If you look up films that are comprised of the "found footage" and "based on a true story" premise, you'll most likely find a very long list of ones that I dislike the most. The last time I enjoyed one was in 1999 when The Blair Witch Project was released. It was a creepy, cool, new thing but flash forward 15 years and both of those concepts are way over played.
The Hunted centers around Jake (Josh Stewart) and Stevie (Ronnie Gene Blevins), two hunters out to shoot the pilot of their new hunting show. Dragging camera equipment along with them they set out into the dense woods of West Virginia in search of a massive buck named "Movie Star". Things are looking favorable until they start hearing screams coming from the darkness. After hearing it a couple of nights in a row, Jake insists that it's the scream of a bobcat but Stevie isn't convinced and goes in search of answers. During his talks with the locals, he discovers that Movie Star isn't the only thing haunting the woods but there is also the malevolent spirit of a vengeful ghost that roams in the darkness.
Stewart, first time writer and director of the film, managed to create very strong and likable characters whose dramatically different personalities enhanced both the tense and funny moments throughout the film; and the duo does an outstanding job playing off one another. What I enjoyed most about it was how both main characters propelled the story forward but in different ways. Jake's goal was getting the footage for the pilot while Stevie led the film into the supernatural direction by coaxing folklore out of the locals.
Nowadays, it's hard not to compare films from this sub genre to others. Films like Paranormal Activity and Quarantine have made it almost impossible to appreciate something as subtle and suggestive as say, The Blair Witch Project. But much like it's predecessor, The Hunted is a slow build until the final act when all bets are off.
The Hunted, however, is not without it's hiccups. The main issue I had was with the antagonist. It's hard for an audience to connect with a situation when they don't know what they're suppose to be afraid of. Viewers will know that something is out there but it's mostly subjective... like Pontypool. You get a sense of what's going on and that it's pretty bad but the rest is left up to the imagination. That doesn't necessarily lessen the value of the film though. Some people just aren't as imaginative as others and likely won't get it. At least not until the final act where it turns into a crazy, intense nail biter that's guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Stewart has clearly learned the ins and outs of filmmaking during his many years as an actor and I applaud his efforts to branch out into other areas. While not a perfect film, The Hunted is leaps and bounds better than most I've seen and definitely worth a watch. Word to the wise, watch out for that Stewart gaze. Those dreamy eyes can make it a bit hard to concentrate, or maybe it's just me. Either way, this is a film I would've loved to have to added to the Twisted Tails Film Festival line up had I known about it in time.
The Hunted is available for download on Amazon and iTunes and on DVD at Walmart.
The late 80's hold a special place for me because it was when I started watching horror movies. I may have only been 7 or 8 but I knew what was a good movie. 1987 looking at the list of horror movies released, I am finding it really hard to pick just 5. Love the picks or hate them, this is my top 5 of 1987.
The Prom Night sequels are guilty pleasures of mine. Prom Night II is so much fun you can't help but have a blast watching it. True it does not have anything to do with the original and does not star Jamie Lee Curtis but it is a great watch and I highly recommend it!
The follow up to the anthology horror success of Stephen King and George Romero is my number 4. I could watch this movie probably once a week and never get tired of it. It has just the right mixture of cheese and just good horor. There are only 3 stories on this one opposed to the original that had 5 but it does not lack in quality.
This great film I really did not see till much later. Mainly because the movie poster and the previews freaked me out when I was little and I was too terrified to see it. I am a sucker for killer doll movies like this and Puppetmaster. Guy Rolfe is such a great actor too. His performance is one of the reasons I love this movie.
I am not a huge fan of vampire movies but this is one of best in my opinion. Packed with a cast of young and virtually unknown actors at the time makes this movie so enjoyable. I have to mention also that Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander will be appearing at the Twisted Tails Film Festival hosted by Twisted Central.
