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Brief Backstory Delivered in Hilarious ‘Birdemic’ Behind-the-Scenes Video

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14 years ago

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Severin Films officially announced today the acquisition of all worldwide rights to Birdemic: Shock & Terror, a hilarious indie feature from writer/producer/director James Nguyen that can only be described as “special”. Nguyen, on the other hand, describes it as “a romantic thriller”. The film is a love story about a young couple trapped in a small Northern California town under siege by homicidal birds. While those of you paying close attention have already been tuned in to the (astounding) backstory of Birdemic, beyond the break you’ll find a special EPK video that’ll give you some of the highlights. Those of you in the Los Angeles area don’t miss out on the Bloody Disgusting sponsored red carpet event taking place on February 27 (hosted by Tim & Eric!). Get more info here and join me for my 30th birthday extravaganza! “Why did the eagles and vultures attack?”

Birdemic: Shock and Terror EPK from Severin Films on Vimeo.

Nguyen, a 42-year-old Vietnamese refugee, wrote, cast and shot the film over the course of four years using salary from his day job as a mid-level software salesman in Silicon Valley. The film pays homage to Hitchcock’s THE BIRDS via location shooting in Mission Bay, California, as well as an appearance by star of THE BIRDS Tippi Hedren. When rejected for an official screening slot at Sundance, Nguyen spent eight days driving up and down the festival’s nearby streets in a van covered with fake birds, frozen blood and BIRDEMIC posters, while loudspeakers blared the sounds of eagle attacks and human screams. The tactic caught the attention of festival organizers, filmgoers and local police, as well as executives from Severin Films.

“BIRDEMIC is truly unlike any other film we’ve ever seen,” said Carl Daft, CEO and co-founder of Severin Films. “The fact that James Nguyen wrote, produced, directed, financed and self-marketed such a unique feature is in itself a story worth celebrating. On a certain level, this is a landmark independent production and James is truly an auteur for our time. We’re enormously excited for audiences to experience BIRDEMIC for themselves.”

Severin Films is planning a limited theatrical release for BIRDEMIC: SHOCK AND TERROR later this year. The film is the company’s first contemporary acquisition.

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Horror movie fanatic who co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, V/H/S/2/3/94, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily. Franchise favs: Hellraiser, Child's Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th. Horror 365 days a year.

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‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’ Rated “R” for “Horror Violence” and “Language”

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16 mins ago

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April 24, 2024

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We are now less than one month away from the release of Lionsgate’s The Strangers: Chapter 1, the first film in a brand new reboot trilogy from director Renny Harlin (A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Master, Deep Blue Sea). It’s coming to theaters May 17, 2024.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 has officially been rated “R” this week for…

“Horror violence, language and brief drug use.”

For the sake of comparison, Bryan Bertino’s original home invasion film was rated “R” for “violence/terror,” while Prey at Night was rated “R” for “horror violence and terror throughout.”

Madelaine Petsch (“Riverdale”), Froy Gutierrez (Hocus Pocus 2), Rachel Shenton (The Silent Child), Ema Horvath (“Rings of Power”) and Gabe Basso (Hillbilly Elegy) star.

Based on the original 2008 cult horror franchise, the project features Petsch, who drives cross-country with her longtime boyfriend (Gutierrez) to begin a new life in the Pacific Northwest. When their car breaks down in Venus, Oregon, they’re forced to spend the night in a secluded Airbnb, where they are terrorized from dusk till dawn by three masked strangers.

Here’s the full official synopsis: “After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.”

Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, Deep Blue Sea, Die Hard 2) is directing from a script by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland (The Freak Brothers, Due Date). Lionsgate will distribute worldwide.

The Strangers began in 2008 with Bryan Bertino’s original home invasion horror movie, a terrifying film that introduced three masked killers who returned 10 years later with The Strangers: Prey at Night in 2018. The first film took place in a remote house in the woods while the sequel brought the murderous Man in the Mask, Dollface and Pinup Girl into a trailer park.

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