Actor Frankie Muniz may be known for his role as the titular character in Agent Cody Banks or for his open-wheel racing career. However, his most popular role has to be his seven-season stint on the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. The show, which also featured Bryan Cranston was extremely popular throughout its run.
With many shows receiving a revival or a reboot, fans of Malcolm in the Middle are also clamoring for new material from the beloved show. While a revival of the show has been teased by the cast multiple times, Muniz revealed that the process was closer to reality than usual and that the revival might just happen soon.
Frankie Muniz Hints At A Malcolm In The Middle Revival Frankie Muniz in Malcolm in the Middle
Frankie Muniz became one of the biggest child stars in Hollywood when he starred as the boy genius Malcolm in...
With many shows receiving a revival or a reboot, fans of Malcolm in the Middle are also clamoring for new material from the beloved show. While a revival of the show has been teased by the cast multiple times, Muniz revealed that the process was closer to reality than usual and that the revival might just happen soon.
Frankie Muniz Hints At A Malcolm In The Middle Revival Frankie Muniz in Malcolm in the Middle
Frankie Muniz became one of the biggest child stars in Hollywood when he starred as the boy genius Malcolm in...
- 4/2/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
This article contains spoilers for the final episode of Malcolm in the Middle.
Besides animated series, there are very few sitcoms which maintain a consistent level of hilarity with every beat of comic timing. No matter what point you turn on Malcolm in the Middle, any episode, something will make you laugh within 18 seconds. I’m not talking giggles or chuckles, but full-out guffaws that make you miss the next six jokes.
Other shows may be more consistent in overall quality, but none match the stream of funny that comes out of the series created by Linwood Boomer, himself the third of four siblings who was placed in the “gifted” class at school. After graduating, Boomer acted on Little House on the Prairie, another show focusing on a middle child. The semi-autobiographical Malcolm in the Middle doesn’t just call for a second look. It screams for a repeat binge.
Besides animated series, there are very few sitcoms which maintain a consistent level of hilarity with every beat of comic timing. No matter what point you turn on Malcolm in the Middle, any episode, something will make you laugh within 18 seconds. I’m not talking giggles or chuckles, but full-out guffaws that make you miss the next six jokes.
Other shows may be more consistent in overall quality, but none match the stream of funny that comes out of the series created by Linwood Boomer, himself the third of four siblings who was placed in the “gifted” class at school. After graduating, Boomer acted on Little House on the Prairie, another show focusing on a middle child. The semi-autobiographical Malcolm in the Middle doesn’t just call for a second look. It screams for a repeat binge.
- 9/22/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Young Sheldon is one of the best and most beloved family sitcoms out there. The CBS series started as a spin-off of the hit sitcom series The Big Bang Theory and follows the early life of one of the main characters of the original series. There have been many sitcoms about precocious kids but none of them are similar to Young Sheldon. Young Sheldon recently concluded its Season 6 and while you wait for Season 7 here are some similar shows that you should check out next.
The Big Bang Theory (Max) Credit – CBS
Synopsis: Leonard and Sheldon are brilliant physicists, the kind of “beautiful minds” that understand how the universe works. But none of that genius helps them interact with people, especially women. All this begins to change when a free-spirited beauty named Penny moves in next door. Sheldon, Leonard’s roommate, is quite content spending his nights playing Klingon Boggle with their socially dysfunctional friends,...
The Big Bang Theory (Max) Credit – CBS
Synopsis: Leonard and Sheldon are brilliant physicists, the kind of “beautiful minds” that understand how the universe works. But none of that genius helps them interact with people, especially women. All this begins to change when a free-spirited beauty named Penny moves in next door. Sheldon, Leonard’s roommate, is quite content spending his nights playing Klingon Boggle with their socially dysfunctional friends,...
- 8/6/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Bryan Cranston played the show’s bumbling patriarch Hal in “Malcolm in the Middle” for seven seasons before the Fox family comedy series ended in 2006. In a recent interview with GQ, Cranston disclosed he intends to return to the role for a future 20th anniversary reunion project that program creator Linwood Boomer approached him about.
Read More: Bryan Cranston Reveals He’s Planning To Retire At Age 70
“I’m curious about that family 20 years later,” said Cranston, explaining his interest in the project. “What happened to them? Where are they? What are the kids doing? They’re grown men now.”
But Cranston admitted that even now, more than 20 years later, he still misses his “Malcolm in the Middle” comrades “like crazy.”
“We had such a great family on that [show], and I certainly would be open to that if there was a good idea that came up like, ‘Oh, that would...
Read More: Bryan Cranston Reveals He’s Planning To Retire At Age 70
“I’m curious about that family 20 years later,” said Cranston, explaining his interest in the project. “What happened to them? Where are they? What are the kids doing? They’re grown men now.”
But Cranston admitted that even now, more than 20 years later, he still misses his “Malcolm in the Middle” comrades “like crazy.”
“We had such a great family on that [show], and I certainly would be open to that if there was a good idea that came up like, ‘Oh, that would...
- 6/9/2023
- by Aashna Shah
- ET Canada
Bryan Cranston is setting the record straight on “Malcolm in the Middle” movie rumors.
Cranston, who played suburban dad Hal in the Emmy-winning series from 2000 to 2006, addressed the long-standing reunion buzz which was reignited in October 2022 by breakout series lead Frankie Muniz. The cast also included Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan, and James and Lukas Rodriguez.
“It’s a possibility,” Cranston told The Independent, adding that he spoke with series creator Linwood Boomer months prior about a possible movie. “He said he would think about it, and he got his writers together. If they can come up with a great idea, a legitimate idea, then he’ll pursue it. But if not, then nah.”
Cranston added, “I don’t need a job. I’ve got plenty of jobs. I don’t need it, but I’d want it if it was a great idea.”
The “You...
Cranston, who played suburban dad Hal in the Emmy-winning series from 2000 to 2006, addressed the long-standing reunion buzz which was reignited in October 2022 by breakout series lead Frankie Muniz. The cast also included Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan, and James and Lukas Rodriguez.
“It’s a possibility,” Cranston told The Independent, adding that he spoke with series creator Linwood Boomer months prior about a possible movie. “He said he would think about it, and he got his writers together. If they can come up with a great idea, a legitimate idea, then he’ll pursue it. But if not, then nah.”
