Movies
MPI Media/Dark Sky Films Finance ‘Frankenstein’s Army’
After the debacle that was Worst Case Scenario, we were immediately skeptical when a promo trailer was released for Richard Raaphorst’s Frankenstein’s Army. Thankfully, this sucker is now officially financed and going behind cameras. Thumbs up!
It was announced today that MPI Media Group, LA-based XYZ Films and Pellicola of Amsterdam have entered into a coproduction deal to produce Richard Raaphorst’s Frankenstein’s Army. Shooting is to begin in the spring in Prague and Amsterdam and will be completed by late fall.
Raaphorst’s Worst Case Scenario stands as one of the great horror films that never was. The Nazi-zombie project whipped up a massive international following thanks to two early promo reels. But due to financing and production difficulties, the project was abandoned in 2009. Now, director Raaphorst will bring his visionary design skills to this new horror movie, to be distributed by MPI/Dark Sky Films in North America.
“Using shocking vintage newsreel footage as his jumping-off point, Raaphorst has hit on a unique and bold premise. Toward the end of World War II, Russian soldiers pushing into eastern Germany stumble across a secret Nazi lab, one that has unearthed and begun experimenting with the journal of one Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The scientists have used the legendary’s Frankenstein’s work to assemble an army of supersoldiers stitched together from the body parts of their fallen comrades – a desperate Hitler’s last ghastly ploy to escape defeat.” More producer details inside.
Director Raaphorst co-wrote FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY and the film will be produced by Nick Jongerius and Daniel Koefoed (Harry Doright and Dead End) of Pellicola and Todd Brown of XYZ Films. Nate Bolotin, Aram Tertzakian and Nick Spicer of XYZ Films will serve as Executive Producers, and the director of photography will be Gabor Deak (Sextet).
MPI’s Greg Newman, in announcing the production, said: “We are excited to be partnered with XYZ Films and Pellicola in bringing to the screen the next work by one of the truly remarkable filmmakers working today. If the worldwide public clamor for Worst Case Scenario is any indication, Richard’s startling vision for FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY will thrill viewers everywhere.”
MPI’s Dark Sky Films, known for the large catalogue of respected genre films it distributes, has also become an acclaimed horror producer with such modern highly praised films as, Ti West’s The House of the Devil , Adam Green’s Hatchet II, Jim Mickle’s Stake Land and West’s highly anticipated The Innkeepers, starring Sara Paxton and Kelly McGillis.
Movies
‘Boorman and the Devil’ Documentary Trailer Chronicles Complicated Relationship with ‘Exorcist II’
Critically acclaimed documentary Boorman and the Devil chronicles how one of the world’s greatest filmmakers made one of the most hated movies ever: Exorcist II: The Heretic. A new trailer highlighting some of the troubled production woes has arrived.
Boorman and the Devil opens at The Quad in NYC on August 28 before opening wider in various cities on September 4, including: Los Angeles, Columbus, Houston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Seattle and more.
After the success of Point Blank and Deliverance, Warner Brothers offered John Boorman the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to direct a sequel to their smash hit, The Exorcist. The result was one of the biggest disasters in movie history. A critical and financial failure that not only changed how Hollywood did business, but nearly ended Boorman’s filmmaking career… but to be an artist is to be a risk-taker.
Now, John Boorman, Linda Blair, Louise Fletcher, Karyn Kusama, Joe Dante, Mike Flanagan, and more reflect back on the ambition of the film, the artistry and craft, and the value of big creative swings.
“I am beyond thrilled that Yellow Veil has come on board to help us share this story with a larger audience,” said director David Kittredge. “Like myself and the rest of our team, they’re huge cinema-lovers. It’s so exciting that a film which is not only a love letter to John Boorman, but also to ambitious filmmaking, will be handled by people who share the same passions that our team shares.”
“I first saw the film at an early festival screening and the post-screening buzz was just electric. Everyone was loving Boorman and the Devil,” added Yellow Veil co-founder Justin Timms. “To be able to team up with David and the filmmaking team on this release is incredibly exciting, and we can’t wait to spread that post-screening electricity with audiences across the country.”
Boorman and the Devil is produced by Kittredge’s Triple Fire Productions, Travis Stevens (Jodorowsky’s Dune, Starry Eyes) of Snowfort Pictures, and Jim Fall (The Lizzie McGuire Movie), with Alan Koenigsberg of Milton Ventures Media serving as co-producer.
Daniel Kurland wrote in his review, “Boorman and the Devil goes above and beyond to be the definitive text on Exorcist II. This documentary will delight horror and Exorcist fans alike, but it also provides incredible insight for anyone who is just marginally interested in film production.”