, Sawed Off will be available on digital and DVD on October 11, 2022. Photo: Uncork’d Entertainment, Used with permission.
Uncork’d Entertainment has acquired Sawed Off, a new supernatural horror feature based on a comic anthology story and starring Eva Hamilton, Jody Barton, and Trae Ireland. The movie will be released on digital platforms and DVD October 11, 2022. (Uncork’d Entertainment, 2022)
Sawed Off – In the vein of “The Evil Dead meets Groundhog Day,” the movie centers on two hunters, friends for years and vying for the affections of the same woman, who find themselves on cursed land and keep killing each other and coming back to life. Hunter Johnson is the producer and director. The screenplay is by Barton, Johnson, and Chuck Wagner, based on Wagner’s Eclipse Comics story “Bag Limit,” published in Tales of Terror in 1986. Other producers include Cris Hernandez and Richard Trejo along with Barton and Ireland. Jeff Miller executive produces through his company Millman Productions, along with James Cullen Bressack and his company Sandaled Kid Productions. Special makeup effects are by Oliver Poser. Trejo is Director of Photography.
“Sawed Off is a new twist on ‘cabin in the woods’ stories and features great performances from Jody, Trae, and Eva,” says Miller.
20th Digital Studio’s Bite Size Halloween on Hulu brings 20 spooky shorts from diverse and emerging filmmakers. Photo: 20th Digital Studio, used with permission.
In celebration of Huluween, 20th Digital Studio’s Bite Size Halloween series of spooky shorts is back for a third season. Twenty new shorts from exciting emerging filmmakers premiere October 1 on Hulu, blending genres like horror, comedy, sci-fi, thriller, and more. (20th Digital Studio, 2022)
Shot in seven different countries, this season takes on topical issues such as racism, gender, parenthood, sexuality, and identity. Snatched features Tatiana Maslany (“She-Hulk: Attorney-at-Law”) in her first on-screen role with husband Brendan Hines (“Locke & Key”). Misha Osherovich (“Freaky”) stars as their son. Other shorts feature familiar faces like Brigette Lundy-Paine (“Atypical”), Lin Shaye (“Insidious”), David Costabile (“Breaking Bad”), and former “Glow” co-stars Rebekka Johnson and singer-songwriter Kate Nash who co-wrote/directed/star in a short featuring Nash’s original music.
“As we launch the first feature films developed with our incredibly talented Bite Size Halloween filmmaker alums, we are thrilled to introduce the next wave of dynamic filmmaking talent and their ingenious short films. We take great pride in showcasing these vital, diverse voices and their very personal twists on horror, thriller and sci-fi.” – David Worthen Brooks, SVP – 20th Digital Studio
The goal of 20th Digital Studio’s short film programs is to continue to guide and finance the growth of these artists’ careers and to transition some of the shorts into longer features. The first two films developed in this way will premiere this month on Hulu: “Grimcutty” from John William Ross on October 10 and “Matriarch” from Ben Steiner on October 21. Shorts from past seasons have played at festivals such as SXSW, Sundance, Tribeca, Fantasia, and more.
20th Digital Studio’s focus on diversity and inclusion continues as prestigious filmmakers from the festival world are featured, including Nuhash Humayun (“Moshari,” SXSW Grand Jury Prize), Sam Max (“Chaperone,” Sundance), Michelle Krusiec (“Bite,” AFI DWW), Zoey Martinson (“Cupids,” Tribeca), and many more.
20th Digital Studio focuses on funding and producing award-winning short-form genre content together with up-and-coming filmmakers from the digital and film festival worlds. 20th Digital develops select shorts into longer form content, packaging new voices with established producers and offering opportunities for growth and representation; always with a goal to create innovative character narrative, voice-driven filmmaking with a social message, cultural impact and box-office or streaming success. Set up in 2008 as a nimble entrepreneurial group within Fox Filmed Entertainment, 20th Digital is now a part of Disney General Entertainment Content.
From Film Valor, How Dark They Prey is now available on Amazon Prime Video and Watch Movies Now. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
From Film Valor and directors Jamison M. LoCascio and Adam Ambrosio, How Dark They Prey is now available on Amazon Prime Video and Watch Movies Now. (October Coast, 2022)
How Dark They Prey– Includes four dark tales about the haunting nature of man and the unknown from WWII to Alien investigation, finding the occult, and kidnap with torture. The highly anticipated horror anthology is written by Adam Ambrosio, Anthony LoCascio and Jamison M. LoCascio. Starring Josiah Schneider, Timothy Paul Jobe, and David Johnson.
