Fessenden and Jim Jarmusch on the set of THE DEAD DON’T DIE

Depraved

Depraved is Larry Fessenden’s modern retelling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Like many of Fessenden’s films, it remains an intricate New York artifact (our lead gets stabbed to death in DUMBO, a flashback between he and his girlfriend takes place at the Strand Bookstore, she works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and the choice was appreciated by this New York native. Fessenden’s city that never sleeps is forever dark and dreary—never put to better use than in 1995’s Habit—and the filmmaker loves casting himself as the biggest creep in the room. Here, he’s a barfly at a local watering hole where the Frankenstein monster flirts with a woman before murdering her. [TUBI]—EL

Most Beautiful Island

It takes a herculean effort to produce a first film that’s accepted to festivals and showered with praise (and prizes – SXSW handed it the Narrative Feature Grand Jury Award), but first-time director Ana Asensio pulled it off in her debut Most Beautiful Island, a grounded-in-reality genre film following a Spanish immigrant who moves to New York City to start a new life. Emotionally distraught over the death of her child, Luciana (played by Asensio) works dead-end jobs—in one scene, dressing up as a chicken to promote a local poultry joint—trying to make ends meet and keep the growing guilt at bay. One afternoon, her co-worker informs of a well-paying gig requiring minimal effort: dress sexy and be gawked at at an undisclosed location for rich party guests who need something to fantasize over. She agrees to attend (the money is solid), and, after a series of unfortunate and nagging hiccups, arrives in a decrepit basement under circumstances she never could’ve anticipated. [TUBI]—EL

Read Whole list at Filmmaker Magazine

Interview with writer / director Chris Skotchdopole. Aired Sept 20, 2023

The cast of CRUMB CATCHER wishes you a Spooktacular Season
John Speredakos, Ella Rae Peck, Lorraine Farris, Rigo Garay

The cast of BLACKOUT wishes you chills all month
Rigo Garay, Alex Hurt, James Le Gros, Cody Kostro

Rigo Garay, Ella Rae Peck, Lorraine Farris and John Speredakos star

3:45 Tinker Street Cinema, Woodstock, NY

Book author David Grann, Marty, Casting director Ellen Lewis with editor Thelma Schoonmaker and DP Rodrigo Prieto, Fessenden sneaks a shot with fellow cast member Gene Jones (Ti West’s THE SACRAMENT). Scorsese ends his intro with: “Leo, Bob, Lilly and the rest say ‘hi.'”

Nightshoot 9/27/23 (clockwise from top): Fessenden on set with long-time collaborator, makeup man Brian Spears, favorite monster pal from yester-year, DEPRAVED star David Call and new pal Toby Poser from DIY horror maestros The Adams Family. Look forward to sharing more about the project when the time comes…

“one of the most uncomfortable and cringe-inducing films to screen this year…
Crumb Catcher is an insanely impressive directorial feature debut for Skotchdopole.
It’s funny, bizarre, uncomfortable,
and an absolute cringe-fest for all the best reasons.
Skotchdopole has secured himself as a writer-director to keep an eye on,
as he continues to refine his skill and explore the depths of depravity
with a clever, humorous voice.”
—Maggie Lovitt, COLIDER

“Deliciously Devious…
there’s plenty to fall head over heels for in the satisfying thriller.”
—Stephen Saito, Moveable Feast

“begins as a cringe comedy and becomes a truly suspenseful thriller.
It is equally relentless at both.”
—Fred Topel, UPI

pictured: Chris Skotchdopole and producer Chadd Harbold

by BRIAN ACCARD

With hundreds of films made about vampires, it’s obvious that some are going to fly under the radar. While these films may not have enjoyed mainstream acclaim or box office success, they have left their mark on the genre, tantalizing those with an appetite for the unusual and offering fresh perspectives on ancient mythos.

Just in time for Halloween and the need for something new to watch. From forgotten classics of the past to contemporary hidden treasures, here are 12 obscure vampire movies you’ve probably never heard of but definitely need to check out.

 Habit

Indie horror maverick Larry Fessenden wrote, directed, and starred in his 1997 vampire horror film Habit, in which he plays Sam, a self-destructive alcoholic who meets the beautiful but mysterious Anna at a Halloween party. The two are immediately drawn to each other and embark on an all-consuming romance. But Sam starts to suffer from a strange illness and soon begins to suspect Anna is actually a vampire, and he’s been turned.

Like Abel Ferrara’s The Addiction, it’s pretty obvious just by the title alone that Fessenden’s Habit is more or less an allegory for alcoholism and the self-destructive lifestyle of addicts. It’s grim, dark, and gritty, with a heavy atmosphere that’s hard to shake.

 Stake Land

Jim Mickle’s indie post-apocalyptic vampire film Stake Land has gone underseen and underappreciated since its quiet release in 2010. Set in a dystopian world overrun by vampires following a viral outbreak, the film centers around a young boy named Martin who, after his family is killed by vampires, joins forces with a seasoned vampire hunter named Mister. Together, they embark on a perilous journey through the desolate American landscape, searching for a rumored safe haven known as “New Eden.”

Despite its obvious low budget, Mickle mines the most out of his limited resources via strong characterization and powerful performances from his two leads, Connor Paolo and Nick Damici. The direction is assured, and Mickle’s ability to maintain a brooding atmosphere – thanks in no small part to Jeff Grace’s fantastic score and Ryan Samul’s crisp cinematography – really helps Stake Land stand apart from other low-budget post-apocalyptic monster movies (of which there are many). It’s a unique take on the vampire mythos, with more in common with The Walking Dead than Dracula, and is well worth checking out.

Check out cool list at movieweb