This film has to be my number 1 for 1987. Not only is it the best out of the franchise in my opinion but it is also the first horror movie that I ever watched. This movie started it all for me. It totally scared the shit out of me at that age but I still loved it and Freddy Krueger.
July 24, 2014 – Dallas, TX – Corey Feldman (The Lost Boys, Goonies, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter) and Jamison Newlander (The Lost Boys) will both be in attendance for the fourth annual Twisted Tails Film Festival. Feldman will be available for signing Saturday, December 6th from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm ONLY at the Holiday Inn Dallas Park Cities, Dallas, Texas. The two of them will join Eileen Dietz (The Exorcist), Tiffany Shepis (Sharknado2: The Second One) and Andrew Divoff (The Wishmaster, Lost). Tickets are available at www.twistedtailsfilmfestival.com.
Submissions are open and can be submitted electronically to filmsubmissions@twistedtailsfilmfestival.com or via regular mail. There are no submission fees and selected films will be announced October 1, 2014.
Twisted Tails Film Festival is proud to work with Paws in the City for the second year in a row. 100% of the proceeds raised by Twisted Tails will be donated to Paws in the City, a nonprofit, all volunteer, no-kill organization dedicated to helping the abused, neglected and homeless animals of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
For more information and or to stay up to date on current events, visit us on Facebook and Twitter.
June 2, 2014 – Dallas, TX – Corey Feldman (The Lost Boys, Goonies, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter) has been added to the growing line up for the fourth annual Twisted Tails Film Festival. Feldman will be available for signing Saturday, December 6th ONLY at the Holiday Inn Dallas Park Cities, Dallas, Texas. Tickets are available at www.twistedtailsfilmfestival.com.
Submissions are open and can be submitted electronically to filmsubmissions@twistedtailsfilmfestival.com or via regular mail. There are no submission fees and selected films will be announced October 1, 2014.
Twisted Tails Film Festival is proud to work with Paws in the City for the second year in a row. 100% of the proceeds raised by Twisted Tails will be donated to Paws in the City, a nonprofit, all volunteer, no-kill organization dedicated to helping the abused, neglected and homeless animals of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
For more information and or to stay up to date on current events, visit us on Facebook and Twitter.
Twisted Tails Film Festival will be donating 20% of all proceeds to Steve and Monica to help them during this time.
Below is what happened in Steve’s own words:
Woke up at 6am to water rushing into the house. Already ankle deep by the time we saw it. We got as much as we could off the ground and tried to block but there wasn’t much we could do. The worst was trying to get to Gil. It was waist deep almost and strong enough to throw around logs. I reached him and he was submerged and freaking out. Don’t remember much more then lifting him and carrying him all the way back to the house. Looking back I can see how scary it was. We are securing the house as much as we can and going through the damage. A scrapbook full of original art I’ve kept for 30 years is gone. A lot more. Our friends Belinda and Steve are setting up a fund to help. I feel terrible about this but once things settle I’ll have to face up that we need help. I just wish I could catch my breath for 5 minutes and I can make my own money. Austin has had other ideas I guess. We’ll keep you posted. We’re sort of trapped here for right now. Going to pack and move as much as we can before the next storm hits. Thank you guys so much. Woke up at 6am to water rushing into the house. Already ankle deep by the time we saw it. We got as much as we could off the ground and tried to block but there wasn’t much we could do. The worst was trying to get to Gil. It was waist deep almost and strong enough to throw around logs. I reached him and he was submerged and freaking out. Don’t remember much more then lifting him and carrying him all the way back to the house. Looking back I can see how scary it was. We are securing the house as much as we can and going through the damage. A scrapbook full of original art I’ve kept for 30 years is gone. A lot more. Our friends Belinda and Steve are setting up a fund to help. I feel terrible about this but once things settle I’ll have to face up that we need help. I just wish I could catch my breath for 5 minutes and I can make my own money. Austin has had other ideas I guess. We’ll keep you posted. We’re sort of trapped here for right now. Going to pack and move as much as we can before the next storm hits. Thank you guys so much.
