News

Giant Hunter Media produced crime drama about aging mobster in Bronx, Queens.

Yarek Danielak of Los Angeles-based sales company Arsenal Pictures has picked up international sales right to Matthew A. Brown’s Albanian Gangster and has begun talks in Toronto.

Giant Hunter Media produced the crime drama about an aging mobster on a mission in the Bronx and Queens. It will open in select Us theatres on October 11 through Kdmg and will expand in January 2020 to digital platforms and on DVD in the Us and Canada.

The film shot over 12 days in the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn, and tells the story of Leon,...

In today’s film news roundup, Tobin Bell, David Walton, Majandra Delfino and Mickey Rourke are cast; “Dark Waters,” “Covers” and “Albanian Gangster” get release dates.

Castings

“Saw” actor Tobin Bell will star in the independent comedy “Mouth to Mouth,” Variety has learned exclusively.

The project will be produced by Dean C. Jones, Starr Jones, and David Shoenfeld under their Atlantic & Pacific Studios banner. The screenplay, written by Spyder Dobrofsky, centers on a scrawny nerd from the Midwest who accidentally lands the head lifeguard job at the hottest country club in Los Angeles even though he doesn’t know how to swim.

Bell portrayed the iconic John Kramer/Jigsaw character in all eight “Saw” movies between 2004 and 2017. His demented character — a former engineer — tested others’ will to live by placing them in deadly traps as symbols of what he saw as a moral flaws in the victims, in hopes...

This weekend Toronto horror fans will have plenty of opportunities to celebrate the genre's past as well as its present at Horror-Rama IV, with panels including a look back at Night of the Living Dead with co-writer John A. Russo and remembrances of both George A. Romero and Bob Clark:

Press Release: (Toronto) Horror-Rama is thrilled to welcome actress Ashley C. Williams to her Canadian convention debut!

Ashley found instant cult infamy for her tragic turn in director Tom Six's notorious black-comic horror masterpiece The Human Centipede where she was stitched rear-to-mouth as the middle segment of a mad scientist's insane experiment. In 2015 she received acclaim for her blistering turn in director Matthew A. Brown's psychological horror film Julia and both she and Brown (who will also be attending Horror-Rama 2017) will screen their masterpiece and meet their fans.

Ashley joins previously announced special guests: John Harrison (Creepshow,...

Horror-Rama Toronto, the Only stand-alone horror convention and cult cinema celebration, returns for its 4th year in a larger and wilder space with a gaggle of amazing celebrity guests and cinema icons –including actress Ashley C. Williams in her Canadian convention debut!

Ashley found instant cult infamy for her tragic turn in director Tom Six’s notorious black-comic horror masterpiece The Human Centipede where she was stitched rear-to-mouth as the middle segment of a mad scientist’s insane experiment. In 2015 she received acclaim for her blistering turn in director Matthew A. Brown’s psychological horror film Julia and both she and Brown (who will also be attending Horror-Rama 2017) will screen their masterpiece and meet their fans.

Ashley joins previously announced special guests: John Harrison (Creepshow, Day of the Dead, Tales from the Darkside, Dune); Frank Henenlotter (Basket Case, Brain Damage); Mink Stole (Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Serial Mom); Vernon Wells...

Check out these exclusive behind-the-scenes shots from dark psychodrama Julia, now on DVD and Digital download. Since screening it late last year, your humble editor has raved and drooled passionately about Matthew A. Brown’s kinky, moody and mesmerizing psychodrama Julia, a stylish tale of revenge and out-of-control empowerment that not only exemplifies Brown’s sense of…

The post Exclusive Behind the Scenes Photos from the Ashley C. Williams-Starring Psychodrama Julia appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

[Editor's Note: We're bringing some of our columns from Deadly Magazine into Daily Dead as well and today we have a look at our review roundup from Monte he likes to call "Movie Mayhem." Each month, he'll give you the rundown on movies he watched over the last 30 days that you may be interested in checking out. In the first installment on Daily Dead, find out what he thought of Bone Tomahawk, Tales of Halloween, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, and more...]

