About: Larry Fessenden

The PlayStation favorite will haunt big screens this spring.

by Michael Gingold from Rue Morgue:
Sony Pictures/Screen Gems releases UNTIL DAWN exclusively to theaters April 25. Based on the hit video game written by Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick, it was directed by David F. Sandberg (LIGHTS OUT, ANNABELLE: CREATION) from a script by Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman (IT), and stars Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Odessa A’Zion, Ji-young Yoo, Belmont Cameli, Maia Mitchell and Peter Stormare. The synopsis: “One year after her sister Melanie mysteriously disappeared, Clover [Rubin] and her friends head into the remote valley where she vanished in search of answers. Exploring an abandoned visitor center, they find themselves stalked by a masked killer and horrifically murdered one by one…only to wake up and find themselves back at the beginning of the same evening. Trapped in the valley, they’re forced to relive the nightmare again and again–only each time the killer threat is different, each more terrifying than the last. Hope dwindling, the group soon realizes they have a limited number of deaths left, and the only way to escape is to survive until dawn.”

I have always tried to understand the way a society might look that was just and fair and effective. I’ve let those questions creep into my artistic impulses in both music and movies. But an artist doesn’t want to be defined as having a political agenda and so I have insisted that the political is personal for me.

I wrote the disconnex website in 2016, the result of decades of musings about the troubles in the world. I rarely publicize it because in fact I am not a political animal. I am interested in the philosophy of living and the limitations of human discourse.

What a strange time in history we are in when on the same day we coronate such an onerous group of right wing leaders in Washington, we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose quote “Judge me not for the color of my skin but the content of my character” is now rejected by many on the left.

You tell me if you see any hope here. Good luck. —LF

With Wolf Man now in theaters, we’re taking a look at ten fun werewolf movies from the past decade that deserve more love. BY MICHAEL CONWAY

BLACKOUT
Directed by Larry Fessenden

Larry Fessenden’s Blackout is a moody, character-driven exploration of werewolf mythology set against the backdrop of a small town during a blackout. The story follows Charley, an artist struggling with his darker urges, as he faces the dual challenges of self-control and an increasingly paranoid community.

What makes Blackout unique is its emphasis on psychological horror and small-town dynamics. Fessenden brings his indie sensibilities to the film, crafting a deeply human story that examines guilt, morality, and the monster within. The practical effects, including gruesome werewolf transformations, are top-notch, and the film’s intimate scale makes its scares feel personal.

Streaming on Tubi

LATE PHASES
Directed by Adrián García Bogliano

Late Phases centers on Ambrose, a blind Vietnam veteran who moves to a retirement community plagued by mysterious animal attacks. The film masterfully combines poignant drama with old-school horror, as Ambrose—a grizzled but determined protagonist—sets out to uncover the truth and protect his neighbors.

Nick Damici gives a powerhouse performance as Ambrose, capturing both his physical limitations and his indomitable spirit.  And, of course, our favorite stoner record store employee, Ethan Embry, is also a standout.  Seriously, this dude needs a resurgence. The film’s werewolf transformations are delightfully practical, harkening back to the genre’s heyday, while its exploration of aging and isolation adds emotional depth. Late Phases is a rare gem that balances heartfelt storytelling with bloody thrills.

Streaming on Tubi

Read full article at JoBlo

In honor of the Wolf Man remake, we brave the edges of werewolf cinema where things get a little hairy. By Matthew Jackson 

Blackout (2023)

Indie horror legend Larry Fessenden took on werewolf cinema with this low-budget gem, pulling apart not just how difficult being a werewolf would be physically, but how it would affect someone psychologically during the daylight hours. The story of an alcoholic artist who’s realized that he kills with every full moon, Blackout plays all the werewolf hits, and then digs deeper. If you realized you were a werewolf, what would you do? Would you turn yourself in? Would you reckon with your own legacy? Would you do some strange combination of making amends and self-flagellation? Fessenden’s film, carried along by a wonderful lead performance from Alex Hurt, asks all of these questions and more, granting an added emotional dimension to well-worn concepts, while also never letting up on the horror throttle.

Read Full List at AV CLUB

If you need more lycanthrope action after watching the new Wolf Man currently in theaters, we have you covered. All of the werewolf films listed below are streaming for free right now on Tubi.
by Chris Catt

#2 BLACKOUT Blackout crafts a modern spin on a classic monster. Charley (Alex Hurt) is an alcoholic struggling with depression, and he is convinced that he has been hurting people as a werewolf. He’s come to the decision to take drastic action to stop himself, but before he ends it all, he tries to do some good for the people of his community. Written and directed by Larry Fessenden, Blackout is the filmmaker’s second modern take on a classic monster after his 2019 Frankenstein film titled Depraved

Read full list at Thought Catalogue