In addition to that, 80% of the proceeds from the festival will still be donated to Paws in the City, a no-kill animal shelter.
Twisted Tails Film Festival will be held December 6th – 8th at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas, Texas.
Twisted Tails Film Festival is proud to announce the final selections for their December 6th – 8th event. The three day film festival will be held at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas, TX.
Organizer Tammy Dupal says “We’re extremely pleased with the turnout and submissions we received. We had entries from all around the world and I think people will be very happy with the films that were chosen.”
There will also be special appearances by Steve Niles, Camille Keaton, Wyzae, Alexis Iacono, William Butler, Matt Farnsworth, Diane Foster and many more.
Below is a schedule of films to be shown.
Friday: Blood Brothers Too Many Predators Teddy Hunter Amused Honorless Red Kingdom Rising
Saturday: Other Through the Looking Glass The Sweet Hand of the White Rose Sledge Experiment 37 Devotion Little Reaper The Orphan Killer (special screening)
Sunday: Deviling Popularity Killer The Cabin Dead Weight
VIP packages are available as well as daily and per film tickets. 100% of ticket sales will be donated to Paws in the City, a local no-kill animal shelter.
To coincide with his appearance at Texas Frightmare Weekend, Tyler Mane will be hosting a special presentation of his new film Compound Fracture and YOU are invited!! The event is taking place at The Texas Theatre on May 2, 2013. As an added bonus, purchase your tickets through Eventbrite using this link, 10% of your ticket sale will go toward our annual fundraiser, Twisted Tails Film Festival, benefiting Paws in the City.
From the press release:
Dallas, TX (April 5, 2013) – Tyler Mane (HALLOWEEN, X-MEN, TROY) brings his new supernatural horror movie COMPOUND FRACTURE to Dallas, Texas during a double feature event that also includes Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN at The Texas Theatre on May 2, 2013 for ONE NIGHT ONLY.
Hardcore horror fans will have the opportunity to meet the actor and watch the film with Mane, who played Michael Myers in both Rob Zombie films HALLOWEEN and HALLOWEEN II and now stars in the next-level horror production COMPOUND FRACTURE.
Ticket buyers will be able to choose between three levels of access: the General Admission Ticket to view COMPOUND FRACTURE, the VIP Silver Ticket to view the Double Feature which includes meet and greet with Mane and Geerlings, special collectible wristband, and automatic entry into the nightly prize drawing, and for those who want more one on one time with Tyler Mane, the VIP Gold Ticket will give all the perks of the VIP Silver plus a full-sized movie poster and access to the private after party with the horror superstar. The Grand Prize nightly drawing winner will continue to the final drawing at the end of the multiple-city tour and will be eligible to win a host of prizes, including the chance to be killed by Mane in his next film, PENANCE LANE, or to win the actor’s screen-worn Michael Myers HALLOWEEN jumpsuit.
COMPOUND FRACTURE is a bone-chilling, independent, supernatural horror movie that brings three iconic killers together on the big screen like never before. It will take you deeper than the normal horror-thriller fare, down into a world of family secrets, crazy obsession and unimaginable dementia – and just when it seems you might escape the mad house, you find that it’s the only thing keeping you alive. Watch in horror and admiration as a shattered family comes together when it is faced with complete and utter extinction.
With consistently positive reviews, COMPOUND FRACTURE stars Tyler Mane (HALLOWEEN, X-MEN, TROY), Muse Watson (Ben Willis from I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, NCIS), Derek Mears (Jason from FRIDAY THE 13th, HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCHUNTERS), Leslie Easterbrook (THE DEVIL’S REJECTS, Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN), Todd Farmer (DRIVE ANGRY, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, JASON X) and Daniel Roebuck (LOST, Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN I and II, FINAL DESTINATION).
Be sure to check out the video interviews with producers of the film as well as the audience reviews from the Greensboro, NC screening on March 28, 2013.
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