Bone Tomahawk: It’s a horror film, but it’s mostly a western. Add Kurt Russell, some cannibals and basically point me in the direction of the movie theater because I’m sold. “Bone Tomahawk” is an impressive film, one of the best of the year so far; a mix of unusual humor, touches of thoroughly effective and satisfying horror, a beautifully rendered western era composition, and stunning performances from an impressive cast. Richard Jenkins, known to horror fans as one of the operators of horror in “The Cabin in the Woods”, is amazing. Mr. Jenkins constructs a character that is both too old to banter with the mindset of those younger than him but also too old to not share whatever wisdom he can conjure up through insufferable anecdotes. Matthew Fox, from televisions “Lost”, plays a prideful and somewhat despicable hired gun. Mr. Fox might be at his best here,...

Title: Julia Archstone Distribution Director: Matthew A. Brown Writer: Matthew A. Brown Cast: Ashley C. Williams, Tahyna Tozzi, Jack Noseworthy Running time: 1hr 35min Rated: Unrated (brutal rape, strong bloody violence, graphic nudity, language and some drug use) In theaters on October 23, 2015. Mousy Julia Shames (Ashley C. Williams, The Human Centipede) is the victim of a gang rape where some preppie guys slip her a Cosby and then leave her for dead. She spirals into a depression until she overhears a group of women at a bar talk about this new, exclusive form of therapy that only caters to victims of violent crime. She is followed by Sadie  [ Read More ]

The post Julia Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Actress Ashley C. Williams discusses her blistering turn in the dark psychodrama Julia. Currently in Us theaters and VOD is writer/director Matthew A. Brown’s darker-than-pitch female-centric psychodrama Julia, a disturbing, violent and elegantly perverse study of a young woman who finds salvation and redemption via severe transgression. Julia is an immaculate indie film; thoughtful and…

The post Interview: Ashley C. Williams Talks Sexuality, Violence and the Primal Power of Julia appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

Beyond Therapy: Brown’s Illogical Entry of Femme Revenge

For the most part, director Matthew A. Brown presents his directorial debut Julia without the exploitative flourishes notoriously featured in the classic genre cinema influencing his narrative. A rape revenger thriller that basically plays like a sanitized version of 1978’s I Spit on Your Grave (recently remade in 2010, followed by two sequels, items that only prove you can take the tale out of the 70s but perhaps not the other way round), Brown creates a compelling vehicle for actress Ashley C. Williams, whose name may not ever be mentioned without reference to her ‘participation’ in contemporary torture porn’s most iconic confection, The Human Centipede (2009). Despite its still relevant ‘take back the night’ yearning, Brown seems uninterested in patching up a variety of major illogical plot holes plaguing the initial set-up while failing to achieve anything innovative by way of an achingly predictable finale.

Hey there, creeps! Today I’m joined in the Crypt o’ Xiii by the die-rector of the new revenge flick Julia, Matthew A. Brown! Let’s get ta jawin’!

Famous Monsters. Julia contains some hardcore themes, in particular brutal rape. How difficult was it to tackle that sort of thing?

Matthew A. Brown. I’ve always been attracted to stories of radical transformation, themes of weakness vs. power or weakness vs. courage, journeys from intense darkness to full blown light, in which characters are pushed to transcend their small egocentric selves to full realization of their own innate and inherent even primal power—of course, what that means is dependent on the context of the story itself. In this case it was about a woman who’s spent her whole life suffering under the abuse of others, and finally something so extreme happens that it tips the scales from her...

Mattew A. Brown's debut feature film, the revenge thriller Julia, hits screens in the U.S. this Friday. We have an exclusive clip from the film to share with you. In this clip it would appear that Julia has found her perpetrators and they are about to have a little nap, whether they like it or not. A neo-noir revenge thriller centering on Julia Shames, who after suffering a brutal trauma, falls prey to an unorthodox form of therapy to restore herself. The film stars Ashley C. William (The Human Centipede), Ryan Cooper (Eye Candy) Tahyna Tozzi (X-Men), Joel de la Fuente (Hemlock Grove) Jack Noseworthy (The Man in the High Castle). and written and directed by Matthew A. Brown....

