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Review: ‘Island Zero’ is Nostalgic Sci-Fi/Horror Fun
What is it about little islands off the coast of Maine? They just seem to breed scary stories, andĀ Island Zero, the new film from director Josh Gerritsen is the latest in a long and distinguished line.
Something is wrong in the small fishing village where the film is set. The fish have vanished and the lobster traps are coming up empty.
No one knows why, and at first they consider it just an off season, if you will. But when people begin to disappear into the night, mutilated corpses begin washing up on shore, and a silent predator seems to move among them, the villagers soon begin to realize that going broke is the least of their worries.
Gerritsen assembled a talented cast for his directorial debut mixing studio actors with local actors and crew, the film radiates authenticity as the residents of the island and the interloping visitors struggle to find common ground.
Laila Robins plays Maggie, the village’s seasonal doctor who left the military when she could no longer stomach the violence, with quiet confidence. This is a woman who knows how to handle herself in the most intense of situations, whether that situation is squaring off with chattering Ruth (played to the hilt by Anabel Graetz) in her office or taking aim at the vicious creatures who are hunting them.
Then there’s Adam Wade McLaughlin who plays a scientist named Sam who studies sudden extinction scenarios and who believes an apex predator of some sort is behind not only the disappearance of sea life but also the attacks on the humans on the island. Sam lost his first wife at sea, and McLaughlin brings every ounce of emotional turmoil he can muster to the role.
Also of note is Matthew Wilkas in the role of Titus, a visiting novelist whose motives, of course, may not be as simple as writing a new bestseller. Wilkas is deliciously ambiguous in the role, never giving away one hint about his identity off-island that he doesn’t mean to.
Now, this is a creature feature, after all, and it would be remiss not to bring up the brilliance of their mechanics or the way in which Gerritsen and his crew deftly bring them to life, but that is all I’ll say about that. It’s best to experienceĀ Island Zero un-spoiled by too much information in that area. Just know that they are frighteningly efficient killers and some of the most unique we’ve seen in quite some time.
Cinematographer Mark Farney skillfully makes you feel the cold in every wintry blue and white and dread in the deep shadows created by firelight.
As a whole,Ā Island Zero works because on a basic level, it is a story about people. Certainly there are monsters and enough gore to satiate the appetite of gorehound viewers, but as with every story of its kind, the island can be saved only when islander and outsider learn to work together.
That’s why these stories are so effective, and Gerritsen ultimately proves that he has what it takes to tell this kind of story which bodes well for whatever his next project may be.
Island Zero will be available on VOD on May 15, 2018. Check out the trailer below!
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News
“Mickey Vs. Winnie”: Iconic Childhood Characters Collide in A Terrifying Versus Slasher
iHorror is diving deep into film production with a chilling new project that’s sure to redefine your childhood memories. We’re thrilled to introduce ‘Mickey vs. Winnie,’ a groundbreaking horror slasher directed by Glenn Douglas Packard. This isn’t just any horror slasher; it’s a visceral showdown between twisted versions of childhood favorites Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh. ‘Mickey vs. Winnie’ brings together the now-public-domain characters from A. A. Milneās ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ books and Mickey Mouse from the 1920s ‘Steamboat Willie’ cartoon in a VS battle like never before seen.
Set in the 1920s, the plot kicks off with a disturbing narrative about two convicts who escape into a cursed forest, only to be swallowed by its dark essence. Fast forward a hundred years, and the story picks up with a group of thrill-seeking friends whose nature getaway goes horribly wrong. They accidentally venture into the same cursed woods, finding themselves face-to-face with the now monstrous versions of Mickey and Winnie. What follows is a night filled with terror, as these beloved characters mutate into horrifying adversaries, unleashing a frenzy of violence and bloodshed.
Glenn Douglas Packard, an Emmy-nominated choreographer turned filmmaker known for his work on “Pitchfork,” brings a unique creative vision to this film. Packard describes “Mickey vs. Winnie” as a tribute to horror fans’ love for iconic crossovers, which often remain just a fantasy due to licensing restrictions. “Our film celebrates the thrill of combining legendary characters in unexpected ways, serving up a nightmarish yet exhilarating cinematic experience,” says Packard.
