On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark takes a feature-length beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.
First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.
Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.
The Pitch: Ain’t It Just Like the Movies to Play Tricks When You’re Trying to Be So Quiet?
As if assembling the greatest songbook in the history of Western music through six decades (and counting!) of nonstop creative growth and experimentation wasn’t enough, Bob Dylan has made a surprisingly large impact on the world of film. In 1966, he helped launch the cinéma vérité movement — and captivated audiences with the mystery of who broke that fucking glass — by allowing D.A. Pennebaker to follow him for the landmark documentary “Don’t Look Back.
First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.
Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.
The Pitch: Ain’t It Just Like the Movies to Play Tricks When You’re Trying to Be So Quiet?
As if assembling the greatest songbook in the history of Western music through six decades (and counting!) of nonstop creative growth and experimentation wasn’t enough, Bob Dylan has made a surprisingly large impact on the world of film. In 1966, he helped launch the cinéma vérité movement — and captivated audiences with the mystery of who broke that fucking glass — by allowing D.A. Pennebaker to follow him for the landmark documentary “Don’t Look Back.
- 1/13/2024
- by Christian Zilko and Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Longtime marketing and distribution executive and producer Seth Willenson, who pioneered the Midnight Movie marketing concept and mentored many industry leaders, died Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a long bout with heart disease. He was 74.
Willenson began his 52-year career in 1970 as employee number two at New Line Cinema. It was there that he innovated the theatrical marketing concept of the Midnight Movie. He began with the 1936 anti-cannabis propaganda film Reefer Madness and continued for more than a decade with soon-to-be classics such as Pink Flamingos, Sympathy for the Devil and the blockbuster Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is still being enjoyed today in late night showings, making its release the longest-running in movie history.
Speaking of long runs, about 20 years after his first stint at New Line, Willenson returned as President of Telecommunications & Planning. He subsequently served as a producer and EP on numerous indie films,...
Willenson began his 52-year career in 1970 as employee number two at New Line Cinema. It was there that he innovated the theatrical marketing concept of the Midnight Movie. He began with the 1936 anti-cannabis propaganda film Reefer Madness and continued for more than a decade with soon-to-be classics such as Pink Flamingos, Sympathy for the Devil and the blockbuster Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is still being enjoyed today in late night showings, making its release the longest-running in movie history.
Speaking of long runs, about 20 years after his first stint at New Line, Willenson returned as President of Telecommunications & Planning. He subsequently served as a producer and EP on numerous indie films,...
- 3/24/2022
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Over the course of the month of August, the 2021 Fantasia Film Festival has been treating genre fans to a bevy of genre fare throughout the course of its three-week run. And now that Fantasia has closed its books on yet another successful year, this writer is finally playing catch-up on some overdue reviews from the festival. For my first review round-up, I’ll be discussing Rob Jabbaz’s The Sadness, the vampire-centric fairy tale All the Moons, and Hellbender from filmmaking trio John Adams, Toby Poser, and Zelda Adams.
The Sadness: Truth be told, I was totally unprepared for The Sadness. In fact, there’s really nothing that could have possibly prepared me for The Sadness because once I was immersed in writer/director Rob Jabbaz’s absolutely horrifying descent into the depraved depths of humanity, I found myself in desperate need of a hug, a drink, and maybe...
The Sadness: Truth be told, I was totally unprepared for The Sadness. In fact, there’s really nothing that could have possibly prepared me for The Sadness because once I was immersed in writer/director Rob Jabbaz’s absolutely horrifying descent into the depraved depths of humanity, I found myself in desperate need of a hug, a drink, and maybe...
- 8/30/2021
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Exclusive: Nelson Lee and Krista Allen (The Final Destination, Significant Mother) have joined the cast of Five Below.
They will appear In the high concept sci-fi thriller, which is scheduled to shoot this summer, opposite previously announced cast member, Steven Strait (The Expanse). Mike Le Han is directing.
