Special Screening of American Mary to Hit Fright Fest

THE 2012 FILM4 PROGRAMME IS OUT  

You were warned it was going to be our biggest August Bank Holiday event ever. And you are doomed to join the five-day Harmageddon where everyone is invited. Because during FILM4 FrightFest the 13th, nothing will save you from having the greatest time of your life. With more movies, more variety, more premieres, more previews, more guests and just more, more, more… FILM4 FrightFest the 13th is delighted to unveil its most ambitious line-up in history.  

From the sensational SINISTER starring Ethan Hawke, the Sam Raimi produced THE POSSESSION and Jennifer Chambers Lynch’s jaw-dropping CHAINED, to the MANIAC remake, the surgical underground of AMERICAN MARY and the V/H/S anthology everyone is talking about, it’s time for some paranormal hacktivity and anger games as we salute the cream of the screams 2012.

The British have always been so good to us. In 2010, the fabulous Ghouls on Film was the festival to give our first film, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, her worldwide premiere. Then, on May 23rd, 2011, Bounty Films and Monster Pictures had their DVD release of DHIAT in the UK and Australia, which led to the film's television premiere on the Horror Channel on August 9th, 2011.

The British have been so good to us, that we have decided that if Jen is to marry, it will be to a Brit. It is with a huge amount of pride and enthusiasm that we announce that AMERICAN MARY will be screening at Fright Fest Monday, August 27.

MONDAY AUG 27 AMERICAN MARY (Special Preview Screening)  

After giving the world DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, the irrepressible Soska sisters unleash AMERICAN MARY. Starring Katharine Isabelle (GINGER SNAPS), this metaphor for the Soskas own journey through the independent film industry follows medical student Mary Mason as she becomes increasingly broke and disenchanted. The allure of easy money sends Mary into the twilight world of body modification and underground surgeries where obsessed flesh artists will pay anything and go through any pain to get their unusual procedures done. But Mary soon finds that her new ‘profession’ leaves more marks on her own psyche than on her freakish clientele.  

100 mins Directors: Jen & Sylvia Soska Canada 2012

We have a huge theatre that seats 1400 fucking awesome people. I am looking very forward to introducing you to AMERICAN MARY. The whole lineup is sick as fuck - check here for the full details.

AMERICAN MARY 

The Plot: A student becomes disillusioned by medical school, and finds herself increasingly fascinated by the underground culture surrounding illegal surgeries. 

Why It’s A Must-See: The Soska sisters showed enormous potential in their hugely enjoyable self-funded debut Dead Hooker In A Trunk. If the buzz on American Mary is to be believed, they’ve more than fulfilled that early promise.
We’re especially excited to see the sisters directing Katherine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps) as the titular Mary, in a film that moves away from the grindhouse homage of Hooker, and into a far more intense world. 

The Soskas have described Mary as their tribute to Asian/Euro shockers – we can’t wait to see it.   

Keep checking www.totalfilm.com/frightfest for the latest news and announcements

This is only the start of some incredibly exciting news coming with the film. We have some large announcements coming up with the film that we cannot wait to start sharing with you!

-Sylv

American Mary First Screening at the Cannes Market

"If I may indulge in some flagrant cliché abuse, the Soska Sisters are not just going places, but they’re paving the way to an exciting, vital and game-changing career in genre filmmaking. The powerhouses behind Dead Hooker in a Trunk have made their second film, American Mary, which has received its first screening at the Marche du Film at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The film stars Katharine Isabelle as Mary, a broke medical student who finds herself mired in a bizarre world of underground surgery." -Nia Edwards-Behi, BRUTAL AS HELL

The name Nia Edwards-Behi might sound familiar to you. If not, here is an interesting piece of information that you might not be aware of - the very first screening of DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, when no one wanted to touch that film with a ten foot pole, happened at the Ghouls on Film Festival in the UK thanks to Nia. The admiration for this woman who truly supports the independent has only grown in the years that we have come to know her. It was a thrill to not only have her, Gaz Bailey, and Rhys Thomas Fowler at Cannes to make a pair of foreigners feel more at home, but an amazing honour to have them in attendance for the first screening of AMERICAN MARY. How appropriate that this sensational woman would reveal the first look of the film.