The Mystery Spot releases on digital and Video On Demand on October 7 from Terror Films. Photo: Google
From director Mel House, and starring Graham Skipper (Re-Animator: The Musical), Lisa Wilcox (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4-5), and scream queen Debbie Rochon, experience the terror of The Mystery Spot this October. (Terror Films, 2022)
The Mystery Spot– A number of lost souls find refuge in a small motel in the middle of nowhere, its only distinguishing characteristic being the ruins of an old Mystery Spot—a long-dead roadside attraction with strange metaphysical powers. Nathan and Rachel find solace in one another, both attempting to escape dark pasts that seem to be using the Mystery Spot to go from being painful shadows of their lives to very real entities of the present. Everyone at the Mystery Spot will be affected by its unique properties, but only some will survive its reality-shattering implications.
The Mystery Spot releases on digital and VOD October 7 worldwide from Terror Films.
The Bigfoot horror movie will have a digital release on September 30, 2022. Photo: Google
Terror Films will release the Michael Pare-starring Bigfoot horror movie The Wild Man this September. Developed during the pandemic, the film stars Michael Pare, and is directed by Tampa Bay native Ryan Justice (Followers). Lauren Crandall, Julian Green, and Mike Reed also help make up the cast. (Terror Films, 2022)
“We used our downtime to create and develop projects. The Wild Man happened to be the perfect project to make at the time. As a Florida Native the Legend of the Skunk Ape (Florida Bigfoot) always had our interest. We wanted to do a fun movie around the legend and do something different with the bigfoot movie genre.”
The Wild Man – Young women have been going missing in Ochopee, FL, without a single suspect in custody. A young journalist, Sara, convinces her crew to join her investigation as she travels to Ochopee to document her discoveries, but they soon realize their presence in this town is not welcome. Determined to find her story, Sara convinces her friends to stick with her, because they are onto something big. Upon meeting Dale, the town’s notorious conspiracy theorist, she is convinced he knows more than he is willing to share. The crew humors Dale’s ridiculous theories, even accompanying him into the Florida swamps on his quest to show them “The Wild Man,” hoping he will somehow reveal his guilt. But what the crew discovers is a secret much deeper than fairy tales and legends. What they discover is much darker and more sinister than they bargained for.
The Wild Man will first premiere on digital platforms September 30 ahead of plays on the Terror Films and Kings of Horror YouTube Channels.
TERRITORY: NORTH AMERICA RELEASE DATE 1: 9/30/22 – DIGITAL RELEASE DATE 2: 10/7/22 – TERROR FILMS CHANNEL RELEASE DATE 2: 10/14/22 – KOH CHANNEL
Our American Family opens in theaters in New York and Los Angeles and Video on Demand. Photo: Giant Pictures, used with permission.
Our American Family will be released in the United States theatrically in New York (Cinema Village), Los Angeles (Laemmle Monica) on September 2 and on Video On Demand in the United States, Canada, UK, and major territories on September 6, both timed to National Recovery Month. Video on Demand platforms include US – Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, Canada- Apple TV/iTunes, Google Play, and UK- Apple TV/iTunes. (Giant Pictures, 2022)
Winner of the Woodstock Film Festival 2021- Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature Addiction is an all-encompassing force, in not only of the lives of the afflicted, but also those around them. Our American Family provides an honest, unfiltered look at a close-knit Philadelphia family dealing with generational substance abuse. Captured at a pivotal “nothing to lose” moment, for over the course of a year, five family members tired of life with addiction on center stage, each struggle to transcend their crippling histories.
What will it take to shift this entrenched, wrenching pattern in their lives? Will they be able to make significant shifts to help their next generation? The members of Our American Family invite us into their lives to find hope and to explore what is possible. Though they often falter, their familial loyalty is powerful, demonstrating how through love and dedication people can rise out of the deepest depths. For a touching, eye-opening look into one of America’s most pressing crises, look no further.
Our American Family opens in September timed to National Recovery Month, a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible.
Hallee Adelman is a writer, filmmaker, and co-founder of World of HA Productions. She is an executive producer on the Emmy-winning documentary “The Social Dilemma,” and the Oscar-nominated international film “Writing with Fire.” Other titles include the Academy shortlisted, “The Truffle Hunters,” the Sundance premiere “UsKids,” and the soon to be released, “Art & Krimes by Krimes.” Recent festival premieres, “Aisha,” “Broadway Rising,” and “Your Friend, Memphis.” Adelman is a Board Member of the International Documentary Association. Adelman co-directed and produced Our American Family after a writing project deepened her connection with the brave participants featured in the film.
The Alternate is one of the movies that will be available this September on digital platforms. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
A new month means a whole new batch of movies coming up in a variety of genres, from horror, to documentaries, and romance. I prefer science fiction movies dealing with time travel/alternate universes so The Alternate looks good to me, but below is a list of upcoming movies that will be available on digital platforms. (October Coast, 2022)
OUT NOW We Are Gathered Here Today Drama | Cinedigm | Digital Platforms (U.S, CANADA) Director: Danny Boyd, Cast: Danny Huston, Lin Shaye, Phoebe Tonkin, Javicia Leslie Synopsis: We Are Gathered Here Today is a film about a multi-generational mixed-race family coming together to say their last goodbye to the patriarch of the family, while at the same time dealing with other underlying issues that family gatherings can bring.
