NOTE: We ran this article in 2011 and have updated it for 2012.
The Sundance Film Festival is the best known film festival in the United States. Say the word “Sundance” to anyone, film lover or not, and chances are they’ve heard of the festival. As a movie blog though, the problem with covering Sundance is that virtually all of the movies are brand new. We haven’t heard of them, you haven’t heard of them, so why would you even care about them?
More than any of the casting news, trailers or film stills that we post on a daily basis, what happens in that small corner of Utah for a little over a week in January is probably the most important movie event of the year. Even so, talk to the most seasoned movie fan and they don’t spend half as much time focusing on what’s going on at Sundance as they do bitching about movies that came out three years ago. Plain and simple, the best films that you will see in theaters for the next 12 months are being shown at Sundance over the next week and a half. And while you probably haven’t heard of them in January, you’ll definitely have heard of them by December. Don’t you want in on the ground floor?
For the next 10 days myself and Peter Sciretta will be in Park City, Utah at the Sundance Film Festival. And while you might not be eager to click and read about a movie you haven’t heard of yet, we urge you to do so. Some of the films that people hadn’t heard of when they played Sundance in the past are films like Saw, The Blair Witch Project, Donnie Darko, 28 Days Later, Napoleon Dynamite, Memento, Bottle Rocket, Clerks, Reservoir Dogs and The Usual Suspects. Think of all the movies that have been made since because filmmakers like Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson, Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarantino and Bryan Singer broke out at the Sundance Film Festival. Who is the breakout star this year? You’ll have to follow our coverage to find out.
Still not convinced? We’ve compiled even more films that you know and love that got their start at Sundance after the jump. Read More »
.
Please Recommend /Film on Facebook
Whether you realized it or not, this past Halloween was the first one in seven years without a new Saw movie in theaters. 2010 brought audiences the seventh film, Saw 3D, which was the most expensive of the series thus far. However, while it did receive a nice box office bump thanks to inflated 3D ticket prices, the film failed to perform up to lofty expectations. Producers decided it was time for Jigsaw and his minions to take a break and this year, Paranormal Activity 3 was the lone major horror Halloween release.
But the series is far from dead. Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns spoke to CNBC Tuesday about the potential merger with Summit Entertainment and dropped the following nugget on the horror community:
I’m sure, some day, you’ll see Saw back in the picture
Saw 8 is coming, ladies and gentlemen. Watch the video and read more after the jump. Read More »
In honor of the upcoming release of Saw 3D, the final film in the Saw series (or is it?), Screenrant‘s Mike Eisenberg editted together a video overview to explain everything you need to know about the first six films in just 6 minutes and 66 seconds (okay, that’s technically 7 minutes and 6 seconds, but that’s a less marketable title). Watch the video embedded after the jump.
Read More »
Here’s a little distraction for you, something to play with for a couple of idle minutes. In order to promote the DVD and BD release of Saw VI (out since January in the US, in UK stores this week), Lionsgate have whipped up a little Where’s Waldo-style picture with Jigsaw’s creepy tricycling puppet Billy hidden away amongst several Saw and Waldo characters and in jokes. You can see the full picture after the break.
Read More »
Trailers are an under-appreciated art form insofar that many times they’re seen as vehicles for showing footage, explaining films away, or showing their hand about what moviegoers can expect. Foreign, domestic, independent, big budget: I celebrate all levels of trailers and hopefully this column will satisfactorily give you a baseline of what beta wave I’m operating on, because what better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising? Some of the best authors will tell you that writing a short story is a lot harder than writing a long one, that you have to weigh every sentence. What better medium to see how this theory plays itself out beyond that than with movie trailers?
Read More »
With both Saw and Paranormal Activity out in theaters, FunnyOrDie has decided to create a funny mash-up parody called Paranormal Saw.
Want the paranormal spookiness of Paranormal Activity, but without giving up the gore and mindgames of Saw? Then Paranormal Saw is just for you! When a young couple suspect a ghost in their house, they uncover a puppet with plans of his own.
Watch Paranormal Saw after the jump.
Read More »
As it stands, this is a rumor at best and, more accurately, an informed online endorsement that could easily pick up steam amongst horror fans and online. Either way, it’s the weekend and the thought of Tobe Hooper, creator of Leatherface and director of 1974′s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and its huggable ’86 sequel, once again revving up the genre’s best ‘saw hadn’t crossed my mind. It should have. According to Shock’s Ryan Rotten, while attending a party for Saw IV, he saw Hooper hanging with TCM2‘s Bill Moseley and, more importantly, the team at Twisted Pictures. Dots connected, and Rotten has fully thrown his support behind Hooper’s possible involvement.
I know, oohlala. But as we reported (and as Russ understandably bemoaned), Twisted Pictures purchased the franchise’s rights from the metallic douches at Platinum Dunes. Twisted’s first installment, vaguely said to be a contemporary take and possibly a true third sequel ignoring Dunes‘ entries, is already in development, with a screenplay by Stephen Susco (The Grudge). Moreover, it seems that Hooper’s new management, Evolution, shares L.A. offices with Twisted, and also reps Susco. So, why would Hooper directing be a good idea for the franchise, and business-wise, is it a smart one, since Hooper hasn’t directed a hit flick in a long time? We chime in after the jump. Let us know what you think…
Read More »
Yes, you’ve probably seen me wearing Marc Ecko’s Star Wars Boba Fett hoody, which I like because its geek wear, which can totally blend in and not look like geek wear. It doesn’t scream out “look, I’m a Star Wars hoody!” Ecko has a bunch of other Star Wars designs that don’t fit that classification. I assume they’re popular, because he’s making more and more of thee things. Ecko’s latest batch includes The Dark Knight, Kiss, Saw and Friday the 13th themed hoodies. I’m not exactly sure if these are cool or not. Personally, they come off a bit too flashy for my tastes. But I thought some of you might be impressed. But at a price tag of nearly $100, will any of you pull out your credit card? More photos and details after the jump.
Read More »
