NEWS HUB MARCH 2006 - ARCHIVED
FREDDY KRUEGER HIMSELF AND SIN-JIN PRODUCER INTERVIEWED!
'STAY ALIVE' REVIEWED ON THE PIT!
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As a special two-punch on the interview front, John Gray has delivered two spanking new interviews for the Pit, the first of which is none other than Robert Englund! The legendary Freddy Krueger actor speaks candidly about his current projects such as the upcoming Hatchet, as well as his thoughts on past films in this lengthy feature interview. Read it here.
Next up the lovely Lota Hadley, producer of the eargerly-awaited Sin-Jin Smyth, offers some insights into getting this ambitious indie project off the ground, with all the pitfalls and triumphs that comes with such an endeavor and the joys of working with a top-notch cast and crew. Read the interview here.
Many thanks to Robert and Lota for their time and participation!
A mysterious video game lands in the hands of a gaming enthusiast (Jon Foster), but when he and his plugged-in buddies try it out, they unwittingly unleash a demonic force that is capable of killing them in real life--unless they can individually Stay Alive in the game. That's the premise of William Brent Bell's cybernatural stalker flick, and Petch gives you the lowdown in his review.
Stay Alive also features appearances from Samaire Armstrong, Jimmi Simpson, Sophia Bush, Wendell Pierce and "Malcolm In The Middle" star Frankie Muniz. Be sure and visit the official site as well.
NEW SIN-JIN SMYTH TEASER TRAILER & WEBSITE!
The official teaser trailer for Ethan Dettenmaier's Sin-Jin Smyth has hit the web via version 3.0 of the official site. This version of the site is easily the best
one so far, with Tons of new content to get your teeth into, a glimpse of the official teaser poster and with much more to come. Check it out right away!
THE 'HATCHET' MAN TALKS TO JOHN GRAY!
Up-and-coming writer/director Adam Green has granted an interview with the Pit, discussing his chilling new feature Hatchet which features Kane Hodder as the sure-to-become-legendary swamp dwelling villain Victor Crowley. The film, which also features appearances from Robert Englund, Tony Todd, John Carl Buechler and other genre perrenials, was shot in the New Orleans area prior to Hurricane Katrina and boasts a nifty official website.
Read the interview here. Many thanks to Adam for his time!
Contributed by Petch Lucas
RECON 2022 THE MEZZO INCIDENT
My friend John Fallon over at Arrow in the Head was recently shooting a movie called RECON 2022 THE MEZZO INCIDENT. Check out some pics of John fully kitted up as a leader of a cyborg army! We'd like to wish them goodluck with the flick!
Contributed by Rich Carlin
SPECIAL FEATURES UPDATED
We have finally updated the Special Features section. Which currently boasts reviews of
THE HILLS HAVE EYES (2006), V FOR VENDETTA, WOLF CREEK, NIGHTWATCH and Tobe Hooper's THE MORTUARY. Check it out. And also don't forget to check out previous features covered on the PIT.
Contributed by Rich Carlin
US ALTERNATE ENDING FOR NEIL MARSHALL'S, THE DESCENT
Fango clears up the rumored changed ending... it looks like Neil Marshall is the one who wanted it changed. Strange that he would want to change it for the US? But I guess his thinking makes some sense... check it out:
Chances are, if you have a multiregion DVD player, you’ve already devoured Neil Marshall’s THE DESCENT (released theatrically in the UK last summer and on disc last November). If not, you’ll be able to see it on the big screen when Lionsgate releases the DOG SOLDIERS director’s subterranean exercise in terror this August in the U.S.—but you’ll witness an alternate cut of the film. Rumors have been flying around the web that Lionsgate has trimmed THE DESCENT’s final haunting minutes for Stateside audiences—and they’re not wrong. Early test screenings, and a recent screening at Sundance, have proven that the new cut with a different conclusion has been favorably received—but why tamper with the film in the first place?
