Interview with Paul Hyett - Director of Werewolf movie HOWL

As AVOD film site W4Free unleashes bloodthirsty Werewolf movie HOWL, director Paul Hyett reflects on the importance of story-telling, the career effects of the pandemic and what horror films have caught his eye lately.

Q: Looking back on the production of HOWL, what stands out for you in terms of the directorial experience?

It was a real learning experience with the sheer number of VFX shots. And what I can do on set to make the VFX guys workload easier, for example, getting practical plate shots. Also, working on a green screen set. I think that’s what made it stand out to me, the pure logistical way of filming on a train set build, on a green screen set with hundreds of visual effects and tying everything together so it works.

Q: HOWL was your second feature as director, following the dark and controversial THE SEASONING HOUSE. What was behind the decision to make such a distinct genre shift?

I already knew the producers Ed King and Martin Gentles from actually being up for the job of making the werewolf prosthetics and suits. At the same time the original director left, they had watched THE SEASONING HOUSE as opening film at FrightFest 2012, so they asked to think about taking over the directorial reins, which I jumped at the chance to.

Q: Would you like to make another Werewolf inspired movie?

If a good werewolf script came along I would definitely think about it. When I read a script, for me it’s all about story and characters.

Q: HOWL, like THE SEASONING HOUSE, THE CONVENT (HERETIKS) and PERIPHERAL, have all received world premieres at FrightFest. What is it about the festival that makes it so important to launch your films there?

My relationship with Frightfest goes back nearly two decades. It feels like my extended family. I think it’s the best way to introduce your film to the world. The audiences are smart as well as supportive. I think the coverage is important, its hard to get your film out there and noticed. Frightfest is a natural springboard. And the support is so well appreciated. And also you have a really fun time there!

Q: Even though you’re a master of visual effects, you’ve gone on record as saying that the most important aspect of filmmaking for you in the storytelling. Can you elaborate?

Above all the visual effects, practical effects, CGI, the most important part is the storytelling, the narrative structure, the characters. Everything else comes second. You have to be invested in the characters, you need to be immersed in the story, otherwise no matter what you do visually, you won’t care, it will just feel flat. If you care about a character which is killed, then it stimulates an emotional reaction in you. The effect itself will feel a lot more powerful with those emotions.

Q: We hear you were about to make another film when the pandemic broke. What can you tell us?

I was in Cape Cod, doing recces for a film called ‘UNNATURAL SELECTION, a kind of John Carpenter / Stephen King, New England type vibe. We were looking for locations and about to start casting. The pandemic really put us into a hiatus. But we’re working on getting it restarted.

Q: Has the continuing lockdown restrictions affected or influenced your creative process?

It’s certainly made me disciplined about working at my desk at home. In lockdown there were no real distractions, you couldn’t go anywhere, do anything, so you might as well just sit and work. Writing, concept designing, developing. Otherwise you can go mad, you need a focus, a reason to get up. For people on furlough, at home, without work to do must have been really hard. I’m lucky, anyone that can work from home is lucky.

Q: Have any horror films caught your eye this year?

I really enjoyed ARMY OF THE DEAD, it was actually what it said on the tin. Intense fun, ultra gore and zombie tigers, what more could you want?

Q: Have you ventured back into a cinema yet?

Yes once! To see the new ‘The Conjuring’ movie..

Q: Any future plans you can tell us?

I’m still trying to get UNNATURAL SELECTION up as well as developing THE BLACK SITE with Grimmfest films. Also, I have just partnered with a producer on another project, a horror set in New Orleans. Soon to be announced!

You can watch HOWL free of charge on www.w4free.com

 

Arrow Video FrightFest 2021 announces second wave of films for August Cineworld event

 

It’s Full Scream ahead as Arrow Video FrightFest 2021 announces its second wave of hugely anticipated Discovery Screen and First Blood titles - a summer collection of provocative, edgy and transgressive entertainment to die for. There are fourteen World and ten European / International premieres amongst the thirty-four films on offer.