"Mary is a completely different beast to Dead Hooker. Where Dead Hooker is a loving tribute to B-movies and grindhouse cinema, Mary is a stylish, artful and darkly funny tragedy. This difference is the Soskas’ masterstroke – even the most doubting spectator would struggle to deny the absolute versatility on display between the two films."

I know we've been very hush hush on the flick and going to the Cannes market makes it difficult to check out the screening, but for those of you dying of antic..............pation, check out the full beautiful review. No spoilers - so you're surprises are safe!

Thank you so much to everyone who was a part of this. Very extremely fucking cool of you all.

~Sylv

Bleeding Cool Twisted Twins Interview

Brendon Connelly is Bleeding Cool.

As our DEAD HOOKER made its incredible journey from trunk to UK, we had the esteemed pleasure of chatting with Brendon of the wicked awesome site, Bleeding Cool. He actually rang us up, which was very cool and with such vastly different time zones, always an adventure.

The UK has been absolutely astounding with their support of us and our DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. I must admit on more than one occasion we've uttered, "that's it, I'm moving to the UK." And it's true. The UK holds a very special place in our deranged little hearts. I'm so happy that our film first debuted there at the Ghouls On Film Festival AND it was first released there.

Now, it's come home to Canada and the USA. Today, DHIAT is available everywhere on VOD courtesy of the wonderful people at IFC Midnight. Seriously. Go watch it. And then watch it again. And then leave it going as you fall asleep tonight.

In celebration of DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK DAY comes this wicked awesome interview with Brendon of Bleeding Cool.

We talk about ALL the good stuff....

Love. Horror. Dead Hookers. American Mary. CJ Wallis. Our future projects. Our short films. Acting. God. Robert Rodriguez. Carlos Gallardo. Jurassic Park. Cross Roads. Setting men on fire.

Yup, all that and much more.

Get comfy and curl up with the FULL INTERVIEW right here.

And do yourselves a favor and check out the collective awesome that is Bleeding Cool.

Here's a word from their site creator and a little on how you can be part of the rad storm...

"Welcome to BleedingCool.com – the new blogsite written by Rich Johnston and friends.

This site will not so much pull back the curtains of the comic book industry, as give you a series of upskirt shots. But as well as news, rumours and gossip, there will be reviews, previews, features, interviews, videos, columns and a place for comic book readers to call their own. Whatever your tastes from mini comics by Sean Appozardi to blockbuster events by Geoff Johns, from the Guardianista middle class commentary of Posy Simmonds to the righteous right hook of Chuck Dixon, from Rob Liefeld’s cankles to Robert Crumb’s thighs, from Frank Quitely’s OctoMumLips to Frank Cho’s shapely hips, you’re welcome here.

More than that, I need you. I can’t be everywhere all the time. Hell, I’m stuck in the outskirts of London for a start. But, en masse, you can be. Keep your eyes and ears open. Point out any loose threads and I’ll start pulling.

Because everyone in comics knows something, whether found in the dark online, corners, overheard in a comic shop, shared over drinks at a comic convention or found in the dumpsters at 1700 Broadway, that other comic readers would love to know. And here is where you can share it all. Those that do will get points, kudos, and special credentials on the forum. And the knowledge of a job well done.

So please, be my Little Bleeders. Register for the forum, bookmark the site, start making a difference. This is our medium, let’s have some fun with it.

After all, isn’t that what comics are for?

Rich Johnston"

They even did an interview with Axel Braun. If you don't know who that is, you don't like super heroes as much as I do...

Bloody Best!
Jen

Fancy a Spot of Dead Hooker in the Boot?

