UPDATE: CHECK OUT PHOTOS INSIDE! Back in January it was reported that two theater attendees had fainted at a Sundance Film Festival screening of Paul Solet's Grace, a report that created instant attention amongst horror fans. While I'm always a bit skeptical of such news, this evening I received an e-mail where a fan claimed to have had a similar incident at this weekend's screening at USC here in California. Read what he had to say, and what director Paul Solet responded with when we checked in with him.
Producer Adam Green forwarded me an e-mail from "Chris W." who claimed to have had a hard time getting through Paul Solet's GRACE at the USC screening this weekend.
"First of all, I wanted to thank you for the great "Before I Wake" score. It was a pleasure to cut in and mix, it made the movie come alive.
I also wanted to congratulate you on the fantastic score for "Grace" - I didn't see the whole movie (we'll get to that) but what I heard was really haunting and perfect for the film.
Like I said, I didn't see the whole thing. This is because I, horror film aficionado and splatterpunk enthusiast, was defeated by "Grace." I got up to get some air because the movie was getting to me, and wound up passing out in the bathroom and escaping home with a couple of broken fingers and a busted chin.
I wanted to personally pass this information along to the director, if I could, so I was wondering if you could hook me up with his e-mail address. I know the whole "it made people pass out at Sundance!" thing has been a big thing for the movie, so I figured I'd let him know that it wasn't just Sundance.
Thanks!"
Now, we've e-mailed Chris requesting photos and maybe even some proof of a visit to the E.R., if that comes you'll be seeing an update immediately.
UPDATE: Chris e-mailed Bloody-Disgusting with photos and the follow:
"I was about an hour into the movie when I started feeling uncomfortable, so I got up to get some air. I went to the bathroom to splash water on my face - when I got to the sink I noticed I was very light headed and unsteady. The next thing I know, I was waking up on the floor.
A friend drove me to the ER. I had gouged a chunk of skin under my chin that required a few stitches, and broke two fingers of my left hand, both of which are currently in splints. I'll be seeing a hand specialist in a couple days, hopefully it won't require surgery (as you can see in the X-ray, it's a nasty little break)
I'm usually fine with horror movies - I love them, watch them all the time, I've even made a couple. I watched "Dead Snow" the week before and had a blast. But like the singer that hits the high note that shatters the glass, "Grace" found the frequency that broke my resolve. I just graduated USC film school - I should be able to see through the special effects, but I couldn't convince my brain that it was just a movie.
Some friends asked me if that meant I don't endorse the film - on the contrary. It's a damn fine film - unsettling, creepy, uncomfortable and terrifying on a base level. I'm actually sad I didn't get to see the rest of the movie. Maybe when it comes out on DVD - on a tiny screen with crappy sound and fast-forward capability.
Here are some pictures of the damage:"
After reading the e-mail, we dropped writer-director Paul Solet a line to see what he had to say about the event.
"It sounds like he really hurt himself, I'm glad he's alright," Solet tells Bloody-Disgusting. "I'm really surprised to see people passing out, particularly horror fans. I'd be lying if I said it isn't really gratifying to see the film getting under people's skin enough to cause them to have to check out like this. People should know, though, this isn't a movie with tons of graphic violence, it's just proving extremely viscerally and psychologically unnerving. This movie isn't a gut punch, it's more of a soul punch. I'm really glad he's okay. If he still tries to watch the rest of the film later, it's a true victory. "
GRACE revolves around Madeline Matheson, an eight months pregnant woman who is determined to deliver her unborn child, Grace, naturally. When an accident leaves Grace dead inside her, Madeline insists on carrying the baby to term. Weeks later, when Madeline delivers naturally, the child miraculously returns to life...
Anchor Bay is looking to release the film in limited theaters this fall before it hits DVD and Blu-ray.
it's only a movie.
only a movie.
only a movie.
only a movie.
only a movie.
I guess when a movie is getting negative buzz early on, you have to rely on publicity stunts. Too bad this shit has been done time and time again. Blah.
