Grace

Grace (2009)

Starring Jordan Ladd, Stephen Park, Gabrielle Rose, Samantha Ferris, Malcolm Stewart

Directed by Paul Solet

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Grace is not your typical horror film. In fact, it would be hard to even classify it under the category of pure horror. The best way that I could define Grace is by saying it's like Ordinary People meets The Ice Storm meets Rosemary's Baby. I think the fact that it defies any one label is a credit to the genius behind the craftsmanship of the movie.

This past weekend at the Sundance Film Festival, I finally had my chance to see if Grace would truly live up to the expectations I had for it. I'm happy to say it absolutely delivered (pun completely intended).

Grace tells the story of Madeline Matheson (Jordan Ladd, Cabin Fever) whose focus in life is on having both a natural lifestyle and, more importantly, a natural childbirth. She does her best to ignore the increasing pressure put on her by her controlling mother-in-law Vivian (Gabrielle Rose, The Sweet Hereafter) for a normal hospital delivery as she prepares for the big day when baby Grace will arrive.

Madeline’s husband Michael (Stephen Park, Slither) does his best to remain supportive of her choices while conflicted by his close relationship with his mother. All is going as well as can be until a tragic car accident leaves Michael dead and an unborn baby Grace unresponsive. Madeline, however, remains determined to carry Grace to term nonetheless, where she miraculously wills her child back to life. Over time, Madeline soon begins to realize that there is something unnatural about baby Grace, and she is forced to make horrible sacrifices of herself and others just to keep her alive.

Grace is director Paul Solet’s debut feature film, which he also wrote the script for. Based on his 2006 short film of the same name, the full-length film version is a complete departure from the surrealistic and gut-punch approach that garnered the attention of genre fans and those working in the horror industry alike.

This time Solet delivers the story of Grace with a directorial precision and quiet restraint that demonstrates skill beyond his years and makes it hard to believe that this is just the start of his career. His ability to handle such intricate subject matter like the mother-child bond displays Solet’s maturity in crafting a complex script.

Solet also doesn’t follow recent genre trends by slapping audiences around with “in your face” type of horror; rather, he relies on a strong character-driven dramatic approach that leaves viewers unnerved and tense as the film builds to terrifying heights during the final act.

Ladd’s performance as Madeline is revelatory as she plays a mother’s descent into seclusion as she becomes more and more unraveled with the knowledge that her miracle baby is less than perfect with delicate passion.

Rose’s performance as Vivian, who has some very deep-seated character flaws to say the very least, brims with a self-possessed ferocity as she struggles with the loss of her son and her inability to see her granddaughter and keep control over the situation due to Madeline’s descent into recluse.

Grace works on a lot of different levels; it can be accessible to both genre fans as well as those who generally shy away from horror. However, for those of you who seek loud, slasher-type films, this may not be your cup of tea. While the movie may not be straight-up horror, there are quite a few moments that can leave viewers both anxious and squeamish. The last twenty minutes alone are relentless enough to keep you breathless in your seat.

Grace is very much the antidote to what plagues most of the horror genre today. For those who are tired of the endless remakes and reincarnations of overseas films, Grace very well could be the movie you need to see to restore your faith in the idea that there is still an artistic vision within the horror genre. I know it has restored mine.

Halloween II

Halloween II

Rob Zombie's follow-up to his 2007 reboot of the Halloween series is due out in theaters next month on August 28th. The studio has released the first full length movie trailer for Halloween II and it actually looks pretty solid!

The movie will follow Laurie Strode as she deals with her brother Michael's return. Watch the trailer and tell me you're not ready to scream just a little again.

Danielle Harris Dishes on H2

In the upcoming Halloween sequel, Danielle Harris plays Annie Brackett.

She spoke to IGN this week about the story of H2. Where does it pick up from? According to the actress:

The opening actually picks up probably about two hours after [Laurie] shoots him, from the last movie. There's a bunch of stuff in the hospital as well. And then it will smash cut to two years later. Laurie now lives with Annie and Sheriff Brackett, because her parents are gone. We have a very interesting relationship two years after. [Fear Clinic's] Susan and Annie are kind of similar.

Both characters have sort of evolved into [being], like, odd, self-righteous, sensitive but never knowing it, because they've been through such traumatic things in their lives.

On H2, this terrible, horrible thing that happened two years ago – cut to how it affects you. Maybe that you're not wanting to come out of your house. Maybe never getting out of a bathrobe. Not wanting to be that feisty, sassy, spunky I'm going to date guys [girl]… After you're attacked by somebody, that kind of goes out the window.