We love the UK. Seriously. We have had such tremendous support since day one with 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk' from our overseas friends. One of the first festivals to show the first cut of the film was Ghouls on Film Festival which was a hit thanks to the horror fans that came out and the incredible Nia Edwards-Behi for having our Hooker in attendance. Now, Hooker has her final sexy cut and is going back overseas for the Manchester Premier Horror Festival: Grimm Up North 2. So what's going on?
"After careful consideration and a lot of hard work, the Grimm Up North team have announced their full festival lineup for 2010. Festival passes are still available for only £75, and individual tickets for all the main screenings will be on sale starting October 1st.

A festival pass provides access to the whole lineup of films, seminars, features, events and more with the exception of the Gala Opening Night events, tickets for which will also be available to purchase separately soon."
The lineup is fucking fantastic. If you can make it out and love horror, you must be there. The always horror-all knowing Dread Central put up the lineup today and they look delicious, here's the awesome you will face at the fest:

"Full Lineup for Grimm Up North 2010THE GALA OPENING NIGHT-Thursday 28th October, The Dancehouse/Odder Bar


We kick off with a special showing of the 1964 horror/sci-fi classic LAST MAN ON EARTH starring Vincent Price - all set to live music from Animat. The electronica collective have been adding their audiological special sauce to movies for some time now, so we've invited them along to kick things off in spectacular style!

The special opening night Gala brings us the Northwest premiere of new Irish horror OUTCAST. Starring James Nesbitt (The Deep/Jekyll), Karen Gillan (Doctor Who), Therese Bradley (Young Adam) and James Cosmo (Highlander), this stylish psychological horror tells the story of a doomed romance between two young lovers as they are forced to deal with a community obsessed with bringing down a terrifying beast which has been killing locals.

THE BIG SCREEN FILM LINE UP
Films will run from the Friday: 2pm - 1.30am. Saturday: midday - 1.30am. Sunday: Midday - 8pm. The festival pass allows access to all these screenings. Exact schedule, TBC.


* AMER (France/Belgium) Northern Premiere
A love letter to the giallo genre and the work of such masters as Argento and Bava, Amer is a film that has been blazing a trail of its very own recently playing to a number of thrilled international festival audiences.

* ALIEN VS. NINJA (Japan) Northern Premiere
If you like aliens and you like ninjas, well, you know the rest. What would happen if a team of elite Japanese swordsmen came face to face with an army of terrifying bloodthirsty beasties in a beautiful forest location?


* BEDEVILLED (South Korea) Northern Premiere
A dark tale of revenge, Bedevilled shows us the life of a young woman who has been beaten down by life and those around her for many years on a small island. A challenging watch during its opening couple of acts, but Bedevilled will give you a climactic release you won't forget anytime soon.

* THE PACK (LA MEUTE) (France) Northern Premiere
In a snowy no man's land, loner Charlotte picks up a hitchhiker, Max, for security after being hassled by a motorbike gang. When Max goes missing, Charlotte's investigations lead her into a world of fear. Little does she know that she is being set up to take part in an unholy ritual! Visually arresting, Franck Richard's debut feature follows in the sick and slick tradition of recent French horror fare.

* CHOP (USA) UK Premiere
A wonderfully trashy grindhouse late-nighter, Chop is a blacker than black comedy which takes on the world of torture porn movies like Saw and Hostel. The directorial debut of Deadgirl screenwriter Trent Haaga, this is a weird little left-field shocker that will nail you to your chair.


* DEEP RED (Italy) New release
What better way to honour the upcoming high definition re-release of Dario Argento's 1975 classic Deep Red than offering our Grimmlins the chance to see it on the big screen? Known to many by its original title Profondo Rosso, this is the film that helped to cement its director as a genre legend.

* DREAM HOME (Hong Kong) Northern Premiere
What if you were prepared to do anything to get the house you've always dreamed of? Well, that's the attitude of Cheng Li-sheung, a young, professional woman who will brutally murder anyone who threatens her investment... and when I say brutally, I do mean brutally. We guarantee you've never seen anything like this.


