Freddy Rodriguez Starring in the Shudder Horror Film “V/H/S/85”

Posted on August 22, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Freddy Rodriguez is going on the hunt…

The 48-year-old Latino actor and Emmy-nominee leads the cast of the Shudder horror film V/H/S/85, which is set to premiere at Fantastic Fest next month.

He portrays Detective Wayne Johnson, a seasoned detective investigating a variety of gruesome murders while on the trail of an elusive serial killer.

The cast is rounded out by Jordan Belfi, James Ransone, Dani Deetté, Rolando Davila-Beltran, Justen Jones, Marcio Moreno, Ari Gallegos, Forrest Hartl, Duffy McManus, Eric Pierson, Felipe de Lara, Tom Reed and Vivian Morse.

V/H/S/85 takes viewers on a journey into the grim underbelly of the forgotten 1980s. Unveiled through a made-for-TV documentary, five chilling tales emerge: scientists observe an unusual boy fixated on his TV, kids embark on a lake skiing adventure, a TV crew fights to survive a natural disaster, the early days of VR awaken something terrifying, and a deadly dream is captured on tape. Sinister secrets of the 1980s come to life in a way you’ve never seen before.

The project is written by Zoe Cooper, Evan Dickson, Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill, Mike P. Nelson, Gigi Saul Guerrero.

Directors include David Bruckner, Derrickson, Nelson, Guerrero and Natasha Kermani.

Rodriguez most recently portrayed Detective Greco in the Hulu series Wu-Tang: An American Saga for the show’s final season on the small screen, and Cal in the as-yet-unreleased indie film Days When The Rains Came opposite True Blood‘s Sam Trammell and Beau Bridges.

He is best known for his portrayal of Federico Diaz on the hit HBO series Six Feet Under, which earned him an Emmy nomination in 2002 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Rodriguez was part of the main ensemble cast alongside Michael C. Hall, Peter Krause, Frances Conroy and Lauren Ambrose across the show’s 5 seasons.

Justina Machado played his wife Vanessa Diaz. Together, Rodriguez and Machado broke ground for Latinos by playing non-stereotypical characters in the early 2000s when such roles were basically non-existent.

Across his nearly three decades in the industry, his big screen credits also include roles in A Walk In The Clouds (1995), M. Night Shyamalan’s Lady in the Water (2006), Grindhouse (2007) for Robert Rodriguez and David Ayers’ directorial debut, Harsh Times (2005). On the small screen, Ugly Betty, ER, The Night Shift, Bull, Scrubs and Party of Five.

Gkids Acquires North American Rights to Alberto Vázquez’s Animated Feature “Unicorn Wars”

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Alberto Vázquez’s latest project is headed to the United States…

Gkids has acquired North American rights to the 41-year-old Spanish comic book artist and filmmaker’s latest genre-bending animated feature Unicorn Wars.The news comes ahead of the film’s U.S. premiere at Fantastic Fest.

The horror-comedy will be released in theaters by Gkids in early 2023, following its domestic release in Spain this fall.

Billed as Bambi meets Apocalypse Now, Unicorn Wars‘ logline is as follows:

For ages, teddy bears have been locked in an ancestral war against their sworn enemy, the unicorns, with the promise that victory will complete the prophecy and usher in a new era. Aggressive, confident teddy bear Bluet and his sensitive, withdrawn brother Tubby could not be more different. As the rigors and humiliation of teddy bear bootcamp turn to the psychedelic horrors of a combat tour in the Magic Forest, their complicated history and increasingly strained relationship will come to determine the fate of the entire war.

Unicorn Wars previously featured in competition at the 2022 Annecy Animation Film Festival, and was just announced as a selection of the 2022 BFI London Film Festival.

Vázquez directed from his own script, with Chelo Loureiro, Iván Miñambres and Nicolas Schmerkin serving as executive producers.

“There is nobody on Earth who could make a film like Unicorn Wars except Alberto Vázquez,” said GKIDS’ President David Jesteadt. “We are proud to partner again with this exceptional filmmaker on his richly layered and darkly funny new film about cute characters doing horrific things. It continues to haunt me.”

Vazquez is a Goya and Annecy Cristal-winning director.

Saban Films Finalizing Deal to Acquire Rights to Alejandro Hidalgo’s Horror Drama “The Exorcism of God”

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro Hidalgo’s could exorcise American audiences in the near future…

Saban Films is finalizing a deal to acquire The Exorcism of God, a horror drama from the Venezuelan filmmaker.

The news came ahead of the film’s premiere at Fantastic Fest on Monday.

Saban Films will handle the film’s distribution in the U.S., as well as in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland and South Africa, with XYZ Films continuing to oversee international sales in other territories.

The feature, set in an isolated Mexican town, follows Father Peter Williams (Will Beinbrink), an American exorcist who becomes possessed by the Devil, subsequently committing a terrible sacrilege. 18 years later, the consequences of his sin come back to haunt him, unleashing a battle within.

