Matt Barber, Christopher Brand, James Kermack, Myster Jo, Laine Ligere Stengrévica | Written by Andrew Desmond, Arthur Morin | Directed by Andrew Desmond
While horror movies and classical music aren’t complete strangers, it’s not like they know each other very well. Films like The Shining, Candyman and The Exorcist have used this style of music in their movies but not many have their storylines centered around classical music. This is exactly what The Sonata does.
After her father’s passing a young violinist discovers that her parent was involved in much more darker occurrences than the music he wrote. Finding his last ever piece of music, she is lead into a world she never knew existed.
It felt that, for a long time, The Sonata was building and building to a big final scene where all the horror and...
While horror movies and classical music aren’t complete strangers, it’s not like they know each other very well. Films like The Shining, Candyman and The Exorcist have used this style of music in their movies but not many have their storylines centered around classical music. This is exactly what The Sonata does.
After her father’s passing a young violinist discovers that her parent was involved in much more darker occurrences than the music he wrote. Finding his last ever piece of music, she is lead into a world she never knew existed.
It felt that, for a long time, The Sonata was building and building to a big final scene where all the horror and...
- 8/26/2019
- by Alain Elliott
- Nerdly
Here’s some good-looking first footage I can reveal of mystery-horror The Sonata, starring Freya Tingley (Hemlock Grove), Simon Akbarian (Casino Royale), James Faulkner (Atomic Blonde) and Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner).
The completed film, which is set in London and France, follows young virtuoso violinist Rose (Tingley). After the death of her estranged but famous composer father (Hauer), she inherits the old mansion in which he lived. There, she discovers her father’s final work: a mysterious music score marked with strange symbols. With the help of Charles (Abkarian), her agent and manager, she deciphers the symbols and, little by little, starts to unlock secrets concerning her father’s past, setting in motion the mechanisms of a plan imagined on the day she was born.
Andrew Desmond makes his feature directorial debut and co-wrote the script with Arthur Morin. Arri Media handles sales. Producers are Laurent Fumeron, Rodolphe Sanzé and...
The completed film, which is set in London and France, follows young virtuoso violinist Rose (Tingley). After the death of her estranged but famous composer father (Hauer), she inherits the old mansion in which he lived. There, she discovers her father’s final work: a mysterious music score marked with strange symbols. With the help of Charles (Abkarian), her agent and manager, she deciphers the symbols and, little by little, starts to unlock secrets concerning her father’s past, setting in motion the mechanisms of a plan imagined on the day she was born.
Andrew Desmond makes his feature directorial debut and co-wrote the script with Arthur Morin. Arri Media handles sales. Producers are Laurent Fumeron, Rodolphe Sanzé and...
- 11/14/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Second European edition of genre co-production market to feature two extra spotlights in addition to its 17-strong line-up.
Frontières International Co-Production Market has unveiled the full line-up for its second European edition, taking place at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival from April 9-11.
This year sees an expanded Frontières line-up which will allow more projects to participate in live pitch sessions. In addition, it will include a Market Spotlight, featuring projects co-presented by Blood Window at Ventana Sur and the European Genre Forum at Tallinn Black Nights, and a Seeking Director spotlight which will involved three projects in development.
The 17-strong Frontières line-up features the already-announced Érik Canuel’s On the Threshold (an English-language remake of Sur Le Seuil) alongside new projects from directors Alexandre O. Philippe, Casey Walker and John Harrison, and producers Carole Scotta and Andrew D. Corkin.
It also features Eugene Garcia’s Jessie’s Demons, the new project...
Frontières International Co-Production Market has unveiled the full line-up for its second European edition, taking place at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival from April 9-11.
This year sees an expanded Frontières line-up which will allow more projects to participate in live pitch sessions. In addition, it will include a Market Spotlight, featuring projects co-presented by Blood Window at Ventana Sur and the European Genre Forum at Tallinn Black Nights, and a Seeking Director spotlight which will involved three projects in development.
The 17-strong Frontières line-up features the already-announced Érik Canuel’s On the Threshold (an English-language remake of Sur Le Seuil) alongside new projects from directors Alexandre O. Philippe, Casey Walker and John Harrison, and producers Carole Scotta and Andrew D. Corkin.
It also features Eugene Garcia’s Jessie’s Demons, the new project...
- 2/6/2015
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
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