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Read More: A24 Re-Teaming With Jeremy Saulnier For Revenge Thriller 'Hold The Dark' In "Julia," a woman survives a severe trauma, seeks solace in an unconventional, not to mention unsafe, form of therapy. The neo-noir revenge thriller stars Ashley C. Williams and Ryan Cooper and was written and directed by Matthew A. Brown. In an exclusive clip from the film, some partying people suffer the ultimate hangover. "Julia" debuts in theaters on October 23. Watch the exclusive clip above. Read More: Watch: First Trailer For Supernatural Thriller ‘The Forest’ Starring Natalie Dormer...

Many horror fans know Ashley C. Williams as Lindsay from The Human Centipede, but her role in the upcoming revenge thriller Julia will feature the actress as a vastly different character with some bold intentions of her own. With Julia due out in select AMC theaters on October 23rd, we caught up with Ashley for our latest Q&A feature to look ahead at her latest project and reflect on The Human Centipede, as well.

Thanks for taking the time to converse with us today, Ashley. When you first read the screenplay for Julia, what appealed to you the most?

Ashley C. Williams: My pleasure! When I read the script, I really couldn't put it down, which is very rare these days when a script is sent to me. Every page turn I was just sucked deeper and deeper into the dark inner world of this character—her pain,...

Stars: Ashley C. Williams, Tahyna Tozzi, Jack Noseworthy, Joel de la Fuente, Cary Woodworth, Darren Lipari, Ryan Cooper, Brad Koed, Sean Kleier, Bridget Megan Clark | Written and Directed by Matthew A. Brown

One of the key criticisms bandied about regarding horror movies in recent years has been the abundance of films which have focused on the brutalisation of women. Films like I Spit On Your Grave and its sequel, Maniac, Hidden In The Woods and many other films have focused on this aspect, some have done so in a manner which feels like it has a point to make, some do so veering close to doing it in an exploitative sense, indeed the BBFC felt so with the cut version of I Spit… Julia also fits into this rubric but while there are some aspects which are certainly problematic, as a film in its own right, it’s more interesting...

Julia

Written & Directed by Matthew A. Brown

USA, 2014

Not all movies have a grand message or thought-provoking theme. Some movies are satisfied with being a beautiful orgy of sex and madness. Matthew A. Brown’s debut film, Julia, is a stylized bloodletting that pushes the limits of good taste and tests your allegiance to its heroine. A delightfully sordid affair that leaves you feeling all kinds of icky, this is a must-add to your October calendar.

Julia is the perfect companion piece to another wonderfully-dark 2014 revenge thriller, Blue Ruin. Only, instead of the protagonist being completely inept at the deadly arts, Julia Shames (Ashley C. Williams) was born to play the part. Wrapped beneath three layers of clothing and hiding behind giant “grandma” glasses, Julia is a cute but awkward girl who tries her best to be invisible. When she finally musters the courage to accept a date with the...

*full disclosure: an online screener of this film was provided by Archstone Distribution. Director/writer: Matthew A. Brown. Cast: Ashley C. Williams, Tahyna Tozzi, Jack Noseworthy and Joel de la Fuente. Julia is a rape revenge thriller, from first time feature filmmaker Mathew A. Brown. This film is set to release at the Screamfest La film festival and an early review of the film is hosted here. In Julia, one very shy woman walks into an isolated apartment. Here, a horrifying tragedy takes place, one which is familiar to this genre. The next seventy or so minutes involves the protagonist transforming into something more bloody and murderous. Heavy on tropes and castration scenes, Julia is an unsettling horror film. The film utilizes lighting effectively, while the film builds in intensity. Julia is a haunting feature, which is difficult to forget. The film begins and stays with the character Julia (Ashley C. Williams...