Hidalgo co-wrote the script with Santiago Fernández Calvete, with María Gabriela de Faría and Joseph Marcell co-starring.

Hidalgo and Epica Pictures, Inc.’s Joel Seidl produced the film, with producers Karim Kabche and Antonio Abdo of Kabche Film Productions serving as its financiers.

“Alejandro Hidalgo is a mighty directorial force in the Latin American horror genre,” said Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley. “We are excited to share this fascinating and frightening film of his with an American audience.”

“Releasing our film in theaters and digital platforms in the US has always been a dream,” added Hidalgo. “We feel beyond excited to make it happen hand in hand with such a wonderful team as XYZ and Saban Films.”

Screen Media Acquires U.S. Rights to Bella Thorne’s Thriller “Girl”

Posted on September 23, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Bella Thorne has revenge on the brain…

Screen Media has acquired the U.S. rights to Girl, the thriller starring the 22-year-old half-Cuban American actress/singer.

Written and directed by Chad Foust, the film also stars Mickey Rourke. The deal comes ahead of the film’s U.S. premiere later this week at Fantastic Fest. A November day-and-date release is in the works.

Thorne plays a woman (she’s only known as Girl) who returns to her small hometown to exact revenge on her abusive father, only to discover someone murdered him the day before. As she searches for answers, she soon finds herself prey to a sinister sheriff (Rourke) and uncovers a disturbing family legacy more disturbing than she’d imagined. The film marks Foust’s directorial debut, and he also co-stars with Glen Gould, Lanette Ware and Elizabeth Saunders.

“We are thrilled to showcase Bella Thorne like you’ve never seen her before, and we know her fans are going to love watching her take charge, and take names,” Screen Media said in a statement. “It is fitting that it will make its debut at this year’s Fantastic Fest, as we think it will be a favorite of genre fans everywhere.”

Fantastic Fest launches its virtual 2020 edition Thursday with the North American premiere of Ludovic and Zoran Boukherma’s French werewolf pic Teddy. Girl screens Friday night.

Issa López to Write & Direct the Film Adaptation of the Short Story “Lost Souls”

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Issa Lópezis a lost soul…

The 48-year-old Mexican writer and director is set to write the script and direct an adaptation of the Matthew Baker short story Lost Souls, which Searchlight and Noah Hawley optioned last year.

The film is set in a world in which some babies are born without souls. A young expectant mother is sent to an unusual wellness center in the desert, with the hopes that it will improve her chances of delivering a healthy baby.

It’s one of several short stories written by Baker that turned into big movie deals. Hawley and his 26 Keysis turning Baker’s short story Why Visit Americainto an FXpilot Baker is writing and Hawley is executive producing. Hawley is producing two others based on Baker stories.

López won Best Director in the Horror Category at Fantastic Fest 2017 for her film Tigers Are Not Afraid, which was released by AMC Shudder.

She’s currently in development on a supernatural folklore film that Guillermo Del Torowill produce for Searchlight.

Juliana Rojas & Marco Dutra’s “Good Manners” to Premiere at This Year’s Fantastic Fest

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Juliana Rojas & Marco Dutra are bringing good manners to the Lone Star State…

Known for showcasing some of the best bizarre genre films from around the globe, Alamo Drafthouse’s Fantastic Fest has announced their final wave of programming, which includes the North American premiere of Rojas and Dutra’s Good Manners.

The Brazilian and French-film centers on a lonely nurse named Clara, who is hired as a nanny by wealthy Ana. She hardly expects anything like the friendship she finds with the lonely, pregnant woman. However, both women have dark secrets that will engulf all that they hold dear.

Trailer GOOD MANNERS from UDI on Vimeo.

Also added to their programming slate are Issa Lopez’s film Tigers Are Not Afraid and Viktor Jakovleski’s documentary Brimstone & Glory.

Here’s a look at the Latin American films that form part of Fantastic Fest’s lineup:

BRIMSTONE & GLORY
Mexico, USA, 2017
Regional Premiere, 67 min
Director – Viktor Jakovleski
Tultepec is a small Mexican town that celebrates its love of fireworks with a yearly week-long festival. This festival is captured in a glorious documentary that is pure cinema.

GOOD MANNERS
Brazil, France, 2017
North American Premiere, 135 min
Directors – Juliana Rojas & Marco Dutra
When lonely nurse Clara is hired as a nanny by wealthy Ana, she hardly expects anything like the friendship she finds with the lonely, pregnant woman. However, both women have dark secrets which will engulf all that they hold dear.

TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID
Mexico, 2017
World Premiere, 83 min
Director – Issa López
When her mother suddenly disappears with no one to care for her, young Estrella ends up on the street and joins a gang of children, triggering a dangerous and tragic chain of events in the third feature from Mexican filmmaker Lopez.