* EVIL - IN THE TIME OF HEROES (Greece) English Premiere
A cheeky and innovative new take on the zombie genre - the story of a battle between humankind and zombiekind that has raged for thousands of years - with, erm, hilarious results. In addition, it also features Billy Zane as a mysterious undead-slaying prophet... so what more could you ask for?

* FRAGMENT (Australia)
When Lloyd takes photographs of dead people, he can bring them back to life... either that, or he's experiencing hallucinations brought about by cerebral damage. When a dead serial killer and one of his victims are resurrected, Lloyd falls for the victim and is forced to save her - leading to some tense horror and even a little necrophilic romance!

* FINALE (USA) Northern Premiere
After the unexpected death of one of their own, a bereaved family start to fall apart at the seams. What is the truth behind this mysterious world in which nothing is what it seems - and who is the mysterious soul collector who seems to be at the heart of it all? If you like dark, intense, Gothic supernatural thrills, Finale will be right up your alley.


* 13 HRS (UK) Northern premiere
A British horror starring some favourites from the world of TV and film (Hollyoaks' Gemma Atkinson and Harry Potter's Tom Felton), 13 HRS is the story of a group of teenagers who find themselves terrorised by a mysterious beast that is stalking the grounds of a decaying stately home. They are forced to put their differences aside and work together or face being torn limb from limb by the terrifying force that waits in the darkness.

* PRIMAL (Australia) Northern Premiere
We all know evil lives in the woods and nature should be treated with respect, but some kids just never learn. In Primal, six teenagers who clearly haven't seen Cabin Fever head out into the wild for a weekend of thrills that typically turn into horrifying chills. A terrifying and primordial evil takes hold turning them into rabid neanderthals that crave blood and flesh!


* THE REEDS (UK) Premiere
A bunch of 20-somethings head out for a weekend boating trip, but soon find themselves part of a deadly game at the hands of some locals. The group end up way off course and, once deep into the reeds, become easy prey for their pursuers. A great British offering, The Reeds is a wonderfully shot and performed slice of horror that makes the most of a limited budget.

* REEL ZOMBIES (Canada) English Premiere
A mockumentary that invites the viewer to watch as a hapless team of film-makers create the third film in their 'Zombie Night' trilogy. However, as the group are already living in a world where real Zombies roam, they decide to use the recently deceased as their cast. Big laughs, big explosions and big breasts, Reel Zombies is an absolute zom-com gem that is dripping with originality!


* SLICE (Thailand) UK Premiere
Bizarrely combining elements of Seven and Slumdog Millionaire, Slice is a tense and powerful horror-thriller that provides a sucker punch of an ending which will leave you reeling with your jaw on the floor. As intense in its modern day scenes as it is beautiful in its flashbacks, this is a fantastic opportunity to see a movie that truly deserves some serious attention.


* WE ARE WHAT WE ARE (Mexico) Northern premiere
Already created a fantastic buzz on the festival circuit and will now be heading to Manchester to give North West audiences the chance to see what all the fuss is about. We Are What We Are has been cited by some as having done for the cannibal genre what Let The Right One In did for vampires. Along the way, this family drama goes to some very dark places and combines a rich, engaging plot with some fresh ideas and a heart-wrenching climax.

* SURPRISE FILM (TBC)
There's one spot we have on our schedule that we aren't quite ready to announce just yet! Rest assured, this is a movie we are very proud to have on board and can't wait to share with you - watch this space!

THE BREAKOUT ROOM
For 2010 we introduce the 'Breakout Room', where there will be all kinds of great things happening over the course of the festival. If you fancy something extra between movies, or need to take a break from the main screen, you will be well catered for.

We’ll showcase some very special low budget indie movies, documentaries, short films, talks and seminars and will screen some great items that we simply couldn't fit into our main schedule. Among these will be Sweatshop, a US film described by Buried.com as "a brutal horror that makes Saw look like it was produced by Disney"; Chased By Satan, a darkly funny Indonesian cross between The Ring and Final Destination; and Dead Hooker in a Trunk, an underground Canadian grindhouse movie directed, written by and starring identical twins Jen and Sylvia Soska with bags of punk rock attitude. This is the place to find those rare hidden gems by up and coming talent.