There is one other film of note, which is attending Screamfest La. The film is a rape revenge thriller, titled Julia. This film, from Tombstone Distribution, offers a lot of dark imagery as a woman contemplates murder. Julia stars Ashley C. Williams (The Human Centipede), Tayhna Tozzi and Jack Noseworthy. A preview of the film's North American Premiere is here. More story details can be found in the film's trailer. The clip shows Julia (Williams), tracking down her rapists. From one scene, it looks like she has teamed up with another female character. However, this second person is likely an external projection of her shadow (a Jungian term). Fans of horror or thrillers can find more story details for themselves, in the clip below. Release Date: October 21st, 2014 (World Premiere). Director/writer: Matthew A. Brown. Cast: Ashley C. Williams, Tahyna Tozzi, Jack Noseworthy and Joel de la Fuente. A trailer...

Stars: Ashley C. Williams, Tahyna Tozzi, Jack Noseworthy, Joel de la Fuente, Cary Woodworth, Darren Lipari, Ryan Cooper, Brad Koed, Sean Kleier, Bridget Megan Clark | Written and Directed by Matthew A. Brown

One of the key criticisms bandied about regarding FrightFest in recent years has been the abundance of films which have focused on the brutalisation of women, something that even marked one of the festival’s usually rather fun “Turn Your Bloody Phone Off!” idents back in 2012. The recent I Spit On Your Grave efforts, Maniac, Hidden In The Woods and many other films have focused on this aspect, some have done so in a manner which feels like it has a point to make, some do so veering close to doing it in an exploitative sense, indeed the BBFC felt so with the cut version of I Spit… which played a couple of years ago. Julia also fits...

It's that time of the year again, kids! One of the best damned film festivals in the world, Screamfest L.A. Horror, which is taking place in Los Angeles October 14-23, has announced its first wave of titles; and there's plenty of blood to splatter around!

From the Press Release

Screamfest®, from the festival that brought you such films as Trick ‘r Treat, Paranormal Activity, The Human Centipede and American Mary, announces the first wave of the 2014 festival. Screamfest® kicks off its 14th annual event in Los Angeles on October 14-23 at the Tcl Chinese 6 Theatres.

First Wave Screening Highlights at Screamfest 2014

The Creep Behind the Camera (Us) – Directed by Pete Schuermann. The Creep Behind the Camera was an actual filmmaker named Vic Savage; a real scumbag whose only real skill was in his uncanny ability to convince the residents of 1960 Glendale, California that he was making the biggest, the Best monster movie ever made!

Halloween season is right around the corner and that means it’s almost time for another Screamfest. The L.A. film festival that showcased movies like the cult classic Trick ‘r Treat and the franchise-spawning Paranormal Activity is now entering its 14th year. The first wave of the festival’s films have been revealed and will feature zombies, ghosts, and the return of slasher Jacob Goodnight.

The 14th annual Screamfest runs from October 14th – 23rd at the Tcl Chinese 6 Theatres in L.A.:

Hollywood, CA., August 18, 2014 – “Screamfest®, from the festival that brought you such films as Trick ‘r Treat, Paranormal Activity, The Human Centipede and American Mary, announces the first wave of the 2014 festival. Screamfest® kicks off its 14th annual event in Los Angeles on October 14 through October 23 at the Tcl Chinese 6 Theatres (6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028).

First Wave Screening Highlights at Screamfest 2014

· The Creep Behind The Camera (Us) – Directed by Pete Schuermann.

Director Matthew A. Brown dropped us a line to let us know that his new horror flick, Julia, has opened up its official Facebook page, and you can use it to keep track of when Julia can be seen at upcoming screenings, festivals, theatrical premieres, etc.

Stay in touch with Julia on Facebook here!

Brown writes and directs. Ashley C. Williams (pictured above; The Human Centipede: First Sequence), Tahyna Tozzi, Jack Noseworthy, and Joel De La Fuente star.

The film has been picked up by Archstone Distribution and will be next playing at Film4 FrightFest in London. Check out the trailer below.

Synopsis

A neo-noir revenge thriller centering on Julia Shames, who, after suffering a brutal trauma, falls prey to an unorthodox form of therapy to restore herself.

