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“Alfred J. Hemlock” is a Fiendishly Clever Horror Romp

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A small SUV screeches to a halt at the mouth of an alleyway.  A man jumps out of the driver’s seat and circles the vehicle to drag his girlfriend from the passenger seat. She is crying and begging him to understand that she was not flirting with his friend at a party.  Guy throws Emily to the ground, calling her names, and drives away, leaving her to walk alone through the dark alleyway crying and wishing she’d never been born.

Enter Alfred J. Hemlock…a spirit (or is it demon?) who offers Emily a reprieve from her loneliness, a respite from the horrors of her life.  All she has to do is agree to die.

Thus begins, “Alfred J. Hemlock” a brand new horror short from writers Edward Lyons and Melissa Lyons.  The duo manage in 14 minutes to do what many recent feature length filmmakers have been unable to do in an hour and a half.  They create engaging, original characters that actually leave you craving more when the credits role.  In many ways, it’s the perfect storm where exactly the right director, producers, writers, and cast of actors came together to make magic in a film that is both scary and fun.

Tristan McKinnon delivers a gleefully frightening performance as Alfred that manages to be one part Beetlejuice, one part Captain Jack Sparrow, and yet, something entirely his own.  In his capable hands, Alfred J. Hemlock is a showman, a huckster selling a treacherous bill of goods, and McKinnon embraces the role, completely disappearing into the top hat wearing villain.

Renaye Loryman stars as Emily, Alfred’s victim and foil, with emotional dexterity.  She is fragile and broken but she deftly turns that emotional vulnerability into a weapon against Hemlock’s arguments when he pushes her too far.

As a whole, the film works beautifully.  Though it takes place in the here and now, Alfred brings an air of Victorian/Edwardian antiquity to this ghost story.  It is gritty and dirty and beautiful due to its talented crew.

Simon Harding, the director of photography, has been a camera operator on a host of films from Star Wars Episode III to The Hobbit trilogy.  He brings a keen eye to every shot.  Meanwhile, costume designer Sarah Hoke’s previous work has included prop dressing on Mad Max: Fury Road.  McKinnon told me himself that while he had a good idea of who Alfred was before filming began, it was Hoke’s costume that really cemented the identity for him and helped him inform the decisions for his performance.  Likewise, Joff Bush’s score creates a perfect atmosphere at once playful and bristling.

Meanwhile Edward Lyons has been creating original shorts for over a decade, each with a different feel from the one before it.  He is a master storyteller and he brought everything he had to create “Alfred J. Hemlock”.

With all of these fine talents, it’s no wonder that it was a finalist in this year’s iHorror Award for short films, nor that it will be making it’s world premiere in the upcoming Bermuda International Film Festival which runs May 1-7, 2017 in Hamilton, Bermuda.  The prestigious festival is an Academy Award qualifier in the category of short subject films.  This puts “Alfred J. Hemlock” in a place where few horror movies find themselves.

I cannot recommend this short film enough.  Alfred and Emily will be telling their stories in festivals around the world and you owe it to yourself to see this one as soon as you can.  To keep up with all the latest new, you can follow “Alfred J. Hemlock” on Facebook, their official website, and on Twitter @AlfredJHemlock.  Check out the trailer below!

ALFRED J HEMLOCK – TRAILER from Edward Lyons on Vimeo.

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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