While the film’s plot is being kept under wraps, it has been described as “a new take on the meta-human sci-fi genre.” Scripted by Nick Brown, it will be the first in a franchise of low-budget, high-concept science-fiction films made by Le Han’s newly formed outfit, RedOne Studios. Liam Finn and Le Han are producing, and a sequel to Five Below is already in development.
Perhaps best known for his turn as Dr. Shiro Ito / Dragon King in The CW’s Stargirl, Lee’s other TV credits include Westworld,...
They will appear In the high concept sci-fi thriller, which is scheduled to shoot this summer, opposite previously announced cast member, Steven Strait (The Expanse). Mike Le Han is directing.
While the film’s plot is being kept under wraps, it has been described as “a new take on the meta-human sci-fi genre.” Scripted by Nick Brown, it will be the first in a franchise of low-budget, high-concept science-fiction films made by Le Han’s newly formed outfit, RedOne Studios. Liam Finn and Le Han are producing, and a sequel to Five Below is already in development.
Perhaps best known for his turn as Dr. Shiro Ito / Dragon King in The CW’s Stargirl, Lee’s other TV credits include Westworld,...
- 5/11/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Steven Strait (The Expanse) has been cast in Five Below, a high concept sci-fi thriller to be directed by Mike Le Han.
While the film’s plot is being kept under wraps, it is said to be a new take on the meta-human sci-fi genre. Penned by Nick Brown, it will be the first in a franchise of low-budget, high-concept science-fiction films made by Le Han’s newly formed outfit, RedOne Studios. Liam Finn and Le Han are producing, with production scheduled for early summer. A sequel to Five Below is already in development.
Strait is perhaps best known for his turn as James Holden—captain of the Rocinante frigate—on sci-fi series The Expanse, which is now streaming on Prime Video. Currently filming the final season of that series, the actor has also appeared in Raymond De Felitta...
While the film’s plot is being kept under wraps, it is said to be a new take on the meta-human sci-fi genre. Penned by Nick Brown, it will be the first in a franchise of low-budget, high-concept science-fiction films made by Le Han’s newly formed outfit, RedOne Studios. Liam Finn and Le Han are producing, with production scheduled for early summer. A sequel to Five Below is already in development.
Strait is perhaps best known for his turn as James Holden—captain of the Rocinante frigate—on sci-fi series The Expanse, which is now streaming on Prime Video. Currently filming the final season of that series, the actor has also appeared in Raymond De Felitta...
- 4/22/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
There may be no one in independent horror having more of a moment right now than Brea Grant. As an actor, she starred in one of the best horror movies of 2020, After Midnight, and now The Stylist, already one of the best horror movies of 2021. As a writer, she’s responsible for Lucky (in which she also stars), an ambitious and inventive horror film about female fear that’s now available to stream on Shudder. As writer and director, she’s responsible for 12 Hour Shift, a bloody black comedy starring Angela Bettis as a drug-addicted nurse caught up in an organ harvesting scheme that goes bad; it was one of 2020’s best movies, full stop. The lesson from all of this? Give Brea Grant the keys to everything.
One of the infinite number of things that’s great about the Texas-born actor, writer, and director is her commitment to indie horror.
One of the infinite number of things that’s great about the Texas-born actor, writer, and director is her commitment to indie horror.
- 4/2/2021
- by Patrick Bromley
- DailyDead
How was 2019 only 12 months? How did one year contain both the Spielberg vs Netflix feud and the Scorsese vs Marvel dustup? Oh, and it was somehow the same year in which everyone hated the finales of both Star Wars (or at least its Skywalker Saga) and “Game of Thrones.” The mind boggles at simply how much happened in the world of film and TV in 2019. The staff of IndieWire thought it would be worth taking a moment to reflect on our favorite stories of the year. We broke news, made passionate critical arguments, interviewed luminaries from all aspects of the business, and defined the issues, trends, and breakthroughs — and why they matter.