Cranston added, “I don’t need a job. I’ve got plenty of jobs. I don’t need it, but I’d want it if it was a great idea.”
The “You...
- 2/13/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Bryan Cranston sounds ready to revisit Hal, his lovable patriarch from Fox’s Malcolm in the Middle.
During an interview with E! News that published online Friday, the Emmy-winning actor said he has heard talk about reviving the popular comedy, and he made it clear that he would enjoy exploring more from the series if the opportunity felt right. Cranston is currently promoting Showtime’s Your Honor, which launches its second and final season later this month.
“There was some talk about the possibility of doing like a reunion movie of Malcolm in the Middle,” Cranston said. “We had such a great family on that, and I certainly would be open to that if there was a good idea that came up like, ‘Oh, that would be fantastic to explore what happened to this family 20 years later.’ I can’t believe it’s already that, but that would be fun to do.
During an interview with E! News that published online Friday, the Emmy-winning actor said he has heard talk about reviving the popular comedy, and he made it clear that he would enjoy exploring more from the series if the opportunity felt right. Cranston is currently promoting Showtime’s Your Honor, which launches its second and final season later this month.
“There was some talk about the possibility of doing like a reunion movie of Malcolm in the Middle,” Cranston said. “We had such a great family on that, and I certainly would be open to that if there was a good idea that came up like, ‘Oh, that would be fantastic to explore what happened to this family 20 years later.’ I can’t believe it’s already that, but that would be fun to do.
- 1/14/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
At least he wouldn’t have to shave his head for this one. Bryan Cranston, who played “Hal” on the family sitcom Malcolm in the Middle before becoming an all-time television icon playing teacher-turned-drug-kingpin Walter White on Breaking Bad, said that there have been discussions happening about reuniting the “Malcolm” cast.
Speaking to E! News, Cranston revealed that “There was some talk about the possibility of doing, like, a reunion movie of Malcolm in the Middle. We had such a great family on that, and I certainly would be open to that if there was a good idea that came up — like, ‘Oh, that would be fantastic to explore what happened to this family 20 years later.’ I can’t believe it’s already that, but that would be fun to do.”
The Fox series ran from 2000 to 2006, spotlighting the Wilkerson family of Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek as the parents of...
Speaking to E! News, Cranston revealed that “There was some talk about the possibility of doing, like, a reunion movie of Malcolm in the Middle. We had such a great family on that, and I certainly would be open to that if there was a good idea that came up — like, ‘Oh, that would be fantastic to explore what happened to this family 20 years later.’ I can’t believe it’s already that, but that would be fun to do.”
The Fox series ran from 2000 to 2006, spotlighting the Wilkerson family of Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek as the parents of...
- 1/14/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Life is unfaaaiiirrrrr. Frankie Muniz, who played the titular Malcolm on Malcolm in the Middle, has teased that there could be a reunion in the works, with none other than patriarch Bryan Cranston leading the way.
Frankie Muniz, who hit immediate fame on Fox’s Malcolm in the Middle when the show premiered in 2000, never quite topped the Emmy-winning sitcom, but did do some impressive work outside of movies and TV. Instead of falling into the traps of far too many child actors, Muniz explored passions like racecar driving and drumming.
Still, he has a certain nostalgia for his biggest hit, admitting that he went and watched the series in its entirety–all seven seasons and 151 episodes. On this, Muniz said, “I can separate myself from being on it and watching it as a fan. I would love to know what the family’s up to.” And perhaps some day...
Frankie Muniz, who hit immediate fame on Fox’s Malcolm in the Middle when the show premiered in 2000, never quite topped the Emmy-winning sitcom, but did do some impressive work outside of movies and TV. Instead of falling into the traps of far too many child actors, Muniz explored passions like racecar driving and drumming.
Still, he has a certain nostalgia for his biggest hit, admitting that he went and watched the series in its entirety–all seven seasons and 151 episodes. On this, Muniz said, “I can separate myself from being on it and watching it as a fan. I would love to know what the family’s up to.” And perhaps some day...
- 10/26/2022
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Can you believe that Erik Per Sullivan is 29 years old? This is the guy that a lot of people looked at as Dewey during his time on Malcolm in the Middle, and the guy that disappeared from acting after his final appearance in 2010, and he was one of the best little brother characters in sitcoms in his time since he had the perfect look and voice that allowed him to be the poor kid that had to weather the abuses of his brothers and yet was tough enough to find ways to get back at them whenever the
Whatever Happened to Erik Per Sullivan?...
Whatever Happened to Erik Per Sullivan?...
- 4/4/2021
- by Tom
- TVovermind.com
Remember Malcolm in the Middle? Sadly, Frankie Muniz doesn't. Recently, the star revealed he can't recall filming the Fox TV show, EW reports.Muniz, who is currently a cast member on Dancing with the Stars, played Malcolm on the Fox sitcom from 2000 to 2006. The cast also included Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson, Justin Berfield, and Erik Per Sullivan.Read More…...
- 10/12/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Could Malcolm in the Middle return? In a recent interview with E! News, star Bryan Cranston said he's interested in a reunion for the Fox sitcom.
Created by Linwood Boomer, Malcolm in the Middle followed middle child Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) and his eccentric family. The cast also included Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan, and Cranston as patriarch Hal. The show ended in 2006 after seven seasons.
Read More…...
Created by Linwood Boomer, Malcolm in the Middle followed middle child Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) and his eccentric family. The cast also included Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan, and Cranston as patriarch Hal. The show ended in 2006 after seven seasons.
Read More…...
- 6/25/2016
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Scream Factory and IFC Midnight have paired up to present an inspired disc set for The Larry Fessenden Collection, an assortment of four of the director’s most notable genre films. Migrating between a number of notable projects as a character actor (he usually appears as some peripheral, grizzled weirdo, showing up in titles by Scorsese, Neil Jordan, and Kelly Reichardt, amongst others), he’s also a noted producer, editor, screenwriter, and cinematographer. But Fessenden’s made his most striking impression with a growing body of genre oriented independent directorial efforts. Usually prizing strong characterization amidst situations of mounting dread, Fessenden seems fascinated with testing the strengths and inherent weaknesses of mankind, and it’s probably easiest to label his filmography as environmental horror.