For the first time, Lionsgate president of production Peter Block talks exclusively to Fango about the decision-making process behind the new ending, which had the wholehearted blessing and involvement of Marshall himself. “When Neil wrote the script for THE DESCENT, even he wasn’t sure where he wanted to end the movie, because there are two very emotional beats [that close the film],” says Block. “He [originally] ended it in a way that gives it an intellectual and downbeat approach, but he always wondered how it would play with an ending that had a different impact.”
Borrowing some inspiration from Fox’s handling of 28 DAYS LATER—on which a post-end-credits alternate finale surfaced in theaters weeks after the film’s initial release—Lionsgate offered Marshall the opportunity to tinker with THE DESCENT’s conclusion while the studio mulled over a release time frame. “Neil thought it would be cool to see how the other way would play; rarely does a director get this chance,” Block says. “If you add on a scene, it feels like you’re giving a film something extra; if you cut a little bit earlier, it’s not necessarily taking away from the experience, it’s just changing it slightly.”
This experimentation led to a palpable contrast in overall audience reaction. “Neil found that although people loved THE DESCENT, they spent a long time talking about the end of the movie and not the movie itself, and without the last shot, there’s far more discussion of the film as a whole rather than the ambiguity one is left with from the last moment.”
U.S. horror fans sans the Region 2 DVD won’t be completely left in the dark. Lionsgate aims, of course, to release THE DESCENT’s original ending on American disc when that time arrives. “The one thing I can guarantee you is that losing the last shot does not change at all how the film plays,” Block says. “It’s such a well-made film, and one that needs to be experienced in the dark of a theater. We’d never do anything Neil didn’t want us to do—and this is something he did want to do, and we’re happy to accommodate him.”
Check out the PIT'S review of the THE DESCENT. An incredible horror film.
Source: Fangoria
MICHAEL BAILEY SMITH TALKS PLUTO ON GUTS AND GORY...
As you may already know, we just opened up Michael Bailey Smith's offical horror forum
on GUTS AND GORY. Michael played Pluto in the 2006 remake of THE HILLS HAVE EYES and after I commended him on the opening set piece to the movie, he had some details to share, as follows...
"Did you know I almost didn't get to do the opening scene? Yep. We were doing the trailer stuff when 2nd unit was setting up the opening scene in a distant location. Well, they were going to put this big Moroccan dude in a “stunt” mask and have him dress like me and do the scene. When I heard about this, I was pretty upset. I went to the producers and said, “You can let this happen. This is my character. This is an important sequence. I have to do this. No one else can do this like me. No one can bring the power and intensity like me”
Well, they told me that the shot was going to be blurred out with a sand storm so you really can’t see what’s going on. But I told them that I didn’t care. I didn’t care how small, how mundane the scene was, anything with Pluto, I wanted to do it. The producers loved my passion and rearrange the shooting schedule so the moment I finished with first unit, I hopped in a van, in “full prosthetics” and hurried off to the 2nd unit location.
On a side note… When I was in the van, I rode shotgun. The guys and gals from KNB were in the back. You should have scene the look on people’s faces when “Pluto” drove through some of the small towns or passed a car along the way. The Moroccans just lost it, pointing, some screaming, children running. Pretty funny.
During the scene I worked my butt off. That scene took about 8 hours, 130 degree heat, in a wool suit. I hoisted up two different stunt guys. The last guy, I had to really smash into the rocks. I felt bad for him, but I had to do it. He was a tough guy. He took it pretty well.
Because I didn’t such an awesome job in that scene, they didn’t obscure it with the sand storm like they said they would. So, you get a good image, a little blurred, but still it has a great impact.
Not to be cocky, but when you hire me for a movie, you’re going to get 100% of me. I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure that we get the scene done right. I’ve worked with too many actors thinking that their shit doesn’t stink and are just pains in the asses. That’s really pisses me off. They don’t realize how lucky they are and that everyone on the set has a job of equal importance. Everyone; from the guy getting you water, to the craft services, to the sound guy, to the producers, to the director, to the actor.
