With the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival in full swing, we sent out a questionnaire to filmmakers with films in competition in which they tell us all the significant details of how their films came to be created. Among the questions asked was the inspiration behind each of their films, leading to a wide variety of answers that range from documentaries ("Salesman," "War Room") to foreign films ("Breathless," "La Dolce Vita"), from big-budget studio blockbusters ("Jaws," "Die Hard") to micro-budget indies ("El Mariachi," "Halloween"), from stark high-brow dramas ("Network," "Mean Streets") to lovably goofy comedies ("Caddyshack," "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"). Here are some of the most eclectic selections from the 2014 Tribeca filmmakers: Onur Tukel ("Summer of Blood"): There are four movies that inspired "Summer of Blood." Robert Bierman's "Vampire's Kiss," Mary Harron's "American Psycho," Larry Fessenden's "Habit," and Rick Alverson's "The Comedy." For the record, my favorite horror.
- 4/22/2014
- by Ziyad Saadi
- Indiewire
I have what one might call a complicated relationship with Chiller original programming, especially movies. The main issue is, I want to like them, since the eventual Blu-ray release will most definitely be released by Shout!/Scream, but in most cases, I don’t. In all honesty, despite its shortcomings, Beneath has been the first Chiller original movie that I have found any sort of enjoyment in. That’s not to say that it is a great movie, because it is not. It still very much retains that “Made-for-tv” feel. That is to say, it looks cheap, and for the most part, especially as far as the acting is concerned, you definitely “get what you pay for”, so to speak. Still, I found myself wanting to continue watching, where as in past releases, like Remains or Dead Souls, I just couldn’t even power through to the end without pausing...
- 3/25/2014
- by Shawn Savage
- The Liberal Dead
Director Larry Fessenden’s latest feature, Beneath, focuses on six freshly graduated high school seniors who cross paths with a massive, human-eating fish one day on Black Lake. The film is a potent blend of physical and psychological scares, and it’s getting a Blu-ray & DVD release via Scream Factory on March 25th. With the home media release coming soon, I recently chatted with Larry about his experience making Beneath.
Larry, thank you for taking the time to talk about your latest directorial feature, Beneath. To start things off, can you tell our readers what attracted you to direct this screenplay by Tony Daniel and Brian Smith?
Well, I really loved how contained the story was. It all takes place on a lake, on a tiny rowboat, and I’m a fan of the experiments Hitchcock would get up to where you sort of limit your options. He made a...
Larry, thank you for taking the time to talk about your latest directorial feature, Beneath. To start things off, can you tell our readers what attracted you to direct this screenplay by Tony Daniel and Brian Smith?
Well, I really loved how contained the story was. It all takes place on a lake, on a tiny rowboat, and I’m a fan of the experiments Hitchcock would get up to where you sort of limit your options. He made a...
- 3/21/2014
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Veteran horror contributor and all-around cool guy Larry Fessenden has a lot of acting, directing and producing credits to his name. But he's never worked with anything quite like he did on Beneath. Fessenden recently sat down with Dread Central to talk about his new film.
First he gave us a brief synopsis of what viewers can expect when they hitch their anchor to Beneath. "It's a stylish little horror film about six teenagers stuck in a rowboat with a malevolent force under the water trying to get them," Fessenden said.
"It's a movie about the decisions they make to get out of the dilemma, and they're not all pretty decisions."
Indeed the film, which at first glance appears to be a monster movie, certainly has other, more devious intentions for viewers as they get deeper into the story and the characters become much less friendly with each other. "I'm...
First he gave us a brief synopsis of what viewers can expect when they hitch their anchor to Beneath. "It's a stylish little horror film about six teenagers stuck in a rowboat with a malevolent force under the water trying to get them," Fessenden said.
"It's a movie about the decisions they make to get out of the dilemma, and they're not all pretty decisions."
Indeed the film, which at first glance appears to be a monster movie, certainly has other, more devious intentions for viewers as they get deeper into the story and the characters become much less friendly with each other. "I'm...
- 3/17/2014
- by Scott Hallam
- DreadCentral.com
The new film from Larry Fessenden, entitled Beneath, is on its way to both Blu-ray and DVD via Scream Factory, and right now we everything you need to know about the release right here. Reel in the goods!
From the Press Release
There’s something terrifying in the waters in Black Lake, but what’s above the surface is just as dangerous! On March 25, 2014, Scream Factory will unleash director Larry Fessenden’s enthralling creature thriller Beneath on Blu-ray and DVD.
Featuring a generous dose of suspense terror and wicked satire, Beneath follows a group of high school grads as they face the ultimate tests of friendship and sacrifice during a terror-stricken fight for survival – an allegorical tale about the tragic inability of people to rise above their differences even in the face of grave threat.
Directed by Fessenden (Wendigo, The Last Winter), the film stars Danny Zovatto (Innocence), Bonnie Dennison (Stake Land,...
From the Press Release
There’s something terrifying in the waters in Black Lake, but what’s above the surface is just as dangerous! On March 25, 2014, Scream Factory will unleash director Larry Fessenden’s enthralling creature thriller Beneath on Blu-ray and DVD.
Featuring a generous dose of suspense terror and wicked satire, Beneath follows a group of high school grads as they face the ultimate tests of friendship and sacrifice during a terror-stricken fight for survival – an allegorical tale about the tragic inability of people to rise above their differences even in the face of grave threat.