These are the stories we published in 2019 we’re proud of the most. Taken together, it’s a cheat-sheet guide to where the industry is now — and possibly a glimpse of where it’s going.
No, Studios Won’t Buy Theaters,...
These are the stories we published in 2019 we’re proud of the most. Taken together, it’s a cheat-sheet guide to where the industry is now — and possibly a glimpse of where it’s going.
No, Studios Won’t Buy Theaters,...
- 12/31/2019
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Amazon Studios has acquired the worldwide rights to Ninian Doff’s debut feature Boyz In The Wood which stars Izzard, Kate Dickie, Georgie Glen, James Cosmo and a up-and-comers Samuel Bottomley, Viraj Juneja, Rian Gordon and Lewis Gribben. The horror-comedy made its world premiere as the opening Midnight Movie at SXSW and received rave reviews before moving on to a noteworthy festival run.
Written and directed by Doff and produced by Tobey Maguire and Matthew Plouffe’s Material Pictures, Boyz In The Wood is set deep in the Scottish Highlands and gives an irreverent take on generational politics, hip-hop loving farmers, and hallucinogenic rabbit shites. The satirical story, which features a playlist of tone-appropriate rappers including Danny Brown, Vince Staples, Run The Jewels, and original music from Scottish producer S-Type, follows four city boys trying to escape a mysterious huntsman (Izzard). The Scottish Highlands’ police unit trails behind, failing spectacularly to provide assistance.
Written and directed by Doff and produced by Tobey Maguire and Matthew Plouffe’s Material Pictures, Boyz In The Wood is set deep in the Scottish Highlands and gives an irreverent take on generational politics, hip-hop loving farmers, and hallucinogenic rabbit shites. The satirical story, which features a playlist of tone-appropriate rappers including Danny Brown, Vince Staples, Run The Jewels, and original music from Scottish producer S-Type, follows four city boys trying to escape a mysterious huntsman (Izzard). The Scottish Highlands’ police unit trails behind, failing spectacularly to provide assistance.
- 12/17/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
In the second of today’s Arrow Video Frightfest preview podcast, host Stuart Wright talks Criminal Audition with writer/actor Luke Kaile and director Samuel Gridley.
A darkly funny, claustrophobic Midnight Movie to laugh, wince and gasp at. An ex-lawyer and his crack team run an underworld service; they seek the most desperate and greedy to become fake criminals to take the fall for the rich and powerful elite’s felonies. The process is known as the Criminal Audition. In an undisclosed location, over one night they will put three individuals through hell to find the perfect candidate for their latest assignment. But their world is turned upside down when they face lies, deceit, murder and a very dangerous new client auditioning for their biggest job yet.
Catch Criminal Audition at Arrow Video Frightfest
22th to 26th August 2018
Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7Na.
Programme listings and film details www.
A darkly funny, claustrophobic Midnight Movie to laugh, wince and gasp at. An ex-lawyer and his crack team run an underworld service; they seek the most desperate and greedy to become fake criminals to take the fall for the rich and powerful elite’s felonies. The process is known as the Criminal Audition. In an undisclosed location, over one night they will put three individuals through hell to find the perfect candidate for their latest assignment. But their world is turned upside down when they face lies, deceit, murder and a very dangerous new client auditioning for their biggest job yet.
Catch Criminal Audition at Arrow Video Frightfest
22th to 26th August 2018
Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7Na.
Programme listings and film details www.
- 8/20/2019
- by Stuart Wright
- Nerdly
Welcome to the latest installment in our regular Movies You May Have Missed series here on Nerdly, in which I highlight some of, what I think, are the best movies that have flown under the radar of many or have been “forgotten” in the intervening years since its release. This time round its the horror film Midnight Movie, in particular the “Killer Cut” which was released years after the films original debut, fixing some of the issues the director had with them film.
