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Sneak Peek: ‘Insides’ – A Short Horror Film

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Insides is a new short-film directed by Mike Streeter. Insides tells the tale of two friends Sandy (Karen Wilmer) and Selina (Morgan Poferi) as they have a get together for a night of catching up and reminiscing. Over a bottle of wine and a home cooked meal courtesy of Sandy, Selina begins to tell Sandy that this innocent get together is not just for catching up. Something awful has entered her life. Selina explains that she has been having nightmares, and these nightmares have been about something entering her body and taking control. Selina has also seen Sandy in these dreams. The two girls share similar scars that each has received during lapses in their memory, Sandy explains her scar had to have occurred after a drunken incident at a party. Sandy is confident that everything will be fresh in the morning and insists that Selina stays the night since she is freaked out. That evening, Sandy dreams of Selina leading her to a tunnel.

The next morning Sandy finds a bloody mess in the bathroom that she is sure Selina is responsible. Sandy finds herself in an uncertain state as nightmares and reality come together, no one is safe.

Insides Promo 4

In the horror genre so many themes exist that will place fear into our hearts, but the thought of having something inhabit my body gives me goosebumps and sends a streak of sheer terror down my spine. Streeter does an excellent job of creating this fear, within the allotted nineteen minutes. The special effects in the film were impressive and at most constructive for this film. An important element for me was the girls friendship; it was very believable and well played. Had the film not done A+ work on this, I would not have continued. The score and the cinematography created that eerie feel and the film continued to keep me guessing and wanting more. The storyline made for a good short indeed. However, I have the utmost confidence that this story contains enough to be transformed into a kick-ass feature film.

Insides - Promo 2

Insides filmed over a four-day period (two weekends, a few weeks apart). The first two days of filming consisted of all the tunnel scenes, as well as most of the exterior shots in Santa Clarita, California. The second two days was filmed at the special FX team’s home (Jeff Collenberg and Eden Mederos of BLOODGUTS&MORE) in Lawndale, California. The interior days were longer as many as 40 setups a day with a total cast and crew of seven. The film budget was amazingly less than $1,500.00. Streeter described the project “as a fun experience, and I think everyone involved had a good time. It was hard work, but it never really felt like it.” iHorror had a couple questions that director Mike Streeter generously answered:

iHorror: What were your inspirations for creating such a sinister short-film?

Mike Streeter:  There were a number of things that inspired the film. Firstly, I knew about a creepy tunnel location that I wanted to use. I also had just met a wonderful FX team in Jeff and Eden and wanted to do something with cool, practical FX (I hate CG. Practical FX are so much more effective). Knowing our budget limitations, I came up with a script that would use the tunnel location, two actresses, one interior location, and lots of blood, without being too difficult to make. I am a big fan of 70s and 80s horror and wanted to do something evocative of that era. Not an homage or throwback, just a slow-burning, psychological horror film that creeps under the skin and gets into darker and darker places. Most of all I wanted to make something cinematic. Films that directly inspired Insides were Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Possession (1981), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), and Alien (1979), as well as the films of John Carpenter and David Cronenberg.

iH: Are you going to submit your film to any film festivals?

MS: Yes. We have been submitting the film for the last few weeks. We wont hear back for a while yet, so I’m not sure which ones we’ll get into, but we’re submitting to most of the big horror festivals as well as a good amount of smaller ones and some of the non-genre Los Angeles based festivals that would be easier for us to attend. It’s too early to know how festivals will receive the film, but I’m cautiously optimistic. We have other horror projects lined up, so it would be nice for this to generate some buzz for us. Mostly, I just want people to see it! I’m a huge horror geek, and I hope I made something that other fans can enjoy.

Insides - Promo 3Thanks, Mike! Again, you did an amazing job with your budget limitations, and I am sure that horror fans will enjoy your film as they squirm in their seats! ( I know I sure as hell did).

Take a look at the trailer below, and iHorror will continue to bring you up-to-date information on Insides.

 

[vimeo id=”123263686″]

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

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‘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 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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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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