News

Gatopardo Filmes’ “Room for Rent” Headed to FilmOut San Diego

Published

7 years ago

June 3, 2017

Good ghost stories films are hard to find and even harder to create. They rely heavily on mood, atmosphere, and tone that creates the perfect chill in the air as you settle in to watch. “Quarto para alugar (Room for Rent)”, a Brazilian short film making it’s US debut at FilmOut San Diego, is one of those rare films that walks that fine line like a professional acrobat on a tightrope, giving its audience an expertly balanced ghost story that is both charming in its homage and frightening in its claustrophobic setting.

The film, co-directed and written by Enock Carvalho and Matheus Farias, centers around Leticia played by Joana Gatis, a young woman who lives alone in her apartment surrounded by antiques. A portrait of her grandmother hangs on the wall like a reminder that everything you do here is watched closely. Leticia seems lonely and cloistered from the outside world here. She moves about like a nun under a vow of silence quietly preparing for an escape into the outside world.

Intended destination? A party.

Leticia meets Gabriela (Clebia Sousa) at the party and we see the two make their way back to the apartment. Gabriela wanders the space asking questions about the portrait, and the locked door at the end of the hall which Leticia explains is a room she rents out occasionally to make ends meet. As the film moves forward that door becomes more and more sinister and the certainty that it merely opens into an uninhabited room dwindles.

“We knew this would be a challenge from the beginning,” Farias explained. “The position of the room for rent had to be in a very specific position in the scene. It had to be visible from almost every angle in the apartment.”

The filmmakers handled this aspect particularly well. A door that begins almost subliminally as a part of the background veritably looms over us by the end of the 20 minute film. Farias admits they were influenced heavily by films like Rosemary’s Baby and The Tenant when they were making decisions about the film’s pivotal scene, when Leticia’s grandmother appears in the ghostly flesh.

The Grandmother Photo by Clarissa Dutra

“We believe that old houses and furniture keep their owner’s energies forever,” Carvalho says. “Playing with her presence in all the objects and the old pictures in the apartment was a real pleasure as a filmmaker.”

Ultimately, Farias points out, there’s more to this than meets the eye and the message lies in the same object used to invoke the Grandmother’s spirit.

“The film uses this tale to discuss oppression and conservatism,” he says. “For that reason our story happens at an apartment fulfilled with objects that look like they’re from Brazil’s colonial period. We wanted the room for rent to represent this very locked and secret place that hides traditions from a past not so very distant from today.”

Both filmmakers point out that the climate for the LGBT community in Brazil is filled with oppression. They point out that it is one of the most homophobic countries in the world with a legislature that regularly works against their rights as human beings.

“In the last 12 years we have had great victories for these rights,” he points out, “but there is a conservative force emerging against all of us. The only thing we can do now is resist and we are doing this through our films.”

So far, the films seems to be having the desired positive effect. Carvalho points out that the film has been receiving a lot of positive feedback and has been received well by audiences.

You can see “Room for Rent” at the FilmOut San Diego festival as part of a horror block that will take place on June 10, 2017 beginning at 10 pm.

Quarto para alugar (Room for rent) – Trailer from Gatopardo on Vimeo.

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Movies

’47 Meters Down’ Getting Third Movie Called ‘The Wreck’

Published

17 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Deadline is reporting that a new 47 Meters Down installment is heading into production, making the shark series a trilogy.

“Series creator Johannes Roberts, and screenwriter Ernest Riera, who wrote the first two films, have co-written the third installment: 47 Meters Down: The Wreck.” Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine) will direct.

The first two films were a moderate success, released in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The second film is titled 47 Meters Down: Uncaged.

^{47 Meters Down}

The plot for The Wreck is detailed by Deadline. They write that it involves a father and daughter trying to repair their relationship by spending time together scuba diving into a sunken ship, “But soon after their descent, their master diver has an accident leaving them alone and unprotected inside the labyrinth of the wreck. As tensions rise and oxygen dwindles, the pair must use their newfound bond to escape the wreck and the relentless barrage of bloodthirsty great white sharks.”