Out of Fessenden’s own production company Glass Eye Pix, 1991’s No Telling (or the Frankenstein Complex) melds motifs of Mary Shelley’s famed mad scientist with modern animal experimentation.
Out of Fessenden’s own production company Glass Eye Pix, 1991’s No Telling (or the Frankenstein Complex) melds motifs of Mary Shelley’s famed mad scientist with modern animal experimentation.
- 10/27/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
One of the strongest voices in independent horror, writer/director/actor/producer Larry Fessenden is celebrated by Scream Factory today with their Blu-ray release of The Larry Fessenden Collection, containing four of his films: No Telling, Habit, Wendigo and The Last Winter. We've been provided with one copy of the four-disc Blu-ray to give away to a lucky Daily Dead reader.
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Prize Details: (1) Winner will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of The Larry Fessenden Collection.
How to Enter: For a chance to win, email contest@dailydead.com with the subject “The Larry Fessenden Collection Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on October 26th. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.
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Blu-ray details: "Marking the...
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Prize Details: (1) Winner will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of The Larry Fessenden Collection.
How to Enter: For a chance to win, email contest@dailydead.com with the subject “The Larry Fessenden Collection Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on October 26th. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.
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Blu-ray details: "Marking the...
- 10/20/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
This fall, Scream Factory's celebrating the Halloween season indie style with their Blu-ray release of The Larry Fessenden Collection, featuring four of Fessenden's films: No Telling, Habit, Wendigo and The Last Winter. Ahead of the collection's October 20th debut, Scream Factory's revealed the release's impressive list of bonus features, along with another look at the cover art:
Press Release: Award-winning filmmaker Larry Fessenden has become an indie horror legend with his idiosyncratic, genre-bending films. As a writer, producer, director and actor, Fessenden’s oeuvre has developed a passionate fan base who applaud his realistic, character-driven horror stories. Fessenden’s films often examine the disintegration of civilization and humanity, provoking terror in the viewer through psychological dread, not gratuitous gore.
Scream Factory, in conjunction with IFC Midnight, will bring together four critically-acclaimed films by this multi-talented filmmaker with the release of the four disc The Larry Fessenden Collection on Blu-ray on October 20th,...
Press Release: Award-winning filmmaker Larry Fessenden has become an indie horror legend with his idiosyncratic, genre-bending films. As a writer, producer, director and actor, Fessenden’s oeuvre has developed a passionate fan base who applaud his realistic, character-driven horror stories. Fessenden’s films often examine the disintegration of civilization and humanity, provoking terror in the viewer through psychological dread, not gratuitous gore.
Scream Factory, in conjunction with IFC Midnight, will bring together four critically-acclaimed films by this multi-talented filmmaker with the release of the four disc The Larry Fessenden Collection on Blu-ray on October 20th,...
- 9/16/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Get ready to feel old! It’s been 15 years since Malcolm in the Middle premiered on television but before you start binge-watching on Netflix, let’s get nostalgic with the family that changed the face of sitcoms on television forever.
The groundbreaking show centered on Malcolm, played by Frankie Muniz, and his dysfunctional, yet entirely relatable family -- played by Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson, Justin Berfield, and Erik Per Sullivan.
"It reminds me of my childhood and the rambunctiousness of it all," Cranston told Et on set back in 2000. "You look at most houses on television and everything's in order and everything's nice and neat and everything -- and you look at our house, and it's real!"
Watch: 'The Amanda Show' Turns 15!
Back then, 14-year-old Muniz was a star on the rise, getting his first real glimpse of the television world in a role he’s dreamed about his entire young life.
"[Even] if...
The groundbreaking show centered on Malcolm, played by Frankie Muniz, and his dysfunctional, yet entirely relatable family -- played by Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson, Justin Berfield, and Erik Per Sullivan.
"It reminds me of my childhood and the rambunctiousness of it all," Cranston told Et on set back in 2000. "You look at most houses on television and everything's in order and everything's nice and neat and everything -- and you look at our house, and it's real!"
Watch: 'The Amanda Show' Turns 15!
Back then, 14-year-old Muniz was a star on the rise, getting his first real glimpse of the television world in a role he’s dreamed about his entire young life.
"[Even] if...
- 1/10/2015
- Entertainment Tonight
It's hard to believe that one of our favorite sitcoms from the 2000's turns 15 today -- "Malcolm in the Middle." Yes, we feel old too ... life is unfair. The series followed "middle" child Malcolm, played by Frankie Muniz, a high school student with a genius Iq and embarrassing family of six (later seven).With a smarty pants, a military teen, a bully and the one and only Dewey running around the house, parents Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) and Hal (Bryan Cranston), definitely had their hands full! So, what have these stars been up to in the last 15 years?Muniz continued to act after the show’s cancelation in 2006, appearing in the Syfy film "Blast Vegas" and an episode of "Don't Trust the B In Apartment 23." He has two films slated for this year: "Hot Bath an’ a Stiff Drink 2" with Robert Patrick and "Road to Capri" with Virginia Madsen and Alfred Molina.
- 1/9/2015
- by tooFab Staff
- TooFab
Last week Dean Norris, who plays "Breaking Bad" resident DEA agent Hank Schrader, tweeted a photo of none other than Jane Kaczmarek on the set of "Breaking Bad," posing with him and a shiner-sporting Bryan Cranston as Walter White. And earlier this week Kaczmarek herself tweeted that "Yes, it's true... I will indeed be on #BreakingBad. Can't wait for you all to see it." Will, as some have theorized, "Breaking Bad" at last be revealed as one long, incredibly dark prequel to "Malcolm in the Middle," with Walt starting a new life under a different name as a non-drug-dealing suburban dad after getting remarried to Kaczmarek's Lois? Could Walt Jr. (Rj Mitte) turn out to be a lost half-sibling to Frankie Muniz, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan and Christopher Masterson's band of brothers? Alas, probably not, at least not in context of the series itself. Vulture reports that "a source at.
- 1/30/2013
- by Alison Willmore
- Indiewire
Just when you thought "Breaking Bad" couldn't get any better, rumors surfaced that the hit AMC drama would be hosting a "Malcolm in the Middle" reunion.