Produced by Packard and his creative partner Rachel Carter under the Untouchables Entertainment banner, and our very own Anthony Pernicka, founder of iHorror, “Mickey vs. Winnie” promises to deliver an entirely new take on these iconic figures. “Forget what you know about Mickey and Winnie,” Pernicka enthuses. “Our film portrays these characters not as mere masked figures but as transformed, live-action horrors that merge innocence with malevolence. The intense scenes crafted for this movie will change how you see these characters forever.”
Currently underway in Michigan, the production of “Mickey vs. Winnie” is a testament to pushing boundaries, which horror loves to do. As iHorror ventures into producing our own films, we’re excited to share this thrilling, terrifying journey with you, our loyal audience. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to transform the familiar into the frightful in ways you’ve never imagined.
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Movies
Mike Flanagan Comes Aboard To Assist in Completion of ‘Shelby Oaks’
If you have been following Chris Stuckmann on YouTube you are aware of the struggles he has had getting his horror movie Shelby Oaks finished. But thereās good news about the project today. Director Mike Flanagan (Ouija: Origin Of Evil, Doctor SleepĀ andĀ The Haunting) is backing the film as a co-executive producer which might bring it much closer to being released.Ā Flanagan is a part of the collective Intrepid Pictures which also includes Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka.
Stuckmann is a YouTube movie critic whoās been on the platform for over a decade. He came under some scrutiny for announcing on his channel two years ago that he would no longer be reviewing films negatively. However contrary to that statement, he did a non-review essay of the panned Madame Web recently saying, that studios strong-arm directors to make films just for the sake of keeping failing franchises alive. It seemed like a critique disguised as a discussion video.
But Stuckmann has his own movie to worry about. In one of Kickstarterās most successful campaigns, he managed to raise over $1 million for his debut feature film Shelby Oaks which now sits in post-production.
Hopefully, with Flanagan and Intrepid’s help, the road to Shelby Oak’s completion is reaching its end.
āItās been inspiring to watch Chris working toward his dreams over the past few years, and the tenacity and DIY spirit he displayed while bringing Shelby Oaks to life reminded me so much of my own journey over a decade ago,” Flanagan told Deadline. “Itās been an honor to walk a few steps with him on his path, and to offer support for Chrisā vision for his ambitious, unique movie. I canāt wait to see where he goes from here.ā
Stuckmann says Intrepid Pictures has inspired him for years and, “itās a dream come true to work with Mike and Trevor on my first feature.”
Producer Aaron B. Koontz of Paper Street Pictures has been working with Stuckmann since the beginning is also excited about the collaboration.
āFor a film that had such a hard time getting going, itās remarkable the doors that then opened to us,ā said Koontz. āThe success of our Kickstarter followed by the on-going leadership and guidance from Mike, Trevor, and Melinda is beyond anything I could have hoped for.ā
Deadline describes the plot of Shelby Oaks as follows:
“A combination of documentary, found footage, and traditional film footage styles, Shelby Oaks centers on Miaās (Camille Sullivan) frantic search for her sister, Riley, (Sarah Durn) who ominously disappeared in the last tape of her āParanormal Paranoidsā investigative series. As Miaās obsession grows, she begins to suspect that the imaginary demon from Rileyās childhood may have been real.”
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Movies
New ‘MaXXXine’ Image is Pure 80s Costume Core
A24 has unveiled a captivating new image of Mia Goth in her role as the titular character in “MaXXXine”. This release comes approximately a year and a half after the previous installment in Ti West’s expansive horror saga, which covers more than seven decades.
His latest continues the story arc of freckle-faced aspiring starlet Maxine Minx from the first film X which took place in Texas in 1979. With stars in her eyes and blood on her hands, Maxine moves into a new decade and a new city, Hollywood, in pursuit of an acting career, “But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.”
The photo below is the latest snapshot released from the film and shows Maxine in full Thunderdome drag amid a crowd of teased hair and rebellious 80s fashion.
MaXXXine is set to open in theaters on July 5.
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