H2 Scoop: A Maskless Michael Myers

Wayne Toth, the special effects guru behind H2, spoke to Shock Til You Drop this week, and revealed a lot about the upcoming Halloween follow-up.

Toth said Michael Myers will spend at least 70% of the sequel without his icnonic mask.

As portrayed by Tyler Mane, the villain will appear as a disheveled, bearded hulk.

"That's Michael's new look for a lot of the film," Toth said. "Fans will be shocked. They seem pretty responsive to it. But it's like anything else, as long as you're doing something cool, people get it."

Brea Grant Cast in H2

According to director Rob Zombie's official blog, Brea Grant has joined the cast of H2.

Grant, best known for her role as the speedster Daphne in Heroes, will portray, "Laurie Strode's co-worker at Uncle Meat's Jave Hole - Mya," according to Zombie.

H2 will be released on August 28.

The First Movie Poster for H2

On August 28, audiences will be treated to Rob Zombie's Halloween sequel, H2.

The movie, which will pick up at the exact moment the first movie ended, stars Scout Taylor-Compton, Tyler Mane, Danielle Harris, Daniel Roebuck, Ezra Buzzington, Jeffrey Daniel Phillips, Richard Brake, Matt Bush and Howard Hesseman.

Here's the first poster for H2:

Ezra Buzzington Cast in H2

Ezra Buzzington has joined the cast of H2, Rob Zombie's Halloween remake.

Look for this Mirrors and The Hills Have Eyes star to appear on the sequel as a beer delivery man.

Hey, they can't all be Oscar-caliber parts.

Release Date Announced for H2

A release date has been announced for writer/director Rob Zombie's Halloween sequel, H2.

Look for the horror movie to open on August 28, close to two years after the original film hit theaters; it was released on on August 31, 2007 and set a record for the four-day Labor Day holiday weekend, earning $30.6 million.

"If you thought Michael was f*cked before, you ain't seen nothing yet! He is bigger, meaner and more psycho than Dr. Loomis ever thought possible," Zombie has said about the film's main character, Michael Myers.

Tyler Mane to Reprise Role in Halloween Sequel

With Rob Zombie officially on board for a Halloween sequel, the director has confirmed that the previous movie's main character will return for H2.

"There ain't no new Michael Myers. It's Tyler Mane again f*ckers!" Zombie wrote on his MySpace blog. "Yes, Tyler has signed back on for Halloween Two."

Zombie's H2 will pick up at the exact moment the first movie stopped. It will follow the aftermath of Michael Myers' murderous rampage, looked at through the eyes of heroine Laurie Strode.

Rob Zombie to Direct Halloween Sequel

According to Variety, Rob Zombie will write and direct sequel to Halloween, with plans to release the horror movie in October 2009.

The film will follow Zombie's 2007 reinvention of the John Carpenter horror classic. It will pick up right as the first remake ended, following the aftermath of Michael Myers' murderous rampage through the eyes of the sister he hunted.

Resident Evil: Afterlife

Release Date: September 17, 2010
Studio: Screen Gems (Sony)
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Screenwriter: Paul W.S. Anderson
Starring: Milla Jovovich
Genre: Action, Horror
MPAA Rating: Not Available
Official Website: Not Available
Review: Not Available
DVD Review: Not Available
DVD: Not Available
Movie Poster: Not Available
Production Stills: Not Available
Plot Summary: As hinted at the end of "Resident Evil: Extinction," the story will shift to Tokyo. The tone is more akin to "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" in terms of style. The overall tone is also very dark.

Jennifer's Body

Jennifer's Body is a 2009 dark comedy and horror film written by Diablo Cody. The film, described as similar in tone to Heathers,^[2] is directed by Karyn Kusama, and stars Megan Fox as the title character, Amanda Seyfried as her best friend Needy, and Adam Brody as the antagonist Nikolai. The movie is named after a song by Hole. It is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States and Canada on September 18, 2009.

Premise

Megan Fox plays a sexy, popular cheerleader named Jennifer that everyone wants to be friends with and, in the boys' case, date. Amanda Seyfried plays Needy—a nerdy plain jane, Jennifer's friend since childhood. Jennifer ends up as the sacrifice in a Satanic ritual, held by a rock band, hoping that the sacrifice will increase their chances of getting a record deal. The ritual goes horribly wrong and Jennifer becomes possessed by a demon and begins to feed off of the boys in her high school—first seducing them to get close, and then eating them as meals. It becomes Needy's goal to stop Jennifer from killing more of her classmates.