But it turns out, some things are too good to be true. Though Bryan Cranston's former "Malcolm" co-star, Jane Kaczmarek tweeted the following after Cranston won at the SAG Awards on Sunday ...
... HuffPost TV has learned that Kaczmarek was only shooting a DVD extra, not a new episode of "Breaking Bad."
Kaczmarek played Cranston's on-screen wife, Lois, throughout "Malcolm In the Middle's" seven-season run. Frankie Muniz was the show's titular middle child, while Christopher Masterson, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan and Jamie and Lukas Rodriguez played his brothers.
The "Breaking Bad" cast teased a potential reunion earlier this month, after Dean Norris tweeted a picture of Cranston and Kaczmarek on the set:
With only eight episodes left in "Breaking Bad's" final season,...
But it turns out, some things are too good to be true. Though Bryan Cranston's former "Malcolm" co-star, Jane Kaczmarek tweeted the following after Cranston won at the SAG Awards on Sunday ...
... HuffPost TV has learned that Kaczmarek was only shooting a DVD extra, not a new episode of "Breaking Bad."
Kaczmarek played Cranston's on-screen wife, Lois, throughout "Malcolm In the Middle's" seven-season run. Frankie Muniz was the show's titular middle child, while Christopher Masterson, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan and Jamie and Lukas Rodriguez played his brothers.
The "Breaking Bad" cast teased a potential reunion earlier this month, after Dean Norris tweeted a picture of Cranston and Kaczmarek on the set:
With only eight episodes left in "Breaking Bad's" final season,...
- 1/29/2013
- by Laura Prudom
- Huffington Post
It’s been over a decade since Malcolm in the Middle first started airing, and for a lot of programmes, that kind of length of time is enough to make it seem more than a little dated. Malcolm in the Middle is not one of those shows. Its characters, storylines, and dialogue are just as hilarious as I remember, and I have the added benefit now of getting the jokes put in for the adults. The show has become somewhat iconic, with They Might Be Giants’ opening credits song readily singable by a generation, and for good reason.
Frankie Muniz stars as the young Malcolm, who is discovered in the pilot episode to be something of a genius, with an Iq of 165 at the age of 12. He’s moved from his regular class into the school’s gifted class, becoming a ‘Krelboyne’ in the process, and consequently labelled a nerd.
Frankie Muniz stars as the young Malcolm, who is discovered in the pilot episode to be something of a genius, with an Iq of 165 at the age of 12. He’s moved from his regular class into the school’s gifted class, becoming a ‘Krelboyne’ in the process, and consequently labelled a nerd.
- 10/1/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
If Malcolm in the Middle taught us anything, it’s that life is unfair.
That’s the only way we can think to explain that apparently this month was the first time the Malcolm cast all got together in the over six years since the show has been off the air.
Luckily, cameras were there to document the occasion. Frankie Muniz tweeted the photo at left, along with the message, “Had an amazing time seeing all my old friends from “Malcolm” today… Realized how much i missed everyone!”
“Everyone” included Bryan Cranston (Hal), Jane Kaczmarek (Lois), Justin Berfield (Reese), Christopher Kennedy Masterson...
That’s the only way we can think to explain that apparently this month was the first time the Malcolm cast all got together in the over six years since the show has been off the air.
Luckily, cameras were there to document the occasion. Frankie Muniz tweeted the photo at left, along with the message, “Had an amazing time seeing all my old friends from “Malcolm” today… Realized how much i missed everyone!”
“Everyone” included Bryan Cranston (Hal), Jane Kaczmarek (Lois), Justin Berfield (Reese), Christopher Kennedy Masterson...
- 9/24/2012
- by Erin Strecker
- EW.com - PopWatch
Malcolm in the Middle: The Complete First Season arrives on DVD on September 24, courtesy of Fabulous Films. The first season of this cult comedy series stars Frankie Muniz (Agent Cody Banks), Bryan Cranston (TV’s “Breaking Bad”), Jane Kaczmarek (Wilfred), Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan and Christopher Kearney Masterson.
Malcolm in the Middle: The Complete First Season contains all 16 episodes and tons of special features, including commentaries, featurettes, alternate show openings, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, gag reel and bloopers.
We have three copies of the DVD to give away to our readers.
Synopsis
Seen through the eyes of Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), a boy with a genius Iq, Malcolm in the Middle is a hilariously inventive sitcom that tells the story of a relatively normal kid trying to navigate his way through life despite a complete misunderstanding of girls, an eclectic group of classmates and the constant burden of...
Malcolm in the Middle: The Complete First Season contains all 16 episodes and tons of special features, including commentaries, featurettes, alternate show openings, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, gag reel and bloopers.
We have three copies of the DVD to give away to our readers.
Synopsis
Seen through the eyes of Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), a boy with a genius Iq, Malcolm in the Middle is a hilariously inventive sitcom that tells the story of a relatively normal kid trying to navigate his way through life despite a complete misunderstanding of girls, an eclectic group of classmates and the constant burden of...
- 9/24/2012
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
Malcolm In The Middle: The Complete First Season
Stars: Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Christopher Masterson, Erik Per Sullivan, Justin Berfield | Produced by Todd Holland
If there is one safe bet for television it’s the family. If you want to create a drama build it around a family, want to have a film set in the Victorian era in a huge mansion? Set it around the family; want a cartoon to do well…yep that’s right set it around a family. Family is something that we as human beings understand we are “pack” animals, we know how the family works and we trust it. Of course that could be a double edge sword, if the writer can’t get the story believable, if the family is just too unrealistic then it will be doomed to fail. I guess this is why Malcolm in the Middle did so well,...
Stars: Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Christopher Masterson, Erik Per Sullivan, Justin Berfield | Produced by Todd Holland
If there is one safe bet for television it’s the family. If you want to create a drama build it around a family, want to have a film set in the Victorian era in a huge mansion? Set it around the family; want a cartoon to do well…yep that’s right set it around a family. Family is something that we as human beings understand we are “pack” animals, we know how the family works and we trust it. Of course that could be a double edge sword, if the writer can’t get the story believable, if the family is just too unrealistic then it will be doomed to fail. I guess this is why Malcolm in the Middle did so well,...
