Hesitated to post this crazy interview but of course in the end we must take responsibility for who we are and accept the privilege of having a public voice, however small. We are all citizens of the world and should feel an obligation to have an opinion about the state of things… May time grant me the ability to be more articulate…
Poster Art for Mickey Keating’s PSYCHOPATHS Revealed
Mickey Keating starts production on his 5th feature film this month in Los Angeles, CA. PSYCHOPATHS, a sprawling, psychedelic ensemble piece, follows several serial killers over the course of a single night. The film is written & directed by Keating, who previously wrote & directed RITUAL (Lionsgate / After Dark Films), POD (Vertical Entertainment), DARLING (coming to theaters April 1st from Screen Media), and CARNAGE PARK, which had its world premiere at Sundance 2016. PSYCHOPATHS is produced by Jenn Wexler, William Day Frank, and Keating, with Cam McLellan and Al Lewison producing for Bad Camal and Larry Fessenden executive producing for Glass Eye Pix.
Luiz H.C. over at Bloody Disgusting reviews Mickey Keating’s DARLING, calling Keating’s direction “…inspired, with German expressionist undertones and classic horror atmosphere permeating every scene.” DARLING hits theaters on April 1st and iTunes on April 8th.
From Bloody Disgusting:
In a world full of soulless remakes and unnecessary sequels, it’s good to have a robust indie market to fulfill our more obscure horror needs. There is a dark side to independent filmmaking, however, as most of these films walk a fine line between artsy trash and low budget masterpieces. In Mickey Keating’s Darling, we’re presented with a mesmerizing experience that knows which side of the line it’s on, due in no small part to Lauren Ashley Carter’s amazing work as the unnamed protagonist.
The story follows a troubled young woman that becomes the caretaker for a mysterious New York mansion with a dark past. Left to her own devices by the mansion’s owners and tormented by confusing visions and nightmares, the woman begins to lose her mind as she encounters impossibly familiar faces on the street and deals with terrifying memories. Seemingly trapped by the house, she is left with no choice but to descend into madness.
It may not be the world’s most complex story, but the screenplay seems almost superfluous in a film that relies so heavily on visual storytelling. In fact, there is very little dialogue in the movie, and the few lines that are spoken are so ambiguous that they sometimes leave you with more questions than answers. This works in Darling’s favor, as the viewer is never quite sure if either the house or the leading lady is responsible for the horrific events depicted onscreen.
Although Darling boasts a modest budget, the cast and production values are phenomenal. There are only a couple of defined characters here, but their interaction (or lack thereof) helps to sell the protagonist’s extreme isolation, despite living in a metropolis. In the end, Carter does steal the show, but Sean Young and Brian Morvant are also excellent in their small but effective roles. Larry Fessenden also has a small cameo towards the end, which is always a pleasant surprise.
Mickey Keating’s direction is also inspired, with German expressionist undertones and classic horror atmosphere permeating every scene. The monochrome visuals may be off-putting to some, but they are masterfully used here, enhancing some of the gothic imagery instead of looking cheap. Darling does have some pacing problems, but the slower scenes are almost all done in service of mood and atmosphere, so these moments are easy to forgive.
There may be quite a few other films out there with a similar premise, but Darling is too charming and impactful to criticized for being derivative. The minimalist script and direction leave you mesmerized, and Lauren Ashley Carter’s stellar performance simply can not be ignored. It may not be a perfect horror film, but it’s damn good one, and I hope to see more of Keating and Carter in the future.
FANGO profiles the 2016 Chainsaw Nominees for best Supporting Actor:
Larry Fessenden, in the role of Jacob Lewis from WE ARE STILL HERE
Playing to and against type in equal measure, Larry Fessenden offers a versatile and fantastic performance as the scene-stealing Jacob Lewis in WE ARE STILL HERE. Whether it’s as comic-relief, panicked fear or possessed wickedness, Fessenden’s commanding on-screen presence and effortless enthusiasm for the genre translate perfectly, which could help the horror vet pull an upset for the Chainsaw.
ALSO NOMINATED:
Pit Bukowski, in the role of Der Samurai from DER SAMURAI
Joel Edgerton, in the role of Gordon “Gordo” Mosley from THE GIFT
Richard Jenkins, in the role of Deputy Chicory from BONE TOMAHAWK
Rainn Wilson, in the role of William Colby in THE BOY
Read the article and vote at FANGORIA
The trailer for Mickey Keating’s DARLING just hit iTunes. Written and directed by Keating and starring Lauren Ashley Carter, Sean Young, Brian Morvant, and Fessenden, the film hits April 1 and iTunes April 8.