The filmmakers are hoping to present the pitch to the Cannes market with production starting in the fall.

“47 Meters Down: The Wreck is the perfect continuation of our shark-filled franchise,” said Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “This film will once again have moviegoers terrified and on the edge of their seats.”

Johannes Roberts adds, “We can’t wait for audiences to be trapped underwater with us again. 47 Meters Down: The Wreck is going to be the biggest, most-intense film of this franchise.”

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News

‘Wednesday’ Season Two Drops New Teaser Video That Reveals Full Cast

Published

20 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Cameron McFarland

Netflix announced this morning that Wednesday season 2 is finally entering production. Fans have been waiting a long time for more of the creepy icon. Season one of Wednesday premiered in November of 2022.

In our new world of streaming entertainment, it isn’t uncommon for shows to take years to release a new season. If they release another one at all. Even though we will likely have to wait quite a while to see the show, any news is good news.

The new season of Wednesday looks to have an amazing cast. Jenna Ortega (Scream) will be reprising her iconic role as Wednesday. She will be joined by Billie Piper (Scoop), Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Evie Templeton (Return to Silent Hill), Owen Painter (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Noah Taylor (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

We will also get to see some of the amazing cast from season one making a return. Wednesday season 2 will feature Catherine-Zeta Jones (Side Effects), Luis Guzman (Genie), Issac Ordonez (A Wrinkle in Time), and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Devs).

If all of that star power wasn’t enough, the legendary Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas) will be directing the series. As a cheeky nod from Netflix, this season of Wednesday will be titled Here We Woe Again.

Jenna Ortega Wednesday — Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams

We don’t know much about much about what Wednesday season two will entail. However, Ortega has stated that this season will be more horror focused. “We’re definitely leaning into a little bit more horror. It’s really, really exciting because, all throughout the show, while Wednesday does need a little bit of an arc, she never really changes and that’s the wonderful thing about her.”

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

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Movies

A24 Reportedly “Pulls Plug” On Peacock’s ‘Crystal Lake’ Series

Published

22 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Film studio A24 might not be going forward with its planned Peacock Friday the 13th spinoff called Crystal Lake according to Fridaythe13thfranchise.com. The website quotes entertainment blogger Jeff Sneider who made a statement on his webpage through a subscription paywall.

“I’m hearing that A24 has pulled the plug on Crystal Lake, its planned Peacock series based on the Friday the 13th franchise featuring masked killer Jason Voorhees. Bryan Fuller was due to executive produce the horror series.

It’s unclear whether this is a permanent decision or a temporary one, as A24 had no comment. Perhaps Peacock will help the trades shed more light on this project, which was announced back in 2022.”

Back in January 2023, we reported that some big names were behind this streaming project including Bryan Fuller, Kevin Williamson, and Friday the 13th Part 2 final girl Adrienne King.

“‘Crystal Lake info from Bryan Fuller! They officially start writing in 2 weeks (writers are here in the audience).” tweeted social media writer Eric Goldman who tweeted the info while attending a Friday the 13th 3D screening event in January 2023. “It will have two scores to choose from – a modern one and a classic Harry Manfredini one. Kevin Williamson is writing an episode. Adrienne King will have a recurring role. Yay! Fuller has pitched four seasons for Crystal Lake. Only one officially ordered so far though he notes Peacock would have to pay a pretty hefty penalty if they didn’t order a Season 2. Asked if he can confirm Pamela’s role in the Crystal Lake series, Fuller replied ‘We’re honestly going to be covering it all. The series is covering the life and times of these two characters’ (presumably he’s referring to Pamela and Jason there!)'”

Whether or not Peacock is moving forward with the project is unclear and since this news is secondhand information, it still has to be verified which will require Peacock and/or A24 to make an official statement which they have yet to do.

But keep checking back to iHorror for the latest updates to this developing story.

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