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This year’s Film4 FrightFest guest list brings together the great, the grand and the gifted as over 100 filmmakers, performers, writers and producers from all over the world make their way to the Vue West End for the 15th Film4 FrightFest event which runs from Thursday 21st – Monday 25th August. Highlights – at least as far as we here at Nerdly are concerned – include the legend(s) that are Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm St.) and Alan Moore (Watchmen), the infamous Jorg Buttgereit (Nekromantik), Frightfest fave Adam Green (Hatchet, Holliston), the always-wonderful Jessica Cameron (Truth or Dare, The Tour) and friend to Nerdly, Federico Zampaglone (Tulpa) whose short Remember I’m possibly looking forward to seeing the most at this years festival!

Check out the press release below:

He lit up the 1980s and 90s genre landscape with one of the classic horror performances of all time as Freddy Krueger...

“I’m your boyfriend now, Nancy.” It may be hard to believe, but it’s been thirty years since Robert Englund’s Freddy Krueger said those words to Heather Langenkamp’s Nancy in Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. A 30th anniversary screening of the film is taking place at this year’s Film4 FrightFest, and Englund has been announced as a member of a guest lineup that includes Alan Moore.

Taking place at London’s Vue West End, the 15th Film4 FrightFest will run from August 21st – 25th. In addition to celebrating the 30th anniversary of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Robert Englund will also be unveiling his latest film, The Last Showing.

Actress Maika Monroe will be on hand for the UK premiere of The Guest, and director John McNaughton (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer) will screen his latest film, The Harvest. Also of note...

Genre festival to close with UK premiere of The Signal; 64 films will be screened, with 38 UK or European premieres and 11 world premieres.

Film4 FrightFest has unveiled the full line-up for its 15th edition, taking place in the new home of Vue West End in Leicester Square from Aug 21-25.

This year’s festival will screen 64 films and 20 shorts, with a record-breaking 38 UK or European premieres and 11 world premieres.

The UK premiere of William Eubank’s sci-fi thriller The Signal, starring Screen Star of Tomorrow Olivia Cooke and Brenton Thwaites, will close the festival.

As previously announced, Adam Wingard’s The Guest will receive its UK premiere as the opening film of this year’s FrightFest.

World premieres at this year’s edition include Jay Weisman’s Shockwave Darkside 3D [pictured], Luke Hyam’s X Moor, Matthew A. Brown’s Julia, Simeon Halligan’s White Settlers and John Shackleton’s The Sleeping Room.

Jordan Rubin’s [link...

Julia is a co-production from: Farraj Factory, Kinetic Arts and Tycor International Film Company. The film is a revenge thriller, which was recently completed in New York City. Ashley C. Williams (The Human Centipede) centrally stars as the character Julia. And, the film's story involves therapy, trauma and a desire for violence. A preview for the film is here. Sales agent Tombstone Distribution has picked up this title for possible distribution. Tombstone has also released a concept poster for the film, which shows the character Julia in a bloodbath. Fans of horror will want to look out for this film as it moves closer to a distribution date. A few more details on the film are below. Release Date: Tba. Director/writer: Matthew A. Brown. Cast: Ashley C. Williams, Tahyna Tozzi-MacManus, Jack Noseworthy, Joel de la Fuente, Cary Woodworth and Darren Lipari. Source: Julia at Tombstone Subscribe to 28 Days Later:...

Rehab for anything can be a real bitch. Especially unorthodox rehab that could very well result in horrific consequences. Enter Matthew A. Brown and his new horror flick, Julia.

Brown writes and directs. Ashley C. Williams (The Human Centipede: First Sequence), Tahyna Tozzi, Jack Noseworthy, and Joel De La Fuente star.

Julia is a neo-noir revenge thriller centering on Julia Shames, played by Williams, who after suffering a brutal trauma, falls prey to an unorthodox form of therapy to restore herself.

Archstone will be handling distribution at Cannes. More as it comes.

Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!

Got news? Click here to submit it!

Subscribe to the Dread Central YouTube Channel!

Seek rehab in the comments section below!