Eleven countries are represented, with titles ranging from Canadian entries BLOODTHIRSTY, Amelia Moses’ simmering LGBQT+ werewolf movie and sinister isolation thriller MOTHERLY to Francesco Erba’s AS IN HEAVEN, SO ON EARTH, a stunning Italian blend of live action and Gothic puppet animation. Then there’s Péter Bergendy’s sumptuous POST MORTEM, an epic Hungarian ghost story, Frida Kempff’s Swedish entry KNOCKING, a breakout Sundance sensation, and Belgium’s latest wildly inventive genre hit is the hallucinogenic HOTEL POSEIDON, a directorial feature debut from Stef Lernus. And from the UK, the cut-throat world of social media influencers is given the terror treatment in the World premiere of Marcus Harben’s FOLLOWERS.

Familiar FrightFest luminaries grace this year’s event. Graham Skipper teams up with NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET franchise icon Lisa Wilcox to star in the world premiere of Mel House’s metaphysical horror MYSTERY SPOT, and after beguiling FrightFest with DRIVEN, director/writers/stars Glenn Payne and Casey Dillard present the World premiere of their new slasher, KILLER CONCEPT. Also welcomed back is Marcel Walz, who continues the terror travails of serial killer thriller BLIND with the UK premiere of PRETTY BOY.

Michael Mongillo, who wowed FrightFest in 2017 with DIANE brings us the World Premiere of intense body snatcher THE CHANGED. This will be an additional main screen presentation, with the leading cast in attendance. The one-take time travel suspense comedy, BEYOND THE INFINITE TWO MINUTES, will now be shown as part of the Discovery stand.

The festival continues to unearth genre gems from South America and this year there are three shining examples from Argentina: Gonzalo Calzada, writer/director of the FrightFest 2018 selection LUCEFERINA, returns with the UK premiere of his astonishing tour de force NOCTURNA: SIDE A – THE GREAT OLD MAN’S NIGHT, and there are European premieres for José María Cicala’s SHADOW OF THE CAT, starring Danny Trejo as you’ve never seen him before and Alejandro Cohen Arazi’s cult hit THE UNBURIED. Plus, from Mexico, comes FORGIVENESS, a surreal, violent and revenge-laden horror thriller by new Mexploitation maestro Alex Kahuam.

The US continues to lead the way with innovating indie genre filmmaking and this year’s Stateside shockers are testament to that. ISOLATION is an incredibly rich anthology of nine chilling tales shot in lockdown, whilst BAD CANDY has been hailed as the best Halloween portmanteau since TRICK ‘R’ TREAT. Then there’s ANTIDOTE, which goes deep inside a horror hospital, Stephen King Simmons’ stunning black-and-white feature debut THE PARKER SESSIONS, which goes beyond our wildest existential nightmares, GREYWOOD’S PLOT, a creature feature send-up for our times and the intense drama TOUCH - the winner of the NYC Independent Film Best Movie and Director awards.

The fearsome fun continues with RED SNOW, a bloodsucking spook-a-blast that puts a stake through the heart of comedy horror, the unique LAGUNA AVE. where metal fetishism goes the full John Waters route, Beau Ballinger’s SHE WATCHES FROM THE WOODS, a chilling walk between supernatural curses and mental health, the disturbing familial psychodrama CAPTIVE and the out of this world NIGHT DRIVE

FrightFest has always championed genre documentaries and this year’s picks are at their engaging best.  WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED: A HISTORY OF FOLK HORROR has been attracting much fantasy festival attention and it’s a 3-HOUR PLUS enchantment. Absolutely astonishing also is THE FOUND FOOTAGE PHENOMENON, which tells you everything you need to know about the roots and growth of the shaky-cam genre and POV Cinema. Finally, Paul Hunt and Julie Kauffman’s obsessive THE BRILLIANT TERROR, is a totally absorbing delve into the Grassroots Horror movement.

The Arrow Video FrightFest First Blood strand has become a film industry watchword for those in the know wanting to discover the next great genre talent pool from the UK and Ireland. The five titles chosen for 2021, all World premieres, once more show the range of innovation and exciting breadth of the professionalism waiting to burst through into the mainstream. Seb Cox’s ARE WE MONSTERS is a unique werewolf coming-of-age saga, Ian Steele’s BOY #5 is an innovative take on the vampire myth, Leroy Kincaide’s THE LAST RITE is an authentic paranormal rollercoaster ride and Conor Buro’s WHEN THE SCREAMING STARTS is a spirited horror mockumentary. Finally, from Ireland, is Richard Waters’ BRING OUT THE FEAR, which explores a doomed relationship on its final day. Richard is a longtime FrightFest community member and a graduate of the festival’s innovative ‘New Blood’ strand.