SEPTEMBER 2 (limited digital), SEPTEMBER 16 (global national digital release) Surrogate Paranormal thriller | Indie Rights | Digital Platforms (U.S, AU, UK, NZ, CANADA) Director: David Willing, Cast: Kestie Morassi and Jane Badler Synopsis: Written by Beth King and David Willing, in his feature directorial debut, Surrogate tells of Natalie Paxton (Morassi), a single mother and nurse, who falls mysteriously ill and struggles to stop her family from being destroyed.
Mister Limbo Sci-fi/Comedy/Horror | Terror Films | Digital Platforms (U.S/CANADA) Director: Robert G.Putka, Cast: Hugo de Sousa, Vig Norris, Cameron Dye, Hugo Armstrong Synopsis: A young man in a parachute lands in the middle of a desert. He does not remember who he is or how he got there.
SEPTEMBER 6 Kingdom of the Dinosaurs Sci-fi/Horror | Uncork’d Entertainment | Digital Platforms/DVD (U.S/CANADA) Director: Scott Jeffrey, Cast: Mark Haldor, Darcie Rose, Chelsea Greenwood, Chrissie Wunna Synopsis: In 2030 during World War III a small group of survivors make it into a bunker. Two years later they have to exit to find new supplies, but they are greeted by dinosaur predators.
Something in the Woods Sci-fi/Horror | Uncork’d Entertainment | Digital Platforms/DVD (U.S/CANADA) Director: Alex T. Hwang, Cast: Nicole Cinaglia, Robbie Dias Synopsis: The creature feature tells of two women who battle a frightening monster in the woods and stars Nicole Cinaglia.
This Land Drama/Documentary | Gravitas Ventures | Digital Platforms/DVD (U.S/CANADA) Director: Matthew Palmer Synopsis: From executive producer, Sundance and SXSW winner Jim Cummings (Thunder Road, The Beta Test), This Land is a film exploring six groups of Americans as they experience Election Day across the United States.
SEPTEMBER 13 Gameboy: The Movie LGBTQ+/Romance | Dark Star Pictures | Digital Platforms/DVD (U.S/CANADA) Director: Ivan Andrew Payawal, Cast: Kokoy de Santos and Elijah Canlas Synopsis: Gamers turned lovers Cairo and Gavreel spend time together a few weeks before Cairo returns to his province. Their relationship is tested as they have to deal with distance, the pandemic, fate, and circumstance.
Greywood’s Plot Horror-comedy | Terror Films | Digital Platforms (U.S, UK, AUSTRALIA, NZ, CANADA) Director: Josh Stifter, Cast: Josh Stifter, Daniel Degnan Synopsis: Two friends venture into a forest to see if a monster sighting is real. Has won acclaim on the festival circuit. Stifter’s follow-up to cult favorite The Good Exorcist.
The Alternate Sci-fi/Thriller | Uncork’ d Entertainment | Digital Platforms/DVD (U.S, CANADA) Director: Alrik Brussell, Cast: Ed Gonzalez Marino Synopsis: Upon unlocking a portal to an alternate dimension where all his dreams have come true, struggling filmmaker Jake is forced to confront his idealized self.
SEPTEMBER 15 How Dark They Prey Horror | Film Valor| Digital Platforms, WatchMoviesNow (U.S, CANADA) Director: Jamison M. LoCascio and Adam Ambrosio, Cast: Josiah Schneider, Timothy Paul Jobe, and David Johnson. Synopsis: Four dark tales about the haunting nature of man and the unknown from WWII to Alien investigation, finding the occult, and kidnap with torture, the highly anticipated horror anthology is written by Adam Ambrosio, Anthony LoCascio and Jamison M. LoCascio.
SEPTEMBER 30 The Wild Man Horror | Terror Films| Digital Platforms (U.S, UK, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, CANADA) Director: Ryan Justice, Cast: Michael Pare Synopsis: Young women have been going missing in Ochopee, FL, without a single suspect in custody. A young journalist, Sara, convinces her crew to join her investigation as she travels to Ochopee to document her discoveries, but they soon realize their presence in this town is not welcome. Determined to find her story, Sara convinces her friends to stick with her, because they are onto something big. Upon meeting Dale, the town’s notorious conspiracy theorist, she is convinced he knows more than he is willing to share. The crew humors Dale’s ridiculous theories, even accompanying him into the Florida swamps on his quest to show them “The Wild Man,” hoping he will somehow reveal his guilt. But what the crew discovers is a secret much deeper than fairy tales and legends. What they discover is much darker and more sinister than they bargained for.