- 9/23/2012
- by Pzomb
- Nerdly
The Malcolm in the Middle cast have reunited for the first time since the family sitcom ended six years ago. Frankie Muniz, who played the titular character for all seven seasons between 2000 and 2006, posted snaps of the happy event on Instagram yesterday (September 18). He was joined by the likes of Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, who played his parents Hal and Lois, as well as on-screen siblings Christopher Masterson (Francis), Justin Berfield (Reese) and James and Lukas Rodriguez (Jamie). Erik Per Sullivan - who played Dewey - was apparently unable to attend, but (more)...
- 9/19/2012
- by By Daniel Sperling
- Digital Spy
"Malcolm in the Middle" went off the air back in 2006 -- but today, the entire cast reunited for the first time in six years!The show's star, Frankie Muniz, has been tweeting up a storm from the reunion, giving us a glimpse at what some of the other cast members look like now.While we've been glued to Bryan Cranston's performance as Walter White on "Breaking Bad," some of the other stars on the show have stepped away from acting recently.Frankie, now 26, plays drums for Kingsfoil while one of his TV brothers, Justin Berfield (Reese), is now a producer."Had an amazing time seeing all my old friends from "Malcolm" today," Frankie tweeted on Monday. "Realized how much i missed everyone! Check out the gallery above to see Muniz, Berfield, Cranston, Christopher Masterson, Jane Kaczmarek and even the young twins who played youngest brother James.Noticeably missing is Erik Per Sullivan,...
- 9/18/2012
- by tooFab Staff
- TooFab
Watch 8 clips from Finding Nemo 3D, starring Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres and Alexander Gould! It's hard to believe it's almost 10 years since the animated Disney film helmed by Andrew Stanton (John Carter) and Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) found release. Still, if there was ever an animated family film that will bring those once-were kids back into theaters, it's this one. Heck, I'll be there with my kids, since this came out a year before my son was born. Pic scripted by Bob Peterson, David Reynolds and Stanton, finds 3D re-release on September 14th, with a voice cast also including Erica Beck (Pearl), Elizabeth Perkins (Coral), Allison Janney (Peach), Barry Humphries (Bruce), Geoffrey Rush (Nigel), Vicki Lewis (Deb, Flo), John Ratzenberger (Fish School), Stephen Root (Bubbles), Erik Per Sullivan (Sheldon), Brad Garret (Bloat), Eric Bana (Anchor) and Stanton as Crush.
- 8/28/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Watch 8 clips from Finding Nemo 3D, starring Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres and Alexander Gould! It's hard to believe it's almost 10 years since the animated Disney film helmed by Andrew Stanton (John Carter) and Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) found release. Still, if there was ever an animated family film that will bring those once-were kids back into theaters, it's this one. Heck, I'll be there with my kids, since this came out a year before my son was born. Pic scripted by Bob Peterson, David Reynolds and Stanton, finds 3D re-release on September 14th, with a voice cast also including Erica Beck (Pearl), Elizabeth Perkins (Coral), Allison Janney (Peach), Barry Humphries (Bruce), Geoffrey Rush (Nigel), Vicki Lewis (Deb, Flo), John Ratzenberger (Fish School), Stephen Root (Bubbles), Erik Per Sullivan (Sheldon), Brad Garret (Bloat), Eric Bana (Anchor) and Stanton as Crush.
- 8/28/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
"iCarly" (2007- ): The first situation comedy to use the Web and interact with viewers, features a Web show within it and has allowed the kids to grow up, but not too much. Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) has a genuine sweetness; her best friends, bad girl Sam and nerdy Freddie (Jennette McCurdy, Nathan Kress), put on the Web series with her. Carly's older brother, Spencer (Jerry Trainor), is her wacky guardian, as their parents are in the military.
"The Middle" (2009- ): If you're looking for a comedy to watch with your kids, this is it. Patricia Heaton is fearless as Frankie, who takes two-second "showers" in the kitchen sink to rinse her underarms and colors her gray roots with marker. Neil Flynn is her perfect match as her loving husband, Mike. Axl (Charlie McDermott), the son who seems to only eat, sleep and grunt, is solid. But the two younger kids get the funniest situations.
"The Middle" (2009- ): If you're looking for a comedy to watch with your kids, this is it. Patricia Heaton is fearless as Frankie, who takes two-second "showers" in the kitchen sink to rinse her underarms and colors her gray roots with marker. Neil Flynn is her perfect match as her loving husband, Mike. Axl (Charlie McDermott), the son who seems to only eat, sleep and grunt, is solid. But the two younger kids get the funniest situations.
- 4/25/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Trailer for Finding Nemo 3D, starring Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres. If there's one film that will shine in 3D, it's this one. The winning family pic co-directed by Lee Unkrich and Andrew Stanton (upcoming John Carter), finds 3D re-release on September 14th this year, after first debuting on May 30th, 2003. Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Erica Beck, Elizabeth Perkins, Allison Janney, Barry Humphries, Geoffrey Rush, Vicki Lewis, John Ratzenberger, Stephen Root, Erik Per Sullivan, Brad Garret, Eric Bana and Andrew Stanton form the rest of the talented voice cast. Finding Nemo was nominated for four Academy Awards, and won Best Animated Feature. In the colorful and warm tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef, a Clownfish named Marlin lives safe and secluded in a quiet cul-de-sac with his only son, Nemo. Fearful of the ocean and its unpredictable risks, he struggles to protect his son. Nemo, like all young fish,...
- 1/11/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Trailer for Finding Nemo 3D, starring Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres. If there's one film that will shine in 3D, it's this one. The winning family pic co-directed by Lee Unkrich and Andrew Stanton (upcoming John Carter), finds 3D re-release on September 14th this year, after first debuting on May 30th, 2003. Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Erica Beck, Elizabeth Perkins, Allison Janney, Barry Humphries, Geoffrey Rush, Vicki Lewis, John Ratzenberger, Stephen Root, Erik Per Sullivan, Brad Garret, Eric Bana and Andrew Stanton form the rest of the talented voice cast. Finding Nemo was nominated for four Academy Awards, and won Best Animated Feature. In the colorful and warm tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef, a Clownfish named Marlin lives safe and secluded in a quiet cul-de-sac with his only son, Nemo. Fearful of the ocean and its unpredictable risks, he struggles to protect his son. Nemo, like all young fish,...