Garcia Bogliano to Direct the Swedish-Language Supernatural Thriller “Svart Cirkel”

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Swede deal for Adrian Garcia Bogliano…

The 35-year-old Spanish filmmaker is set to direct Svart Cirkel (Black Circle), a Swedish-language supernatural thriller starring Swedish icon Christina Lindberg, Quentin Tarantino’s inspiration for Kill Bill, through her role in 1973 Swedish cult classic thriller They Call Her One-Eye.

Black Circle centers on two sisters whose lives change dramatically after going through hypnosis using a mysterious vinyl album recorded in the 1970s.

“This is finally my opportunity to work with Christina Lindberg who has been one of my favorite actresses for many years,” said Bogliano. “She has an incredible presence and we’re getting an amazing cast and unique locations, that will make this movie something very different from anything you’ve seen from Swedish genre films.”

Garcia Bogliano, formerly Argentina-based, but now working out of Mexico, was a 2012 Austin Fantastic Fest five-prize winner with the Spanish-language film Here Comes the Devil.

A genre-auteur, Garcia Bogliano’s Black Circle is the latest genre, geographic and language permutation for the director whose English-language U.S. war vet/werewolf tale Late Phases bowed at 2014’s SXSW, while Scherzo Diabolico weighed in as a black comedy about a separating and out-of-work accountant’s kidnapping a teen girl, who proves his worst nightmare.

Black Circle’s cast also features award-winning Swedish actors such as Mathilda Paradeiser, Hanna and Erica Midfjäll, Madeleine Trollvik and singer Johan Palm.

Trailer Released for Gomez-Rejon’s Horror Meta-Remake “The Town That Dreaded Sundown”

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a dreaded time for Alfonso Gomez-Rejon is

MGM has released the first trailer for the Latino film and television director’s horror meta-remake The Town That Dreaded Sundown, which hails from producers Jason Blum and Ryan Murphy.

Following the events of the low-budget 1976 slasher from Charles B. Pierce, The Town That Dreaded Sundown picks up decades after the Phantom Killer terrorized rural Texarkana when the murders start again and a teenager (Californication’s Addison Timlin) finds herself in the killer’s sights.

It’s Gomez-Rejon’s first time directing a feature.

Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the film will have its first public screening this month at Austin’s Fantastic Fest before MGM’s Orion Pictures releases it in October.

Gomez-Rejon, who was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Directing For a Miniseries for American Horror Story: Coven, has directed several episodes of Glee and American Horror Story. He also directed an episode of The Carrie Diaries and the pilot for Red Band Society.

Hayek’s “Everly” to Have Its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek’s ready to have a Fantastic time in Texas…

The 48-year-old Mexican actress’ action thriller Everly from Radius-TWC will make its world premiere this month at Fantastic Fest, the genre fest that takes place in Austin, Texas.

Directed by Joe Lynch from a script by Yale Hannon, the film centers on Hayek’s character. She’s described as a down-on-her-luck woman forced to fend off waves of assassins sent by her ex, a dangerous mob boss, while trying to save her estranged mother and daughter.

Joining Hayek’s film in Austin will be Blumhouse Productions and MGM/Orion’s horror remake The Town That Dreaded Sundown, Radius-TWC’s horror film It Follows, Picturehouse’s The Guest, and Dimension/Radius’ Daniel Radcliffe starrer Horns.

The annual festival runs September 18-26 out of the Alamo Drafthouse theaters, which this year will simultaneously screen its opening night film, Kevin Smith’s Tusk with Genesis Rodriguez, and the world premiere of anthology The ABCs Of Death 2 in all Drafthouse markets nationwide along with Q&As live-streamed into theaters and online.

New Trailer Released for Vigalondo’s Suspense Thriller “Open Windows”

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s open (window) season for Nacho Vigalondo…

A new trailer for the 37-year-old Spanish filmmaker’s latest project Open Windows has been released.

Starring Elijah Wood and Sasha Grey, the film is being called a high tech Hitchcock project. It’s an internet age suspense thriller presented through the lens of a computer desktop.

Wood stars as Nick, a superfan who’s won a dinner with his favorite actress, Jill Goddard (Grey). When she refuses the date a mysterious third party offers Nick a chance to watch Jill secretly through her webcam, sparking a terrifying cat and mouse game.

The real-time thriller premiered in March at SXSW and was partially filmed at Austin’s annual Fantastic Fest where Vigalondo and Wood are frequent guests.

Fantastic Fest’s 2014 edition kicks off September 18 and will host the U.S. premiere of anthology threequel V/H/S Viral, for which Vigalondo directed a segment.

Cinedigm will peel back the curtain on Open Windows first on video on demand on October 2, before it hits theaters on November 7.

Vigalondo’s previous credits include Timecrimes, Extraterrestrial and The ABCs of Death.

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