Cast

• Megan Fox as Jennifer Check
• Amanda Seyfried as Anita "Needy" Lesnicky
• Johnny Simmons as Chip Dove
• Adam Brody as Nikolai Wolf
• J.K. Simmons as Mr. Wroblewski
• Kyle Gallner as Colin Gray
• Amy Sedaris as Toni Lesnicky
• Cynthia Stevenson as Mrs. Dove
• Carrie Genzel as Mrs. Check
• Juan Riedinger as Dirk
• Chris Pratt as Officer Roman Duda
• Juno Ruddell as Officer Warzak
• Keegan Sigurnjak as Meek School Nerd
• Aman Johal as Ahmet from India
• Steven Hollojon as male prostitute from Alabama

Production

Pre-production

Jennifer's Body is the follow-up to writer and producer Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman collaboration efforts on Juno. In October 2007, Fox Atomic pre-emptively purchased the rights to Cody's script with Megan Fox to star. Peter Rice, who oversees both Fox Searchlight and Fox Atomic, brought in the project as Fox Searchlight had previously distributed Cody's film Juno. Mason Novick and Reitman's producing parter Dan Dubiecki signed as producers in November 2007 with plans to produce the film under Hard C, which is housed at Fox Searchlight. Reitman commented, "We want to make unusual films, and anything that turns a genre on its ear interests Dan and I." Karyn Kusama was announced as director in January 2008.

In February 2008, a cease and desist was given to a writer at CC2K.com after they posted an advanced script review for the film. The Latino Review also posted an advanced review. At the time CC2K.com received their cease and desist order, questions were raised why Latino Review's largely positive script review was allowed to stay posted while CC2K was being forced by Fox Searchlight to remove their mainly negative coverage. Although Latino Review was later asked to remove their review, numerous other websites and blogs have published their own critiques of the script.

Casting

Megan Fox was in negotiations to star as Jennifer, the perfect possessed cheerleader, since the film was announced in 2007, and was officially cast in October 2007. In February 2008, Amanda Seyfried was cast as Needy, the "plain Jane" best friend to Fox's character..com reported on the casting of Nikolai that the filmmakers were looking at actual rock band members Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte. Also considered was actor Chad Michael Murray. In March 2008, actor Johnny Simmons was reportedly cast as the male lead Nikolai Wolf. However, Adam Brody was officially cast in the role of Nikolai, while Simmons was then given the role of Chip. Steven Hollojon was cast in the role of the sexually excited young male who was the first victim to be killed by the possesed Jennifer.

Filming

In late 2007, Fox Atomic had plans to film Jennifer's Body before a possible writer's strike. However, when the Writers Guild of America strike began, shooting was then moved to March 7, 2008 in Burnaby, British Columbia, specifically at Robert Burnaby Park near Cariboo Hill Secondary School. Some of the scenes, particularly those situated in a school setting, were filmed in local Vancouver-area schools, such as Vancouver Technical Secondary School, Langley Secondary School and University Hill Secondary School.

Soundtrack

Fueled By Ramen will release the soundtrack on August 25th.

1. Florence + The Machine – "Kiss With A Fist"
2. Panic! At The Disco – "New Perspective"
3. Hayley Williams – "Teenagers"
4. Little Boots – "New In Town"
5. Dashboard Confessional – "Finishing School"
6. Low Shoulder – "Through The Trees"
7. Cute Is What We Aim For – "Time"
8. Screeching Weasel – "I Can See Clearly"
9. Cobra Starship – "Chew Me Up And Spit Me Out"
10. All Time Low – "Toxic Valentine"
11. Black Kids – "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You"
12. White Lies – "Death"
13. The Sword – "Celestial Crown"
14. Silversun Pickups – "Little Lover's So Polite"
15. Lissy Trullie – "Ready For The Floor"

Hot New Jennifer’s Body Poster

Bloody Disgusting has posted a brand-new poster for horror comedy “Jennifer’s Body,” featuring a shot of Megan Fox in a classroom.

The story of “Jennifer’s Body” revolves around a cheerleader who is possessed by a demon and starts feeding off the boys in a Minnesota farming town. Her “plain Jane” best friend must kill her, then escape from a correctional facility to go after the Satan-worshiping rock band responsible for the transformation.

The film is directed by Karyn Kusama from the screenplay by Oscar winning screenwriter Diablo Cody. Co-stars Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, Adam Brody and J.K. Simmons.

For more movie info, photos, posters and trailers you can go to “Jennifer’s Body” FilmoFilia movie page.

“Jennifer’s Body” opens September 18th,2009.