- 1/11/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Trailer for Finding Nemo 3D, starring Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres. If there's one film that will shine in 3D, it's this one. The winning family pic co-directed by Lee Unkrich and Andrew Stanton (upcoming John Carter), finds 3D re-release on September 14th this year, after first debuting on May 30th, 2003. Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Erica Beck, Elizabeth Perkins, Allison Janney, Barry Humphries, Geoffrey Rush, Vicki Lewis, John Ratzenberger, Stephen Root, Erik Per Sullivan, Brad Garret, Eric Bana and Andrew Stanton form the rest of the talented voice cast. Finding Nemo was nominated for four Academy Awards, and won Best Animated Feature. In the colorful and warm tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef, a Clownfish named Marlin lives safe and secluded in a quiet cul-de-sac with his only son, Nemo. Fearful of the ocean and its unpredictable risks, he struggles to protect his son. Nemo, like all young fish,...
- 1/11/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Best Supporting Actor Winners
1974—Douglas McGrath as Sgt. Nash in Black Christmas
1975—Robert Shaw as Quint in Jaws
1976—Martin Sheen as Frank Hallet in The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
1977—Peter Firth as Alan Strang in Equus
1978—Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis is Halloween
1979—Rod Steiger as Father Delaney in The Amityville Horror
1980—Melvyn Douglas as Senator Carmichael in The Changeling
1981—John Houseman as Sears James in Ghost Story
1982—Leslie Neilson as Richard Vickers in Creepshow
1983—Danny Pintauro as Tad Trenton in Cujo
1984—George C. Scott as John Rainbird in Firestarter
1985—Roddy McDowall as Peter Vincent in Fright Night
1986—Rutger Hauer as John Ryder in The Hitcher
1987—Bill Paxton as Severen in Near Dark
1988—Angus Scrimm as The Tall Man in Phantasm II
1989—Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall in Pet Sematary
1990—Brad Dourif as The Gemini Killer in The Exorcist III
1991—Nicholas Sadler as Vinnie Vincent in...
1974—Douglas McGrath as Sgt. Nash in Black Christmas
1975—Robert Shaw as Quint in Jaws
1976—Martin Sheen as Frank Hallet in The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
1977—Peter Firth as Alan Strang in Equus
1978—Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis is Halloween
1979—Rod Steiger as Father Delaney in The Amityville Horror
1980—Melvyn Douglas as Senator Carmichael in The Changeling
1981—John Houseman as Sears James in Ghost Story
1982—Leslie Neilson as Richard Vickers in Creepshow
1983—Danny Pintauro as Tad Trenton in Cujo
1984—George C. Scott as John Rainbird in Firestarter
1985—Roddy McDowall as Peter Vincent in Fright Night
1986—Rutger Hauer as John Ryder in The Hitcher
1987—Bill Paxton as Severen in Near Dark
1988—Angus Scrimm as The Tall Man in Phantasm II
1989—Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall in Pet Sematary
1990—Brad Dourif as The Gemini Killer in The Exorcist III
1991—Nicholas Sadler as Vinnie Vincent in...
- 2/19/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Troy)
- Fright Meter
Anyone who recalls Bryan Cranston as doofus dad Hal on the Fox comedy "Malcolm in the Middle" knows the man is committed to his craft. Standing around in tighty-whiteys while Hal's wife shaves his back hair, speedwalking in a skintight bodysuit and aerodynamic helmet, and showcasing dazzling choreography in "Dance Dance Revolution," Cranston solidified himself as one of TV's top comedians with his go-for-broke, vanity-free performance. Yet even Cranston's biggest fans couldn't have been prepared for his complex, gut-wrenching turn on AMC's "Breaking Bad" as Walter White, high school science teacher, loving husband and father, and Albuquerque's top methamphetamine producer. "Breaking Bad" was created by Vince Gilligan and features precisely the perfect blend of taut drama and clever satire one would expect from a former writer and producer of "The X-Files." Gilligan worked with Cranston on a 1998 episode of the Fox hit in which the actor played a desperate man...
- 3/16/2010
- backstage.com
Here's a rumor that could be interesting to watch: Skins creator Jamie Brittain recently mentioned that there's an American version in the works.
Now, there are plenty of reasons why this could go badly. Iit's pretty easy to imagine American producers backing away from the series' many daring storytelling choices, which included not following the characters beyond high school (showing the gang taking separate paths into adulthood) as well as the unflinching depiction of sexuality (including the gay kind) and drug use (including the consequences).
Whether an American Skins turns out to live up to its potential or winds up a total wreck (Hi, Coupling!), the fun part of these adaptations is seeing how the characters may transform in the casting, so lets try to come up with a few suggestions.
Tony: Sebastian Stan
Tony requires that mix of charm and awfulness that ensures the audience finds him compelling without...
Now, there are plenty of reasons why this could go badly. Iit's pretty easy to imagine American producers backing away from the series' many daring storytelling choices, which included not following the characters beyond high school (showing the gang taking separate paths into adulthood) as well as the unflinching depiction of sexuality (including the gay kind) and drug use (including the consequences).
Whether an American Skins turns out to live up to its potential or winds up a total wreck (Hi, Coupling!), the fun part of these adaptations is seeing how the characters may transform in the casting, so lets try to come up with a few suggestions.
Tony: Sebastian Stan
Tony requires that mix of charm and awfulness that ensures the audience finds him compelling without...
- 4/17/2009
- by LyleMasaki
- The Backlot
"Christmas With the Kranks" is a peculiar and at times even sour tale about the tyranny of Christmas. Of course, in the end, Christmas is shown to be a joyous holiday filled with mirth and good cheer. But not before it gets depicted as a pernicious, unavoidable chore thrust upon people without respect for their feelings or wishes. The problem is that the case for the latter portrayal is at least as convincing as that of the former.