* SPLATTERHOUSE COMES TO GRIMM
This year, we will again be giving our Grimmlins a special sneak peek at an upcoming title - Splatterhouse. This latest guts-and-gore-fest from Namco Bandai brings the original 1988 arcade classic kicking and screaming into the world of modern console gaming, and we're delighted to be able to host it at our festival! As the title that first earned a "parental advisory" video game stamp, we are particularly excited to see what people think of its latest incarnation. Splatterhouse appears at Grimm ahead of its actual release on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 later this year.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT
Finally, when the projectors stop rolling on Sunday 31st, the festivities will be far from over! Halloween night will see the first ever Grimm Up North Awards Party, where, beginning at 8.30 pm, we'll be announcing the winners of our inaugural ceremony while celebrating over a few beers. As our official festival bar, Odder have also arranged some very special food and drink deals for pass holders and revellers."

A huge, bloodsplattered, halloween-candy filled thank you to Laura Smith who invited 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk' to the festival. It is a true honor to be amongst such innovative and creative horror films. Thank you to all our friends that pass hooker around like, shucks, the hooker that she is! Drop us a line, send us your pictures, we want to know every gushing detail about the festival.

~Jen and Sylv

DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK A HIT AT THE GHOULS ON FILM FESTIVAL

February 2010 has seen the launch of Women in Horror Recognition Month. The first ever of a proud annual event started by the brilliant woman behind Ax Wound Magazine and the definitive voice for women in the horror industry, Hannah Neurotica.

This past Saturday, February 20th in Birmingham, UK, was the Ghouls on Film Festival. It was also the international premiere of DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK.



A very special thanks to Nia Edwards-Behi for this great honor. Both the event and the film were an absolute hit! Here's what they're saying over seas about DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK...

"It was an honour to share Dead Hooker in a Trunk with so many people! ♥"
~Nia Edwards-Behi, Ghouls on Film

"Seriously, fuckin' wow. Amazingly written, acted, directed... the whole works. I tip my hat to you. Not that I have a hat, but if I did I'd be tipping it."
~Andrew McQuade, Gorezone Magazine

"The Soska twins - who directed and starred in the film - manage to channel the spirit of grindhouse and black comedy in this story the morning after the night before (in which you find a dead prostitute in your car!) The film was by turns grisly and hilarious and the two sisters are really watchable. Jen and Sylvia Soska are definitely two ladies to watch."
~Flowers of Flesh and Blood

"The Soska Sisters surely could re-ignite the horror-exploitation genre with their performance in their film and then some!"
~Keri O'Shea

"This was definitely the favourite film of the event!"
~Jeannie Warmington

Next up for DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK? The DOA Pretty Scary Blood Bath Film Festival in Addison, Texas! Look HERE for all the details!


xo
~Jen

UK Premiere of Dead Hooker In A Trunk at Ghouls on Film Fest

Dead Hooker In A Trunk has made its way over seas and will be premiering for the first time ever internationally at the Ghouls On Film fest in celebration of Women In Horror recognition month. We thank Nia Edwards-Behi for this distinct honor and can't wait to hear what they think of the film over in the UK. We can almost hear the choirs of "bloody hells" now!

If you are in the UK, or anywhere close, we strongly urge you to check out the festival not merely for DHIAT, but also for the other great films celebrating Women In Horror. Starting at 3pm is an hour of short films, including films by Amanda Boyle, Paula Haifley, Faye Jackson, Melanie Light and a brand new short by Maude Michaud – and possibly one or two others still to come!


There will be TWO feature films screening for your pleasure: Kate Glover’s outback slasher Slaughtered, and the UK PREMIERE of the Soska Sisters’ Dead Hooker in a Trunk! In addition to all this film goodness, very special guest Emily Booth will be in attendance and giving us a peek at her brand new webseries, Behind the Screams!


Check out the event HERE. And for more info on events and what you can do for Women In Horror month, check out the official site HERE.

~Jen