DARLING follows a lonely young woman who moves into an old, mysterious Manhattan mansion. Hired as caretaker, it’s not long before she discovers the estate’s haunted reputation and troubling past—stories that slowly transform into a backdrop for her twisted and violent descent into madness… Mickey Keating’s new feature is a chilling black‐and‐white psychological horror story beautifully shot in New York City. Edited like a nightmare and scored like a hallucination, DARLING stars Lauren Ashley Carter (POD, JUG FACE) with supporting performances by Brian Morvant, Sean Young, Larry Fessenden, John Speredakos, and Helen Rogers. Produced by Fessenden and Jenn Wexler for Glass Eye Pix and Sean Fowler for Alexander Groupe; Keating and Carter are also producers.
Check out the trailer in all its creepy glory on iTunes.
Those looking for a good scare have, since the cultural inception of the horror film, had a tough time doing so. There’s so much content ground out with little highlight of the plot and an over-emphasis of the blood spilled that horror films have always been a little brother to more serious genres of cinema. Even in an age of streaming content through Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and niche services that cater to those looking to quench an adrenaline thirst only have a small supply of things that mass audiences would consider well made.
Among those scarce, scary few taking it upon themselves to make something that tells a story within the horror community, Glass Eye Pix has been in business for three decades. And the twisted brain behind the glass eye is familiar face Larry Fessenden, whose had a bloody hand in some of indie-horrors most dreadful darlings.
AXS recently had the chance to chat with Fessenden over the phone to discuss the myriad of projects he’s involved with, and just what it means to make a horror project that audiences consider “quality.”
The New York Times highlights Ti West in announcement of the 89 features unspooling at SXSW this year. Fessenden appears in Ethan Hawke and John Travolta starrer, produced by GEP pals Peter Phok and Jacob Jafke for Blumhouse Productions. Also starring Jumpy, pictured!
Our 30th Anniversary Hootenanny continues with this series of Legacy Docs celebrating the community and collaborators that have kept us honest all these years…
Glass Eye Pix 30th Anniversary Mini-Doc: Producer Peter Phok, has been producing for GEP since 2005, playing essential roles on THE ROOST, TRIGGER MAN, I CAN SEE YOU, I SELL THE DEAD, BLOOD RED EARTH, THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, STAKE LAND, BITTER FEAST, HYPOTHERMIA, THE INNKEEPERS and BENEATH. He speaks about his time working at Fessenden’s Independent production company. Edit by Chris Skotchdopole.
The Wendigo has some way to go before it joins the likes of Dracula and Frankenstein in the Monster Hall of Fame. But horror director Larry Fessenden clearly feels there is plenty of terror to be mined from this terrifying creature, which derives from Native American mythology and has been depicted in a variety of ways over the years. The filmmaker has directed two movies directly inspired by the beast (2001’s Wendigo and 2006’s The Last Winter) as well as an episode of the NBC horror anthology show Fear Itself starring Doug Jones as a man who develops a taste for human flesh — a recurring theme in tales about the creature.
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Fessenden’s latest project to concern the legend is a collection of essays and other materials called Sudden Storm: A Wendigo Reader, which the filmmaker has curated and will be published by Fiddleblack on Feb. 16 (the book is now available to preorder from the publisher’s website). Deliberately broad in scope, the chapters range from one penned by President Theodore Roosevelt, in which he recounts a “goblin story” he was once told by an old hunter, to a consideration of the creature’s appearances on the small screen by horror expert Samuel Zimmerman. Sudden Storm also boast illustrations from Gary Pullin, Isabel Samaris, and renowned poster artist Graham Humphries. “We discuss it in terms of folkloria, in terms of crypto-zoology, but then we talk about it in movies and TV,” reveals Fessenden. “There’s a lot to chew on, if I can use the expression.”
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Above, you can exclusively see artist Hugo Silva’s depiction of the Wendigo — which decorates the cover of Sudden Storm — while, below, you can see Isabel Samaras’ illustration of the creature.
The Films of Larry Fessenden: Vol 2
Wendigo & The Last Winter
The Films of Larry Fessenden: Vol 1
Habit & No Telling
The Innkeepers
Limited Edition Blu-Ray
The House Of The Devil
Collector Edition Blu-Ray
WENDIGO Figures
From Glass Eye Toyz
CRUMB CATCHER Blu-Ray
From Arrow Video
BLACKOUT BLU-RAY
From Dark Sky Selects
FOXHOLE BLU-RAY
From Vinegar Syndrome
9 Tales From Beyond The Pale
on Amazon!
THE LARRY FESSENDEN COLLECTION Blu-ray
on Amazon!
BENEATH Blu-ray & DVD
on Amazon!