Any film with Christmas in its title wants to turn into a perennial holiday movie. The presence of Tim Allen from the two hit "Santa Clause" movies and Jamie Lee Curtis certainly decks the halls with absolutely the right talent. But a streak of nastiness, while not as pervasive as that in Arnold Schwarzenegger's Christmas downer "Jingle All the Way", might mitigate against "Kranks'" staying power over time. This year, however, Sony and Revolution Studios should enjoy above-average returns on what appears to be a modestly budgeted comedy.
Unlike Scrooge, Luther (Allen) and Nora (Curtis) Krank are no Christmas naysayers. They faithfully celebrate the holiday every year. It's just that this year, with daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) in Peru serving in the Peace Corps, Luther talks Nora into "skipping Christmas" -- saving money they normally spend in order to go on a Caribbean cruise. Makes perfect sense but apparently not on Hemlock Street in the Chicago suburb of Riverside.
Christmas in Riverside is a mandatory community event overseen by nosy neighbor Vic Frohmeyer (Dan Aykroyd). By refusing to decorate their home and host their annual Christmas Eve bash, the Kranks become instant outsiders. That turns Luther into a such a curmudgeon that he declines to haul his illuminated Frosty the Snowman out of the basement so neighbors can put him on the rooftop to match all the other Frostys on the street.
Luther standing defiantly on his front lawn, refusing to free Frosty, might have been more credible had his front door not been decorated with a Christmas wreath. But Hemlock Street does not exist in a very credible world. Would the Kranks' decision to skip Christmas really make the front page of the local newspaper? Would Luther refuse to give a small donation to the police benevolent society? (This is, remember, a suburb of Chicago.) Would Luther escalate the conflict to the point that he might cause serious injury to carolers?
Chris Columbus' script, adapted from one of John Grisham's nonlegal thriller novels, overstates the premise and broadly sketches the escalating incidents to win laughs. Nor is it afraid to stoop to such sentimental gimmicks as the feuding neighbor M. Emmet Walsh) whose wife (Elizabeth Franz) is dying of cancer.
Joe Roth's competent, well-paced direction does allow the actors to shine. Curtis demonstrates once more what an adept physical comedian she is, while Allen, too, gets knocked around to comic effect. In one especially good scene, a tanning salon and Botox injection not only distort Allen's face but also cause all food to drop from his mouth.
Aykroyd is a bit over-the-top from the beginning, but young Erik Per Sullivan from "Malcolm in the Middle" adds comic spice as Aykroyd's son and second in command. Austin Pendleton displays dopey charm as a party guest no one can place. And casting Cheech Marin as a police officer has its own sly humor.
Garreth Stover's set of Hemlock Street and its homes, which glow with Don Burgess' cinematography, look cozy enough that you want to move in. All other tech credits are solid.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS
Columbia Pictures
Revolution Studios presents a 1492 Pictures production
Credits:
Director: Joe Roth
Writer: Chris Columbus
Based on the novel by: John Grisham
Producers: Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan
Executive producers: Charles Newirth, Bruce A. Block
Director of photography: Don Burgess
Production designer: Garreth Stover
Music: John Debney
Co-producer: Allegra Clegg
Costumes: Susie DeSanto
Editor: Nick Moore
Cast:
Luther Krank: Tim Allen
Nora Krank: Jamie Lee Curtis
Vic Frohmeyher: Dan Aykroyd
Walt Scheel: M. Emmet Walsh
Bev Scheel: Elizabeth Franz
Spike: Erik Per Sullivan
Officer Salino: Cheech Marin
Officer Treen: Jake Busey
Umbrella Santa/Marty: Austin Pendleton
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 98 minutes...
Any film with Christmas in its title wants to turn into a perennial holiday movie. The presence of Tim Allen from the two hit "Santa Clause" movies and Jamie Lee Curtis certainly decks the halls with absolutely the right talent. But a streak of nastiness, while not as pervasive as that in Arnold Schwarzenegger's Christmas downer "Jingle All the Way", might mitigate against "Kranks'" staying power over time. This year, however, Sony and Revolution Studios should enjoy above-average returns on what appears to be a modestly budgeted comedy.
Unlike Scrooge, Luther (Allen) and Nora (Curtis) Krank are no Christmas naysayers. They faithfully celebrate the holiday every year. It's just that this year, with daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) in Peru serving in the Peace Corps, Luther talks Nora into "skipping Christmas" -- saving money they normally spend in order to go on a Caribbean cruise. Makes perfect sense but apparently not on Hemlock Street in the Chicago suburb of Riverside.
Christmas in Riverside is a mandatory community event overseen by nosy neighbor Vic Frohmeyer (Dan Aykroyd). By refusing to decorate their home and host their annual Christmas Eve bash, the Kranks become instant outsiders. That turns Luther into a such a curmudgeon that he declines to haul his illuminated Frosty the Snowman out of the basement so neighbors can put him on the rooftop to match all the other Frostys on the street.
Luther standing defiantly on his front lawn, refusing to free Frosty, might have been more credible had his front door not been decorated with a Christmas wreath. But Hemlock Street does not exist in a very credible world. Would the Kranks' decision to skip Christmas really make the front page of the local newspaper? Would Luther refuse to give a small donation to the police benevolent society? (This is, remember, a suburb of Chicago.) Would Luther escalate the conflict to the point that he might cause serious injury to carolers?
Chris Columbus' script, adapted from one of John Grisham's nonlegal thriller novels, overstates the premise and broadly sketches the escalating incidents to win laughs. Nor is it afraid to stoop to such sentimental gimmicks as the feuding neighbor M. Emmet Walsh) whose wife (Elizabeth Franz) is dying of cancer.
Joe Roth's competent, well-paced direction does allow the actors to shine. Curtis demonstrates once more what an adept physical comedian she is, while Allen, too, gets knocked around to comic effect. In one especially good scene, a tanning salon and Botox injection not only distort Allen's face but also cause all food to drop from his mouth.
Aykroyd is a bit over-the-top from the beginning, but young Erik Per Sullivan from "Malcolm in the Middle" adds comic spice as Aykroyd's son and second in command. Austin Pendleton displays dopey charm as a party guest no one can place. And casting Cheech Marin as a police officer has its own sly humor.
