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Horror Pride Month: Director Scott Philip Goergens

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Scott Philip Goergens

For Scott Philip Goergens, the road to filmmaking was long and winding with more than a few stops along the way.

The 46 year old writer and director learned to love horror as a kid, as so many of us do, thanks in part to his aunt and cousins who were all horror fans.

“Whenever we would go over to visit our cousins, we would always rent something from the local video store,” he said as we sat down for an interview for Horror Pride Month. “I was exposed to all kinds of wonderful, bizarre movies at an early age and I just ate it up. I loved it.”

By the time he was a senior in high school, he had a healthy appetite for the macabre and had begun to wonder if he could make movies himself. His parents had begun a tradition with his older brother of offering their sons a trip to anywhere they wanted to go as a graduation gift. His brother went on a cruise, but when the time came, Goergens had another idea in mind.

“I was like, ‘I don’t want to do that. Would you buy me a camcorder?’ So they got a camcorder for me and I just started playing around with it. I liked horror movies already so I started doing and learning on my own seeing what I could do.”

His initial “movies” were rough. He could only do in-camera editing and so he shot everything in sequence, piecing the stories together as he went along. His friends and family joined in helping him tell his stories and he was having the time of his life.

Goergens is also an artist and he as he began to pursue that side of his creativity more, filmmaking fell to the wayside.

He met the man who would become his husband at 19 years old and they’ve now been together 27 years. They moved around quite a lot in those early years. The filmmaker pursued his art and his husband went on to become a lawyer.

When they came to Boston, Goergens decided he needed to give film another try. He began taking classes at the Boston Film Video Foundation where he learned to shoot and edit film. He took jobs as a production assistant learning the business on set. Eventually, he went to work for a film/video company that rented and sold equipment where he eventually purchased his own and prepared to make his first feature.

Soon, 29 Needles was born.

“I had a camera with limited resources and funds, but I didn’t want to jump into the found footage pool,” he explained. “You can hide a lot of budget issues in found footage. This film was kind of a launching pad to try to make some more money for another film to follow.”

Goergens began searching for talent for the film by posting ads in local newspapers and on Craigslist and found his star, Brooke Berry, on MySpace.

The film’s more extreme elements grew out of this casting process as well as from the initial idea that began the journey.

“I kind of played with this serial killer idea,” he explained. “What turns a serial killer on and what turns someone in the bondage, domination, S&M community on and kind of tried to cross-breed that into a psychopath to seek out what’s driving them.”

The film created an electric response in audiences on the festival circuit and because of that, Goergens has been reconsidering the path forward saying he thought he would need to “reel things in” for a second film but the positive response he’s received changed his mind.

The way ahead also includes representation and casting within in the LGBTQ+ community. 29 Needles included four trans actors including Brooke who began their transition after filming ended.

“I thought, being a gay male I was just like, when I make my movies there has to be representation,” Goergens said. “Whether there be one or many characters, I want it to be there. I wanted to put more of that out there in the world for that experience and not shy away from it. It was purposeful; that was an intention of mine.”

When he’s not making films, the director continues to work as an artist and devotes plenty of time to his family which has grown to include a pair of adopted twin sons.

He also devotes plenty of time to watching movies when he can, often playing them while he is writing or painting.

“I’m a huge Cronenberg fan and I also really love Ingmar Bergman. For whatever reason, I love them both. Cries and Whispers and Dead Ringers. Whenever I’m writing or drawing or painting I put a movie on in the background. Fede Alvarez’s Evil Dead is one that I go to a lot and Annihilation that I can repeat and repeat and repeat.”

The Cronenberg influence is definitely present in the trailer for 29 Needles which you can check out below.

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A24 Creating New Action Thriller “Onslaught” From ‘The Guest’ & ‘You’re Next’ Duo

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It’s always nice to see a reunion in the world of horror. Following a competitive bidding war, A24 has secured the rights to the new action thriller film Onslaught. Adam Wingard (Godzilla vs. Kong) will be directing the film. He will be joined by his longtime creative partner Simon Barret (You’re Next) as the scriptwriter.

For those unaware, Wingard and Barret made a name for themselves while working together on films such as You’re Next and The Guest. The two creatives are card carrying horror royalty. The pair have worked on films such as V/H/S, Blair Witch, The ABC’s of Death, and A Horrible Way to Die.