Arrow Video FrightFest, the UK’s biggest horror and fantasy film festival, takes place at the Cineworld Leicester Square from Thurs August 26 – Monday 30 August, 2021.

Festival co-director Paul McEvoy said today: “At Arrow FrightFest this year we are thrilled to be presenting so many incredible new works from the International genre landscape. We’re showcasing a myriad of World Premiere screenings from many new and exciting talents, along with familiar names. The thrills are diverse and sensational, proving that the genre is truly alive, kicking and flourishing in these troubled times. We cannot wait to share the excitement with everyone”. 

Passes go on sale on Saturday 24th July. Single tickets go on sale Thursday 29th July

Festival pass: £165. Day passes: £35 (Thurs), £60 (Fri & Sat), £50 (Sun & Mon)

Festival and Day Pass holders will be able to buy a discounted Digital pass for £40

Single Tickets: £14.50.

The digital add-on will allow full access to the digital component of the festival that runs from Wednesday 1st to Sunday 5th September.  

Stand-alone tickets for the digital component of the 2021 Arrow video FrightFest will be available in August. Prices: £85 for full access and £7.50 for individual films.

Programme details: https://www.frightfest.co.uk                                                                                                                                       

Who's watching you? Voyeur horror 'Eye Without A Face' on digital 23 August 2021

 

Do you know who’s watching this very moment? Brand new horror feature Eye Without A Face from director Ramin Niami (Paris, Shirin In Love) combines chills, thrills and bloody murder to bring the voyeur genre bang up to date. This edgy movie creeps on to digital 23 August for its UK Premiere from Miracle M. 

Holed up in his LA apartment agoraphobic Henry (Dakota Shapiro – The Affair, Valley Of The Boom), spends his days hacking into the webcams of unsuspecting local young women, seeing himself as their protector and guardian angel, rather than what he really is… a stalker. But his creepy peeks take a sinister turn as he starts to suspect one of his ‘friends’, Laura (Vladka Verevko – South Park, Suits), is a killer…

When his YouTuber flat mate Eric (Luke Cook – Dynasty, Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina) steps in to try and put a stop to the twisted hobby, things take a turn for the worse. With Henry becoming more and more convinced that the woman is a murderer and Laura beginning to suspect she’s being watched, the two are soon on a collision course – who will make it out alive?

'Eye Without A Face' on digital 23 August 2021

Horror Channel raises hell in August

August is a wicked month on Horror Channel, as the UK’s number 1 destination for genre films revives some horror, sci-fi and fantasy classics – including Clive Barker’s HELLRAISER trilogy, which has one of the most stylish and ferociously original horror fantasy franchises ever and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1990), Tom Savini’s colour remake of George Romero's original Night Of The Living Dead, which transcended the world of horror movies to become a film classic

Other highlights include RE-ANIMATOR, the late Stuart Gordon’s darkly comic classic, that has been acknowledged as one of the most celebrated, outrageous and original horror films of all time, TREMORS, Ron Underwood’s affectionate throwback to 1950s creature features, which is still seen as the king slacker of monster movies and ROLLERBALL (2002), the head-slamming remake of the 1975 Sci-Fi hit, directed by John McTiernan,

Also making a return is Sci-fi TV series THE 4400. The highly rated cable drama, originally slated to run only as a five-part miniseries, eventually ran for four seasons Producers included Francis Ford Coppola.

 

Full film details in transmission order:

 

Sunday 1 August @ 21:00 - ROLLERBALL (2002)

Jonathan Crossis the most popular player in the fastest and most extreme sport of all time: Rollerball. But things go wrong when Rollerball’s creator, Petrovich (Jean Reno), realises that serious on-court accidents bring higher ratings. Soon, the players are trapped in Petrovich’s manipulations, playing for their lives in a new game without any rules.