Um... it's won like every festival it's been in and it's only had positive reviews from all of the horror sites and the mainstream press like Newsweek, USA Today, and Variety. Nice try with the "negative buzz" comment you slapdick. Publicity stunt? I highly doubt it. But you know what you should do? Continue to be an asshole and say bad shit about the movie before we even see it- and then when it comes out... go on IMDB and write a post that says WORST MOVIE EVER just to show them all. You'll show them all and then you will be so awesome! Yeah! I hope you die.
Can't wait to see this!
there were a lot of people walking out at the screening we saw but none passing out.. It's not really that bad.. No idea why folk are fainting.. Pussies...
I didn't even bother reading this whole thing since it's really lame. I really hate when people do this sort of thing just so a film will get some attention. This is almost as bad as when an actor says "I was so scared while reading the script....".
I don't think the fainting has anything to do with the movie being scary or gory (as horror fans, we have all seen buckets of blood and gore). I think the subject line and the emotion that I heard the movie generates, hits most people close to home and makes them nauseous. I still want to see it...I did long before the hype of "the fainting" came about:)
Oh also...I work in the medical field and that picture of the fingers in the splints, are not the same fingers as the ones on the X-ray...so I smell hoax.
Ive seen it and I dont know what someone passed out over. What a pussy! Beware set-ups. Someone passed out once at a film I was at, and I found later, exhaustedly and thru trickery, that it was a setup deveoped to start hype on the movie. WHAT was so sick in this movie that someone passed out? Im not buying it.
From someone who ACTUALLY seen GRACE, all i can says is that some people just have weak stomachs and there are some scenes in this that could turn afew stomachs. There's one of two nits that had me feeling alittle funny.
But people have got to remember, just because people faint/run out of the cinema, doesn't mean its a PR stunt.
People did it for the exorcist too... (but for that i can't understand, cos that was just weak!)
He could have been hungry/weak could have been hot/warm which are the key ingrediants to passing out, oh the blood and story is a plus on that too. I wonder if he just ate, or if the AC was on... hmmmm I read this thinking it was cool and "Oh man I gotta see this!" then I thought, just another movie with a wierd plot.
I saw this film at AFI Dallas a few months ago and it WASN'T BAD AT ALL. No one fainted at my screening and the attendees weren't horror buffs by the looks of them.. It's just a very claustrophobic and unsettling film (similar to a bad dream). Couldn't imagine that a BD reader would pass out from it though...What a pussy.
Hi everyone, I'm the guy in the story who passed out. First of all, let me assure you that it's not a hoax. Secondly, I was well fed when I went into the screening so hunger wasn't an issue. I could have been better hydrated, which was probably a contributing factor. I am uncomfortable around blood in a very specific context - drawing blood, needles, small cuts, things like that. Gushing buckets of guts and entrails, I'm great, no problems. Usually movies hit my "discomfort chord" only briefly and I can look away or cringe for a moment and it's fine. But this movie hit that chord and didn't let up. I have two regrets - one, that I didn't make it to the end, and two, that I didn't fall more gracefully.
One of the very few times I say something "negative " about a movie before it's released and I get told: "I hope you die" LOL. Dumb ass was probably abused as a child, and I really really hope he was :-b psycho.
I saw this movie last friday, the movie it's very good (better than good/ok), but needs some editing (pacing for the most part)and some scenes were too long, too redundant, and yes some people walked out during the movie, but we have seen worse... See it and judge for yourself.
As a huge fan of extreme cinema, i do have a slight urge to see this, and I will, but I am very skeptical about it at the same time. From the stills i have seen, it looks very polished and mainstream, which in my experience means it will be sick by Hollywood standards but when compared to the greats? Just won't be up to par. For beginners, try Cannibal Holocaust, Salo, Irreversible, or even Henry: Portrait of a Seriel Killer is pretty hard to watch at points. Not all of these are horror per say, but they are fucking sick and great classics. Salo in particular is beautiful.
Comments Page 1 of 2 | Next -> | Last ->> You have to be logged in to comment! If you don't have an account register now for free! Your account allows you to post comments and reviews, upload videos and images, access or our forums, write personal blogs, and maintain your profile.
Print Story
Send to a Friend