An exclusive article of out Deadline gives us the limited information we have on the topic. Although we don’t have much to go on, Deadline does offer the following information.

A24

“Plot details are being kept under wraps but the film is in the vein of Wingard and Barrett’s cult classics like The Guest and You’re Next. Lyrical Media and A24 will co-finance. A24 will handle worldwide releasing. Principal photography will begin in Fall 2024.”

A24 will be producing the film alongside Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett for Ryder Picture Company, Alexander Black for Lyrical Media, Wingard and Jeremy Platt for Breakaway Civilization, and Simon Barret.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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Director Louis Leterrier Creating New Sci-Fi Horror Film “11817”

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Louis Leterrier

According to an article from Deadline, Louis Leterrier (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) is about to shake things up with his new Sci-Fi horror film 11817. Leterrier is set to produce and direct the new Movie. 11817 is penned by the glorious Mathew Robinson (The Invention of Lying).

Rocket Science will be taking the film to Cannes in search of a buyer. While we don’t know much about what the film looks like, Deadline offers the following plot synopsis.

“The film watches as inexplicable forces trap a family of four inside their house indefinitely. As both modern luxuries and life or death essentials begin to run out, the family must learn how to be resourceful to survive and outsmart who — or what — is keeping them trapped…”

“Directing projects where the audience gets behind the characters has always been my focus. However complex, flawed, heroic, we identify with them as we live through their journey,” said Leterrier. “It’s what excites me about 11817‘s wholly original concept and the family at the heart of our story. This is an experience that movie audiences won’t forget.”

Leterrier has made a name for himself in the past for working on beloved franchises. His portfolio includes gems such as Now You See Me, The Incredible Hulk, Clash of The Titans, and The Transporter. He is currently attached to create the final Fast and the Furious film. However, it will be interesting to see what Leterrier can do working with some darker subject material.

That’s all the information we have for you at this time. As always, make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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Lists

New to Netflix (U.S.) This Month [May 2024]

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atlas movie Netflix starring Jennifer Lopez

Another month means fresh additions to Netflix. Although there aren’t many new horror titles this month, there are still some notable movies well worth your time. For instance, you can watch Karen Black try to land a 747 jet in Airport 1979, or Casper Van Dien kill giant insects in Paul Verhoeven’s bloody sci-fi opus Starship Troopers.

We are looking forward to the Jennifer Lopez sci-fi action movie Atlas. But let us know what you are going to watch. And if we have missed something, put it in the comments.

May 1:

Airport

A blizzard, a bomb, and a stowaway help create the perfect storm for the manager of a Midwestern airport and a pilot with a messy personal life.

Airport ’75

Airport ’75

When a Boeing 747 loses its pilots in a midair collision, a member of the cabin crew must take control with radio help from a flight instructor.

Airport ’77

A luxury 747 packed with VIPs and priceless art goes down in the Bermuda Triangle after being hijacked by thieves — and time for a rescue is running out.

Jumanji

Two siblings discover an enchanted board game that opens a door to a magical world — and unwittingly release a man who’s been trapped inside for years.

Hellboy

Hellboy

A half-demon paranormal investigator questions his defense of humans when a dismembered sorceress rejoins the living to wreak brutal vengeance.

Starship Troopers

When fire-spitting, brain-sucking bugs attack Earth and obliterate Buenos Aires, an infantry unit heads to the aliens’ planet for a showdown.

May 9

Bodkin

Bodkin

A ragtag crew of podcasters sets out to investigate mysterious disappearances from decades earlier in a charming Irish town with dark, dreadful secrets.

May 15

The Clovehitch Killer

The Clovehitch Killer

A teenager’s picture-perfect family is torn apart when he uncovers unnerving evidence of a serial killer close to home.

May 16

Upgrade

After a violent mugging leaves him paralyzed, a man receives a computer chip implant that allows him to control his body — and get his revenge.

Monster

Monster

After being abducted and taken to a desolate house, a girl sets out to rescue her friend and escape from their malicious kidnapper.

May 24

Atlas

Atlas

A brilliant counterterrorism analyst with a deep distrust of AI discovers it might be her only hope when a mission to capture a renegade robot goes awry.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory

The Camp Cretaceous gang come together to unravel a mystery when they discover a global conspiracy that brings danger to dinosaurs — and to themselves.

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