Garreth Stover's set of Hemlock Street and its homes, which glow with Don Burgess' cinematography, look cozy enough that you want to move in. All other tech credits are solid.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS
Columbia Pictures
Revolution Studios presents a 1492 Pictures production
Credits:
Director: Joe Roth
Writer: Chris Columbus
Based on the novel by: John Grisham
Producers: Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan
Executive producers: Charles Newirth, Bruce A. Block
Director of photography: Don Burgess
Production designer: Garreth Stover
Music: John Debney
Co-producer: Allegra Clegg
Costumes: Susie DeSanto
Editor: Nick Moore
Cast:
Luther Krank: Tim Allen
Nora Krank: Jamie Lee Curtis
Vic Frohmeyher: Dan Aykroyd
Walt Scheel: M. Emmet Walsh
Bev Scheel: Elizabeth Franz
Spike: Erik Per Sullivan
Officer Salino: Cheech Marin
Officer Treen: Jake Busey
Umbrella Santa/Marty: Austin Pendleton
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 98 minutes...
- 12/10/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A nifty little independent horror flick, this feature from Larry Fessenden, who previously put his stamp on the vampire genre with "Habit", puts most Hollywood gorefests to shame.
Eschewing excessive bloodletting in favor of tightly controlled atmospheric menace, "Wendigo" occasionally suffers from overdone directorial flourishes, but it's a mostly intelligent, engrossing and psychologically resonant suspenser. It is playing an exclusive engagement at New York's Film Forum.
As with most effective horror tales, the setup is a simple one. Members of a family composed of psychologist Kim (Patricia Clarkson), photographer husband George (Jake Weber) and 8-year-old son Miles Erik Per Sullivan) are heading to upstate New York for a weekend getaway. Driving through the desolate countryside, they suffer that most common of country mishaps -- hitting a large deer on a dark road. It turns out that said deer is the object of pursuit for a group of hunters, the leader of whom, Otis (John Speredakos), turns out to be particularly drunk and aggressive. Mighty pissed that these city slickers have ruined his quarry, he shoots the deer and proceeds to threaten George right in front of his terrified son.
Managing to avoid an even more serious confrontation, the family members proceed to their country house, where they settle in for what they hope will be a relaxing weekend. But it isn't long before things start going bump in the night, though it isn't clear what is actually happening and what is merely the fevered imaginings of the increasingly terrified young boy (his father constantly pretending to be a scary monster doesn't help matters).
When George is shot while sledding with his son, however, it becomes clear that the evil isn't strictly imaginary. Inspired by an elderly Native American he encounters at the local market, the boy conjures up the title character, a revengeful spirit, to fight on his behalf. As you might imagine, all hell breaks loose.
The explicit representations of the Wendigo, who looks rather like a malevolent animated tree, are the weakest aspects of the film, which is most effective in its "Deliverance"-like depiction of the inevitable antagonism between urban and rural dwellers and in its vivid representation of a young boy's existential fears. Another problem is the director's fondness for various arty camera techniques, which, like the loud noises commonly used in Hollywood efforts, are relied upon too heavily to produce scares.
But mostly the film garners its chills the old-fashioned way -- through intelligent writing, strong performances (Per Sullivan, familiar from his role as the youngest son in "Malcolm in the Middle", is particularly effective) and highly effective storytelling.
WENDIGO
Magnolia Pictures
Credits:
Director-screenwriter-editor: Larry Fessenden
Producer: Jeff Levy-Hinte
Director of photography/production designer: Terry Stacey
Music: Michelle Dibucci
Cast: Kim: Patricia Clarkson
George: Jake Weber
Miles: Erik Per Sullivan
Otis: John Speredakos
Sheriff: Christopher Wynkoop
MPAA rating: R
Color/stereo
Running time -- 90 minutes...
Eschewing excessive bloodletting in favor of tightly controlled atmospheric menace, "Wendigo" occasionally suffers from overdone directorial flourishes, but it's a mostly intelligent, engrossing and psychologically resonant suspenser. It is playing an exclusive engagement at New York's Film Forum.
As with most effective horror tales, the setup is a simple one. Members of a family composed of psychologist Kim (Patricia Clarkson), photographer husband George (Jake Weber) and 8-year-old son Miles Erik Per Sullivan) are heading to upstate New York for a weekend getaway. Driving through the desolate countryside, they suffer that most common of country mishaps -- hitting a large deer on a dark road. It turns out that said deer is the object of pursuit for a group of hunters, the leader of whom, Otis (John Speredakos), turns out to be particularly drunk and aggressive. Mighty pissed that these city slickers have ruined his quarry, he shoots the deer and proceeds to threaten George right in front of his terrified son.
Managing to avoid an even more serious confrontation, the family members proceed to their country house, where they settle in for what they hope will be a relaxing weekend. But it isn't long before things start going bump in the night, though it isn't clear what is actually happening and what is merely the fevered imaginings of the increasingly terrified young boy (his father constantly pretending to be a scary monster doesn't help matters).
When George is shot while sledding with his son, however, it becomes clear that the evil isn't strictly imaginary. Inspired by an elderly Native American he encounters at the local market, the boy conjures up the title character, a revengeful spirit, to fight on his behalf. As you might imagine, all hell breaks loose.
The explicit representations of the Wendigo, who looks rather like a malevolent animated tree, are the weakest aspects of the film, which is most effective in its "Deliverance"-like depiction of the inevitable antagonism between urban and rural dwellers and in its vivid representation of a young boy's existential fears. Another problem is the director's fondness for various arty camera techniques, which, like the loud noises commonly used in Hollywood efforts, are relied upon too heavily to produce scares.
But mostly the film garners its chills the old-fashioned way -- through intelligent writing, strong performances (Per Sullivan, familiar from his role as the youngest son in "Malcolm in the Middle", is particularly effective) and highly effective storytelling.
WENDIGO
Magnolia Pictures
Credits:
Director-screenwriter-editor: Larry Fessenden
Producer: Jeff Levy-Hinte
Director of photography/production designer: Terry Stacey
Music: Michelle Dibucci
Cast: Kim: Patricia Clarkson
George: Jake Weber
Miles: Erik Per Sullivan
Otis: John Speredakos
Sheriff: Christopher Wynkoop
MPAA rating: R
Color/stereo
Running time -- 90 minutes...
- 3/19/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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