 

Tuesday 3 August @ 22:50 – HELLRAISER (1987)

Frank Cotton (Sean Chapman) has solved the mystery of the Lament Configuration puzzle box, a sort of evil Rubik’s cube. Unfortunately he inadvertently opens a doorway to Hell and, in death, enters the world of the Cenobites, a race of sadistic supernatural beings led by a bald Cenobite (Doug Bradley).

 

Friday 6 August @ 21:00 –NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1990)

A brother and sister visit their family cemetery. The first attack comes without warning, forcing Barbara (Patricia Tallman) to leave her brother lying bloodied and unconscious while she runs for refuge in a nearby farmhouse. Soon, she is joined by others - seven people with nothing in common but their terror of the hideous cannibals who claw at their windows and doors with an insatiable appetite for living human flesh.

 

Tuesday 10 August @ 22:50 - HELLRAISER II: HELLBOUND (1989)

Kirsty Cotton (Ashley Laurence) has witnessed too many horrific images for her young mind to take and is placed in the care of Doctor Channard (Kenneth Cranham). No one believes Kirsty’s wild and weird tales, except the Doctor who has secretly been searching for the pleasures the dark side can bring. Soon the walls at the institute begin to crack and bleed and once dead faces from Kirsty’s recent past return to haunt her. And a Cenobite known as Pinhead (Doug Bradley) vows to tear her soul apart.

 

Tuesday 17 August @ 22:50 - HELLRAISER III: HELL ON EARTH (1993)

Pinhead (Doug Bradley) has been caged in the Torture Pillar, his evil secured for all eternity. But a club owner J.P. Monroe (Kevin Bernhardt) buys this bizarre sculpture and accidentally cuts himself during its installation, dripping blood onto the ancient monument. This resurrects Pinhead, but this time he’s up against a reporter Joey Summerskill (Terri Farrell) who battles Pinhead into facing his own, tortured past.

 

From Wednesday 18 August @ 18:00, weekdays – THE 4400 (2004)

This classy sci-fi TV series revolves around the sudden reappearance of 4400 missing people. All were presumed dead or reported missing over several decades, and many return to their former lives on Earth - but with startling powers. Among those assigned to unravel their mystery is an earnest crime investigator whose nephew is one of the returned.

 

Tuesday 24 August @ 22:50 – RE-ANIMATOR (1985)

A medical student returns from Austria after working in regenerative experiments with a well-known scientist who died under mysterious circumstances. He enrols at Miskatonic University where he differs with his professor on issues of the time of death, and eventually enlists his roommate to help him continue experiments on re-animating the dead

 

Thursday 27 August @ 21:00 – TREMORS (1990)

Kevin Bacon stars in this revved up monster movie made with an enthusiastic nod to classic 1950s monster flicks. Two handymen must battle must battle giant carnivorous sandworms that threaten their small Nevada town. The eccentric and resilient townspeople must do everything in their powers to survive this new man-axing species.

 

FrightFest thirsts for 'new blood' in talent search

As Arrow Video FrightFest stalks the dark recesses of the big screen again, the search resumes for new writers in the horror genre through its New Blood initiative. New Blood reunites FrightFest with Giles Edwards of Queensbury Pictures with its mission to find emerging UK-based writers dedicated to the genre and nurture their projects from script to screen. Queensbury is ultimately interested in buying the finished script rather than the idea, and so, this year all successful final candidates if selected should be able to send even a rough draft of the first ten pages of their script through with their acceptance.

Already the scheme has delivered two new projects: Broadcast Signal Intrusion, written by Phil Drinkwater and Tim Woodall and directed by Jacob Gentry (The Signal) which World Premiered to enormous acclaim at SXSW 2021 and will come home to screen at FrightFest this August and The Change, written by Carina Rodney and optioned by acclaimed producer Jennifer Handorf (The Borderlands, The Chamber).

The successful shortlisted applicants will workshop their ideas in a group setting under the guidance of top industry professionals and genre experts. Among this year's panel are 2021 Variety Magazine 'Director to Watch', recipient Prano Bailey-Bond and acclaimed writer / director of CENSOR, Jed Shepherd, co-writer of 2020's genre sensation HOST and Rob Savage's upcoming secret Blumhouse project, Najarra Townsend, actress and producer, THE STYLIST and Queensbury Pictures' Giles Edwards.  

