Tag: Uncork'd Entertainment

Monsters, Love, and Survival: Inside Alec Gillis’ Indie Creature-Feature ‘Wellwood’

Wellwood is available on Video On Demand. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Wellwood: Creature Effects Legend Alec Gillis Returns to His Indie Roots

Renowned creature effects artist Alec Gillis—known for his groundbreaking work on the Alien and Predator franchises, Starship Troopers, and most recently Smile 2—is returning to his independent film roots with Wellwood, a new creature-feature produced under his company Pro Machina, Inc. (Roberson Public Relations, 2025)

Alec began his career working with low-budget film icon Roger Corman and has long been an advocate for the art of practical effects. His latest venture, Wellwood, embraces that passion. Produced through Pro Machina, a studio focused on practical effects-heavy, lower-budget films, Wellwood showcases the craftsmanship and creativity that have become Alec’s hallmark.

Now Available on VOD

Wellwood, executive produced by Alec Gillis, was released in April 2025 by Uncork’d Entertainment and is now available on all major video-on-demand platforms, including streaming, satellite, and cable.

Practical Effects at the Forefront

True to Gillis’ legacy, every creature and corpse in Wellwood was built using practical effects. Alec and his team created the alien creature at the center of the film using rod puppets, a full-body suit, and mechanized heads. They also designed several human and animal “bodies” for key scenes—don’t worry, no animals were harmed in the making of this film!

A Legacy of Creature Creation

In addition to his work on Wellwood, Alec’s effects company Studio Gillis has recently contributed creatures and effects to major films such as Smile 2, Alien: Romulus, the upcoming I Love Boosters, and the Naked Gun reboot.

Previously, Alec co-founded Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. (ADI), where he was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Alien 3. Other notable credits from his ADI tenure include Death Becomes Her, Tremors, Prey, and of course, Starship Troopers.

Wellwood — A Sci-Fi Thriller With Heart

Tagline:
A man takes a dangerous creature hostage after he convinces himself the creature’s blood is the key to curing his sick wife.

Question:
In the end, what would you believe?

Synopsis

When Laura Harper (Camille Balsamo-Gillis) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, her husband Nick (Reid Collums) is driven to the edge in his search for a cure. His desperate journey leads him to an extraterrestrial being he believes can save her. But as Nick’s obsession grows, their actions draw the attention of law enforcement, including Deputy Gracie Marsh (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and the steadfast Sheriff Bradley (Lance E. Nichols). What follows is a harrowing exploration of love, belief, and the consequences of crossing the line.

Meet the Filmmakers

  • Director: Eliza Hooper
  • Producers: Camille Balsamo-Gillis, Reid Collums, Alec Gillis
  • Writer: Reid Collums

Wellwood is a must-watch for fans of sci-fi, practical effects, and human storytelling. Catch it now on your favorite VOD platform.

Camille Balsamo Gillis as Laura Harper in Wellwood. Courtesy photo,used with permission.

New horror movie release: The Curse of Willow Song

Karen Lam’s highly anticipated horror movie is out now on digital platforms. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Karen Lam‘s highly-anticipated The Curse of Willow Song, starring Jennifer Body’s Valerie Tian, has been picked up by Uncork’d Entertainment. The horror picture, receiving great early buzz thanks to its strong special effects, is now available on digital formats including iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Google, YouTube movies, and more. (October Coast, 2023)

The Curse of Willow Song – Willow Song, a recovering addict, is released on probation after serving her prison term for arson. Struggling to start over, she faces systemic racism and eviction. Willow finds herself in a concrete wasteland. Facing isolation and displacement, shadows creep into Willow’s mind and her nightmares become too real. Against the backdrop of a city seen in vacant properties and people left behind. Willow can’t escape the nightmares, as the shadows come to life.

“The Curse of Willow Song has so much to offer. It will appeal for the genre audience but also the Asian community – as represented in front of and behind camera”, said Keith Leopard, President Uncork’d Entertainment. “Karen Lam is truly one of the most exceptional filmmakers out there, and The Curse of Willow Song reiterates that.”

