News

Great Performances in Horror: Desiree Gould as Aunt Martha in Sleepaway Camp

Published

2 years ago

February 16, 2022

“There are no small parts. Only small actors.”

You might have heard this saying before. Usually, it comes right after you’ve been offered the role of Townsperson #9 in your high school production of The Music Man, but what it’s saying is true. It takes a great, inventive actor to make something out of very little stage or screen time and create something memorable.

Case in point: Desiree Gould as Aunt Martha in Sleepaway Camp.

Talk to anyone about this film and, the odds are, they’ll eventually bring up the endearingly quirky Aunt Martha as one of the most unforgettable parts of an already zany and memorable late-in-the-game slasher film.

Writer/director Robert Hiltzik fills his film with an assortment of some of the strangest characters to ever inhabit a slasher film. From the dynamic mean girl sister act of Judy and Meg (M-E-G) to the grotesque sex offender cook, the sleazy camp owner, and the group of foul-mouthed campers, Sleepaway Camp’s cast of characters is nothing if not unique.

Even within this already kooky group of characters, Aunt Martha stands out as uniquely bizarre. Her first appearance in the film is right after the prologue where a father and child are killed in a nasty boat accident and the surviving child, Angela, goes to live with cousin Ricky and Aunt Martha.

To say Martha is overly enthusiastic would be the understatement of the century. Gould busts in with a brown paper grocery bag full of snacks for the camp-bound Angela and Ricky as she belts her first lines to the rafters as if she’s playing to an imaginary audience of thousands at Radio City Music Hall. It’s a charmingly unmodulated, presentational performance that wouldn’t feel out of place in an early John Waters movie. At times, it’s like watching an alien approximating their own version of how a human behaves.

A fine drinking came could be made out of Gould’s daffy tic of turning to the camera, as an aside, resting her fingers on her chin, and saying “I’m afraid that wouldn’t do at all.” It becomes her catchphrase.

The moment where she remembers that she tied a red string around her finger so that she wouldn’t forget to tell Angela and Ricky something and then can’t remember what it was is a master class of bizarre cringe comedy. This woman is truly operating on another wavelength from the rest of us and, from the way Ricky reacts to his mother’s behavior, you get the sense that he’s pretty accustomed to it by now.

Perhaps most disturbing is that we find out that Martha isn’t just your run-of-the-mill, pill-addled, day-drinking housewife but a doctor herself. Can you imagine Martha performing surgery on you? Who would give this crackpot a scalpel?

Y’see, Martha has taken the liberty of filling out both Angela and Ricky’s physicals for them and makes sure to tell them not to let anyone know how they got them. Why would Martha do this? What’s she hiding? Gould’s big blue eyes dart around in such an unpredictable fashion that you can never get a good read on her. Is she just an oddball or is there something more sinister afoot?

70-ish minutes, several dead campers, and one Silly Putty mustache later, Aunt Martha returns during the surreal climactic reveal where we discover that Angela was originally Peter, and Martha decided to raise the child as Angela because she “always wanted a little girl.” At this point, Martha goes from being charmingly weird to full-on insane. She also mentions that her husband left her (big shocker) and that prevented her from having the little girl she always dreamed of. Martha, have you heard of adoption or a drunken one-night stand without protection? Not that anyone in their right mind would willingly give you another child to raise, but it’s worth a shot. Certainly makes more sense than the child abuse she forced on poor Angela. With this reveal, Martha becomes the true villain of the film.

To any actors out there, let this be a lesson to you. It doesn’t matter how much screen time or how many lines you have. If Desiree Gould could make something memorable out of Aunt Martha’s 3-minute appearance, you can, too. She remembers the old showbiz saying of always leaving them wanting more and, for me personally, she leaves me wanting to see an Aunt Martha medical drama spinoff. Imagine that character in the operating room causing drama. Just putting it out there.

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News

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

Published

1 hour ago

May 2, 2024

Cameron McFarland

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.

“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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News

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

Published

2 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Cameron McFarland

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]

Published

4 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Timothy Rawles

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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