Giles Edwards of Queensbury Pictures said, "Having already achieved the initial aim of New Blood, with the discovery of the phenomenal script Broadcast Signal Intrusion from Phil and Tim which then exceeded our wildest expectations as a finished feature, and the amazing Jennifer Handorf falling for Carina's *absolutely wild* The Change, we're more adamant than ever that the cream of UK genre writing talent is out there, just waiting for the opportunity to wrench our collective gut with their visions of true terror."

Greg Day, co-director of FrightFest added, "For FrightFest to be continuing to support and enable aspiring scriptwriters to have this opportunity is very gratifying, especially as Giles and Queensbury Pictures have proved that they really mean business and are not just playing industry lip-service. Good luck to the New Blood class of 2021."

The New Blood networking and workshop event will be held on Thursday 26 August, the opening day of this year's festival, in a Central London venue

Applications are open from Monday 12th July with potential participants asked to submit a 400 word proposal through the dedicated New Blood page on the FrightFest website and if selected, each writer is expected to submit the first ten pages of their script idea. The deadline is Sunday 26th July.  All successful applicants will be notified by the 31st of July and then will be requested to send over their sample script pages. All participants are expected to pay for their own travel and accommodation.

For full application requirements and to apply:

https://www.frightfest.co.uk/newblood/newblood.html

Arrow Video FrightFest 2021 runs 26th to 30th August at the Cineworld, Leicester Square.

COMPETITION: Win Alone on Blu-ray

Alone  - Released on Blu-ray from 12th July

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on Blu-ray to give away.

Synopsis: 

Alone is a tense and tightly-wound thriller from John Hyams, director of Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning and the upcoming Maniac Cop remake. Jessica (Jules Willcox, Bloodline) drives on a long, lonely stretch of road in the Pacific Northwest. Attempting to rebound from a tragic loss, she's packed up her belongings and is headed back to her hometown to restart her life. Also on this stretch of road is a Man (Marc Menchaca, Ozark) who, at first, seems harmless enough, but keeps showing up in the same places as Jessica. It’s no coincidence. The Man has hostile plans for her, and once in his clutches she has to fight her way out to safety somewhere in the wilderness, away from civilization, away from any help and away from the devious psychotic out to destroy her. And she'll have to face it all alone.

Signature Entertainment presents Alone on Blu-ray from 12th July

Pre-order on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3hzVvKq

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

Competition Closed 

Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 19-07-21
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

FULL MOVIE - Intruders (2015) Starring Beth Riesgraf, Martin Starr, Jack Kesy, Rory Culkin

 

Anna is isolated from human contact in nearly every way, which is exactly how she likes it. Suffering from crippling agoraphobia and holed up in an old Victorian on the outskirts of town, the people in Anna’s life can be counted on two fingers: her terminally-ill love, Conrad, and the charismatic Meals-on-Wheels driver, Dan. when a trio of criminals break into her house, she cannot bring herself to flee. But what the intruders don’t realize is that agoraphobia is not her only psychosis.

Starring Beth Riesgraf, Martin Starr, Jack Kesy, Rory Culkin

FULL MOVIE - Cherry Tree (2015) - Starring Anna Walton, Naomi Battrick and Sam Hazeldine

 

Faith’s world is turned upside down after she finds out that her beloved father is dying. When the mysteriously alluring Sissy Young becomes the village’s newest inhabitant, Faith finds a compassionate spirit and much-needed mother figure. Little does she know that Sissy is the head of a centuries-old witches’ coven that uses the fruit of an ancient cherry tree in a secret ritual that restores life to the dead and dying.

Offering to cure her father in exchange for a child, Sissy strikes a bargain with Faith, who suddenly finds herself pregnant with a baby that’s growing at an alarming rate. But with the clock to the child’s birth ticking down and the true intention of Sissy’s plans for humanity becoming more apparent, Faith and her father must stand together in order to save both their lives.

Starring Anna Walton, Naomi Battrick and Sam Hazeldine

Also available on DVD for a few pounds at Amazon - https://amzn.to/3ApckjF