Movers Ultimate is available to rent on digital platforms. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
The feature length bromantic comedy about movers you have been waiting for is here. Watch those valuable glasses. Tape up that heavy box. Do not forget to pass on details to the new address. MoversUltimate is now available to stream. (Movers Ultimate, 2022)
Movers Ultimate is written and directed by Ben Rood and stars Shawn Knox, Chaney Morrow, Sé Marie, Annalese Poorman, Andy J. Carlson, and Grant Kennedy Lewis. It is the story of two best friends who must get off work in time to make it to their 10-year high school reunion and reconnect with the girls who got away. And yes, they are being careful not to break the China.
Orders From Above starring Richard Cotter and Peter J. Donnelly. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Vir Srinivas’ writing and directorial debut, Orders From Above has picked up awards or nominations at four world festivals, including Cannes and Mannheim. It is available on iTunes and all major digital platforms including YouTube, Vudu, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video. The 87-minute film is based on the interrogation of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann by Israeli police. (Gravitas Ventures, 2022)
Orders From Above – Winner of Best Historical Film at Cannes World Film Festival. Fifteen years after the end of World War II, Israeli police officer Avner Less interrogates Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, one of the architects of the Final Solution. Adolf Eichmann is finally captured and brought to Israel to stand trial, but without enough evidence to prosecute him, Avner Less needs a confession from him. Directed by Vir Srinivas, with Richard Cotter, Peter J. Donnelly, Darrell Hoffman, and Emmanuel Drakakis.
Orders From Above is based on real events and is set almost entirely in one sparse motel room as Police Captain Avner conducts several interviews with Adolf Eichmann, the mastermind of the Holocaust. Eichmann has finally been captured and brought to Israel to stand trial for the events that took place between 1933 and 1945. Without enough evidence to prosecute him, Police Captain Avner Less must extract a confession to give him a fair trial. For Eichmann’s own safety and to avoid a lynch mob, the interviews take place in an undisclosed location.
Eichmann gives his background, including how easily he fell into the SS, the Schutzstaffel, or Protection Squads, whose final solution included eliminating all enemies of the 3rd Reich. He claims all he did was deport Jews from Hungary and nothing else and that he never had anything to do with giving orders, he only reported what was going on. He makes it a point to stress that he only had a passive role and that he was only a small cog in a big machine, basically an ancillary role and that he was only following orders. When they are no closer to getting a confession, his boss orders Captain Less to fabricate the transcripts but he refuses because unlike Eichmann, he will not blindly follow orders. In a last desperate effort, Captain Less shows Eichmann documentary footage of the mass burials at the extermination camps but all he does is reiterate that he showed unconditional obedience and kept repeating “I obeyed.” He does, though, offer to hang himself in public as an example and states that “the only crime I’m guilty of is apathy.” In the end, Eichmann is convicted on 15 criminal charges, including crimes against the Jewish people and he was hanged the following year. This was the only time Israel has carried out a death sentence.
Since most of the action takes place in a motel room, Orders From Above seems more like a play than a full length feature movie. With the memory of World War II being so far in the past, it serves as an excellent reminder of what happens when one group of people sees others as less than human. The film is in black and white, which gives it the appearance of a genuine historical document. Being that it is mostly dialogue driven, it might be hard for some viewers to remain interested, especially given the heavy subject matter. It should be noted that it contains explicit descriptions and footage, specifically at the end when Eichmann is forced to watch the footage of the horrors of the Holocaust. It might be difficult to watch for some and though it may not bring new information to the conversation, it is an educational tool and reminder of man’s inhumanity to man. Excellent performances by both leading men, especially Peter J. Donnelly as the emotionless, generally unapologetic Adolf Eichmann.
*Thank you to October Coast for an advance screening. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author.
Adrienne King, the original final girl in horror classic Friday the 13th, returns to the horror arena for DeadGirl in Apartment 03. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Adrienne King, the original final girl in horror classic Friday the 13th, returns to the horror arena for DeadGirl in Apartment 03. Dead Girl in Apartment 03 premiered August 9 on digital platforms and is coming to special edition Blu-ray and DVD on November 22 from Wild Eye Releasing. It is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, and AppleTV. (Wild Eye Releasing, 2022)
Dead Girl in Apartment 03– After recently moving to New York City, a young woman is horrified to discover that her roommate has died in their apartment under mysterious circumstances. After her body is taken away by the police, Laura soon feels an unsettling presence in the apartment and paranormal signs that she will soon be the next victim. With the help of a pair of NYC detectives, Laura must uncover the secret behind her roommate’s death before it is too late. Laura Dooling (Blu Bloods), and Michael Schantz (City on a Hill) also star in the film, the latest from cult auteur Kurtis Spieler (cult classic New York Ninja).
SA Examiner 