New horror movie: Ghost Town

Ghost Town will be available on digital, DVD, and On Demand on March 7, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In movie news: here is a new horror western that will be releasing this March from Uncork’d Entertainment. In the tradition of From Dusk Till Dawn and The Dark Tower, Ghost Town is directed by and stars Owen Conway. It will be available on digital, DVD, and On Demand on March 7, 2023.

Ghost Town also stars Eva Hamilton (Death Kiss), Becky Jo Harris (Spiked) and Amelia Haberman (The Covenant). The story is set in 1877 Arizona, where a drifter takes a job as a barman. After a series of bizarre and horrifying deaths, he finds himself the target of suspicion. Desperate to escape the noose, he is soon at the center of a supernatural mystery that plagues this town.

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New supernatural horror movie: Sawed Off

, 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.


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New horror movie release: 3 Demons

D.M. Cunningham’s 3 Demons starring Haley Heslip and Laura Golinski. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

If you love horror movies, here is a recent release. D.M Cunningham’s 3 Demons, a supernatural horror film headlined by Peter Tell, is available on Google Play Movies & TV, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube from Uncork’d Entertainment. (Uncork’d Entertainment, 2022)

3 Demons – A deputy is tasked with watching over the body of a recently deceased woman until her family can arrive and claim her. As his curiosity gets the better of him, he inadvertently concludes an unfinished ritual. With the conjuring now complete, strange and sinister forces begin to target him. As his past is unearthed, he is forced to face his own demons with terrifying consequences. Haley Heslip, Laura Golinski, Jovonnah Nicholson, Zoë Cunningham, and Sherryl Despres also star.

Keith Leopard, a home entertainment industry veteran with more than 23 years of experience in purchasing, acquisitions, merchandising, marketing and analysis of major studio and independent supplier to the home entertainment market, founded Uncork’d Entertainment in July 2012. The Company focuses on distribution in six areas: Digital Media, Physical Home Entertainment, Aggregation, Theatrical and Television, Foreign Sales, and has secured relationships across all platforms to ensure films reach the widest audience possible.

New movie release: Reed’s Point

Reed’s Point is now available on digital and DVD. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Reed’s Point is a psychological-thriller/creature-feature that tells of Sarah and Alex, two survivors of an RV crash near the New Jersey Pine Barrens. On the anniversary of the accident, Sarah and Alex drive to Reed’s Point to investigate the crash site. Things quickly go downhill as they find themselves stuck in the woods unsure of who they can trust and questioning if monsters really do exist. Written by Tricia Aurand, Suzanne DeLaurentiis and Sandy Lo, and directed by Dale Fabrigar (D-Railed), Reed’s Point stars Sasha Anne, Julia Kelly, Evan Adams, Madison Ekstrand, Anthony Jensen, Joseph Almani, Lanett Tachel, and veteran actor Joe Estevez (Soultaker, No Code of Conduct). (Uncork’d Entertainment, 2022)

Reed’s Point
Genre: Horror/Fantasy
Run time: 1hr 17 min
Release date: April 12, 2022
Available on digital and DVD.
Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu, 

New movie release: Escape from Death Block 13

Escape from Death Block 13 will be available On Demand and DVD this November. Courtesy photos, used with permission.

Robert Bronzi (Death Kiss, Cry Havoc) stars in the action-packed Escape from Death Block 13, which will be available On Demand November 2 and On DVD on November 23, 2021. (Uncork’d Entertainment, 2021)

After the death of his brother, Mick Kovacs travels to America to seek justice. Framed for attempted murder, he is sent to the notorious Pleasant Hill Penitentiary where survival is an everyday struggle. Seeking revenge after discovering the truth behind his brother’s death, Mick’s rage ignites an explosive riot as he makes a daring escape.

Nicholas Turturro, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Chris Hahn, Debbie Scaletta, Lyindaa Russell, Time Lovelace, Beau Roberts, Justin Hawkins, David Greathouse, Richard Napoli, Leo Mcnamee, Mickey Scodova, Kenny H. Hendrix, Jacob Southwick, Jimmy Lee, and Bryan Jones star in a Gary Jones film.

Escape from Death Block 13 trailer