Stars: Rebekah Brandes, Daniel Bonjour, Greg Cirulnick, Brea Grant, Mandell Maughan, Stan Ellsworth, Jon Briddell, Michael Swan, Michael Schwartz | Written by Jack Messitt, Mark Garbett | Directed by Jack Messitt
Official Synopsis:
A midnight showing of an early 1970′s horror movie turns to chaos when the Killer from the movie comes out of the film to attack those in the theater.
My Thoughts:
Originally released back in 2009, Midnight Movie...
Stars: Rebekah Brandes, Daniel Bonjour, Greg Cirulnick, Brea Grant, Mandell Maughan, Stan Ellsworth, Jon Briddell, Michael Swan, Michael Schwartz | Written by Jack Messitt, Mark Garbett | Directed by Jack Messitt
Official Synopsis:
A midnight showing of an early 1970′s horror movie turns to chaos when the Killer from the movie comes out of the film to attack those in the theater.
My Thoughts:
Originally released back in 2009, Midnight Movie...
- 6/6/2019
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Over the first few days of SXSW, we saw films from Jordan Peele, Seth Rogen, and Matthew McConaughey, just to name a few. But perhaps the film that surprised us the most, and the one that we ultimately fell in love with, is “Boyz in the Wood.”
The UK film, that we lovingly described in our review as a Midnight Movie, is a genre mixture of comedy, horror, and…hip-hop?
Continue reading ‘Boyz In The Wood’ Exclusive Clip: Police Have Difficulty Knowing The Difference Between Drugs And Feces In This SXSW Comedy at The Playlist.
The UK film, that we lovingly described in our review as a Midnight Movie, is a genre mixture of comedy, horror, and…hip-hop?
Continue reading ‘Boyz In The Wood’ Exclusive Clip: Police Have Difficulty Knowing The Difference Between Drugs And Feces In This SXSW Comedy at The Playlist.
- 3/11/2019
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
In this age of streaming and homogenous theater chains, it’s hard to say if teenagers still know the term Midnight Movie. But that’s a shame, because it essentially refers to movies made for a teenage sensibility and the ingredients haven’t changed much since these movies were actually shown late at night – start with a healthy dose of sneering at authority, throw in some wild music and visual styles to scare off the old fogies, sprinkle in some drugs and violence (the weirder the better), add a light garnish of political outrage and voilà, a Midnight Movie, and “Boyz in the Wood” is a perfect example of this subgenre of film.
Continue reading ‘Boyz In The Wood’: Filmmaker Ninian Doff Crafts A Love Letter To The Bonkers Midnight Movie Genre [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Boyz In The Wood’: Filmmaker Ninian Doff Crafts A Love Letter To The Bonkers Midnight Movie Genre [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.
- 3/9/2019
- by Joe Blessing
- The Playlist
IFC Films has quickly become one of horror's best friends by picking up lots of really good properties that otherwise would have struggled and giving them theatrical and on-demand releases, making them easily accessible to us blood-hungry fans.
To make things even easier for you guys (because we love you so), we've compiled a complete listing of what they've got cooking horror-wise from now into October! Dig it!
Before the Fall -- On Demand: 7.22.09–10.27.09
What would you do if the world was going to end in 72 hours? A giant meteorite is about to collide with Earth. The planet is gripped by despair and chaos. The inhabitants of the little town of Laguna listen to the news in terror. Ale, a frustrated young man who lives with his mother and works at doing odd jobs, decides to spend his last days shut away, getting drunk and listening to his favorite music.
To make things even easier for you guys (because we love you so), we've compiled a complete listing of what they've got cooking horror-wise from now into October! Dig it!
Before the Fall -- On Demand: 7.22.09–10.27.09
What would you do if the world was going to end in 72 hours? A giant meteorite is about to collide with Earth. The planet is gripped by despair and chaos. The inhabitants of the little town of Laguna listen to the news in terror. Ale, a frustrated young man who lives with his mother and works at doing odd jobs, decides to spend his last days shut away, getting drunk and listening to his favorite music.
- 7/9/2009
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
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