When they called “picture wrap” on my last shot of that film, everyone came to the set to thank me. Everyone. From accounting, to transportation, to catering, everyone. You can’t believe how much I want to do this. I savor every moment, wishing it will never end. I hope it never does."
Check out Michael's forum on Guts and Gory to interact with Pluto himself!
Contributed by Rich Carlin
JOHN GRAY INTERVIEWS ALEXANDRE AJA!
Today's the big day, the release of Alexandre Aja's remake of The Hills Have Eyes, and to mark the occasion, John Gray has interviewed the acclaimed director who also helmed the recent horror hit Haute Tension. A genuinely friendly soul, the auteur had some insightful commentary about both his own film and today's horror climate in general, and we're sure you'll enjoy the read.
Click here to read the interview.
SPECIAL DALLAS/HOUSTON SCREENINGS OF 'THE ZODIAC'!
Hot on the heels of our recent sneek peak showing of
The Hills Have Eyes, the Pit of Horror is proud to
announce two advance screenings of the upcoming The Zodiac in two major Texas cities. The first engagement
is set for Wednesday, March 15th, 2006 at the AMC
Loews Keystone Park 16 in Dallas (13933 North Central
Expressway, Dallas, TX 75243: 972-671-1000) at 7:30
p.m., with another showing the following night March
16th (also at 7:30 p.m.) at the Edwards Grand Palace
24 (3839 Weslayan Street, Houston, TX 77027:
713-871-8880) in Houston Texas.
We have 100 passes available for each event, and guess
what? Just like the beer in Animal House, "it don't
cost nuthin.'" If you're interested in attending
either screening, simply EMAIL us and we'll respond
with a ticket that you'll need to print out on your
own printer and which will admit YOU and ONE GUEST to
the theatre. Make sure you indicate whether you wish
to attend the DALLAS or the HOUSTON screening, or we
won't know which ticket to send you! Thanks, and enjoy
a flick on the Pit, folks!
IT'S A 'HILLS HAVE EYES' BONANZA!
The Dallas promotional screening of Alexandra Aja's remake of The Hills Have Eyes was a resounding success, and John Gray has already reviewed the movie. Fans, make no mistake....he assures us it's Kick-Assed with a capital K and A. And hot on the heels of that, he has also delivered the first two of what should eventually be a total of four Hills-related interviews.
So wait no further and read John's interview with Michael Bailey Smith, who handles Michael Berryman's unforgettable role as 'Pluto' this time out and who has extensive experience in television and film, with plenty of genre overlap. Then head over for an insightful chat with Ezra Buzzington, who appears in the film as new mutant character 'Goggles' and who talks about his upcoming projects as well as previous roles.
Many thanks to John for his effort and to all who participated in this event!
'SAW III'? WHY THE HECK NOT ???
Lions Gate, the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, and Twisted Pictures today announced plans to develop and produce Saw III, the next film in the psychologically intense and disturbing horror franchise, for an October 27, 2006 wide release. The film will be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II), with story by Leigh Whannell and James Wan (Saw, Saw II) and screenplay by Whannell. The Twisted Pictures team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules will return as producers with Whannell and Wan set to executive produce. The announcement was made by Peter Block, Lionsgate President of Acquisitions and Co-productions, Jason Constantine, Lions Gate Senior VP of Acquisitions, and the Twisted Pictures team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules.
“We have been discussing story lines that extend the Saw franchise to new limits and beyond with Lions Gate for the past several months,” said Burg and Koules. “The most important element of any franchise is remaining true to the roots of its success. We believe that we are developing a script that is certain to please the Saw franchise’s core fans while adding fresh, terrifying and unimaginable new twists to the Saw saga. Jigsaw himself would be proud.”
Contributed by Jessica Cheung.
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