Some interesting news came in this morning as Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today that it has acquired U.S. rights to Ti West’s critically acclaimed horror film The House of the Devil (review). A terrifically crafted homage to 80s horror masterpieces, the film premiered at Tribeca earlier this year and is sure to be an instant classic among genre fans, expertly building a mood of mounting dread to a shockingly terrifying climax. Read on for more info on the deal.
Director West, who was recently tapped by Hollywood to direct a high profile sequel, THE HAUNTING IN GEORGIA, has been regarded as something of a horror wunderkind since 2005’s THE ROOST, and THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL unquestionably fulfills that promise.
The deal was negotiated by Magnolia’s Senior Vice President Tom Quinn with Josh Braun of Submarine and Roger Kass of RingTheJing Entertainment, on behalf of MPI Media Group, Glass Eye PIX, RingTheJing Entertainment and Constructovision.
Magnet is excited to release THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL as part of the Magnolia/Magnet Ultra VOD program, which will offer home viewers a chance to see the film a month before it debuts theatrically. Magnet plans to launch the film on VOD late September 2009, with a theatrical release timed to Halloween.
THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL stars the sexy Jocelin Donahue stars as college student Samantha Hughes who takes a babysitting job in a remote mansion with her good friend Megan (indie favorite Greta Gerwig). She’s desperate for money and the pay is good, but something feels wrong, and Samantha quickly realizes that the girls are trapped. As a lunar eclipse darkens the night sky, she realizes that her employers—cult favorites Tom Noonan (MANHUNTER) and Mary Woronov (ROCK AND ROLL HIGH SCHOOL)—have something truly terrifying in store for them.
“Ti West is without a doubt one of the biggest talents in horror right now,” said Magnet/Magnolia SVP and Head of Acquisitions Tom Quinn. “THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL is smart, truly scary, and an awesome throwback to what made 80s horror great. This kind of film is what Magnet is all about.”
“Eamonn Bowles and Tom Quinn have been enthusiastic supporters of this film from the very beginning,” said Greg Newman of MPI Media Group. “We are pleased that the film has found a home with Magnet/Magnolia, a company that truly appreciates the genre and will give the film an expertly crafted release.”
"I'm psyched we found such a great home at Magnolia Pictures,” said director Ti West. “They continue to release interesting and progressive content and have one of the most impressive slates of independent film to date. They are the perfect fit for THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL."
THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL was produced by Roger Kass, Josh Braun, Larry Fessenden and Peter Phok with Executive Producers Malik B Ali, Badie Ali, Hamza Ali and Greg Newman. Ti West wrote, directed and edited the film.
well color me excited! Magnet always seems to get the great films and I havent seen one yet under their banner that I didnt enjoy.
REALLY hope for a theater run out this way but I'm not counting on it.
This actually looks and feels like the 80's as opposed to some movies that try desperately and fail to recapture the asthetics and vibe of bygone eras (H1KC and TCM remake for example). Probably worth checking out for that, if nothing else. The 1 note piano bit at the end sounds like it's right out of Carpenter's Halloween score.
House of the Devil is THE TYPE OF FILM I ACTIVELY SEEK OUT AND LOVE. Thank God someone knows how to make a retrohorror film. That power zoom shot from behind of the female character walking is AWESOME! The look of the film is great, the cinematography is great, the setting looks great! Finally a REAL horror film to look forward to instead of the ultra-glossy, Hollywood polished "The Box" by Richard Kelly.
Magnolia is a great company - in just three years it's released "The Signal" and "Let the Right One In." Is Magnolia public? If so, I would purchase their stock.
Anything hearkening back to the 80's is alright by me
How could the era that gave us "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" not generate pure genius at every turn?
This is going to be awesome. Mary Woronov (Eating Raoul; Silent Night, Bloody Night; Death Race 2000; Rock n Roll H.S.; House of 1,000 Corpses....MANY MORE). Is all I needed to see to know this movies will be a classic. I'd like to see her and Bill Moseley do something...now THAT would be killer.
This movie looks awesome. A bunch of unknowns and they got nothing to lose. This movie might be a sleeper hit.
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Director West, who was recently tapped by Hollywood to direct a high profile sequel, THE HAUNTING IN GEORGIA, has been regarded as something of a horror wunderkind since 2005’s THE ROOST, and THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL unquestionably fulfills that promise.
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