Directed by Fessenden (Wendigo, The Last Winter), the film stars Danny Zovatto (Innocence), Bonnie Dennison (Stake Land,...
- 1/23/2014
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Scream Factory is known for bringing horror classics to Blu-ray, but they also continue to build up their offering of new horror titles. Today, they’ve announced a March release for Beneath and we have all the details:
“There’s something terrifying in the waters in Black Lake, but what’s above the surface is just as dangerous! On March 25, 2014, Scream Factory™ will unleash director Larry Fessenden’s enthralling creature thriller Beneath on Blu-ray™ and DVD. Featuring a general dose of suspense terror and wicked satire, Beneath follows a group of high-school grads as they face the ultimate tests of friendship and sacrifice during a terror-stricken fight for survival – an allegorical tale about the tragic inability of people to rise above their differences even in the face of grave threat.
Directed by Fessenden (Wendigo, The Last Winter), the film stars Danny Zovatto (Innocence), Bonnie Dennison (Stake Land, Third Watch), Chris Conroy...
“There’s something terrifying in the waters in Black Lake, but what’s above the surface is just as dangerous! On March 25, 2014, Scream Factory™ will unleash director Larry Fessenden’s enthralling creature thriller Beneath on Blu-ray™ and DVD. Featuring a general dose of suspense terror and wicked satire, Beneath follows a group of high-school grads as they face the ultimate tests of friendship and sacrifice during a terror-stricken fight for survival – an allegorical tale about the tragic inability of people to rise above their differences even in the face of grave threat.
Directed by Fessenden (Wendigo, The Last Winter), the film stars Danny Zovatto (Innocence), Bonnie Dennison (Stake Land, Third Watch), Chris Conroy...
- 1/22/2014
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Don’t go in the water.
“Beneath” is about a group of friends who take a rowboat across the lake only to be attacked by a flesh-eating fish. But, it may seem that the real monsters may be on the boat as they fight for survival.
Latino-Review had an exclusive interview earlier this month with director Larry Fessenden on this horror project, which is described as homage to “Jaws.” We discussed various details about “Beneath” ranging from the script to the creation of the monster. And, we talked about his involvement in the upcoming movies of “Jug Face” and Lionsgate’s “You’re Next.”
“Beneath” is currently being played on Chiller TV and available on VOD.
Listen or read the full transcript below.
Latino-Review: Tell me how you were attracted to this script.
Larry Fessenden: Well, it was really a practical situation. I went in to pitch some low...
“Beneath” is about a group of friends who take a rowboat across the lake only to be attacked by a flesh-eating fish. But, it may seem that the real monsters may be on the boat as they fight for survival.
Latino-Review had an exclusive interview earlier this month with director Larry Fessenden on this horror project, which is described as homage to “Jaws.” We discussed various details about “Beneath” ranging from the script to the creation of the monster. And, we talked about his involvement in the upcoming movies of “Jug Face” and Lionsgate’s “You’re Next.”
“Beneath” is currently being played on Chiller TV and available on VOD.
Listen or read the full transcript below.
Latino-Review: Tell me how you were attracted to this script.
Larry Fessenden: Well, it was really a practical situation. I went in to pitch some low...
- 8/14/2013
- by Gig Patta
- LRMonline.com
Congrats Grads: Fessenden Terrorizes Teens with Latest Environmental Horror
According to the films of Larry Fessenden, Mother Nature poses the greatest threat of all to mankind, and his latest film, Beneath, upholds his recent trend of compromising environmental horror motifs as evidenced in both Wendigo (2001) and The Last Winter (2006). While initially seeming a derivative exercise ‘beneath’ the considerable talents of Fessenden’s delightfully weird aesthetics, it quickly reveals itself to be a wicked hearted exercise that slides effortlessly from man vs. nature to man vs. man enterprise all in one shrill, drawn out note.
Having just graduated from high school, six friends have banded together for one last hurrah before they each disburse for college after the summer. Johnny (Daniel Zovatto) has been a sweetheart and offered his family’s private cabin on the isolated body of water they own called Black Lake. The opening credits gloss over ominous newspaper...
According to the films of Larry Fessenden, Mother Nature poses the greatest threat of all to mankind, and his latest film, Beneath, upholds his recent trend of compromising environmental horror motifs as evidenced in both Wendigo (2001) and The Last Winter (2006). While initially seeming a derivative exercise ‘beneath’ the considerable talents of Fessenden’s delightfully weird aesthetics, it quickly reveals itself to be a wicked hearted exercise that slides effortlessly from man vs. nature to man vs. man enterprise all in one shrill, drawn out note.
Having just graduated from high school, six friends have banded together for one last hurrah before they each disburse for college after the summer. Johnny (Daniel Zovatto) has been a sweetheart and offered his family’s private cabin on the isolated body of water they own called Black Lake. The opening credits gloss over ominous newspaper...
- 7/24/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Glass Eye Pix and Chiller Films provided Latino-Review an exclusive clip for Larry Fessendon’s monster horror movie “Beneath.”
This film is homage to “Jaws” and other seminal films. People just need to learn that it’s never safe to enter the waters.
Here’s the synopsis:
When a group of young friends commemorating their high school graduation take a trip to the remote Black Lake, their celebration turns into a nightmare with the sudden appearance of a bloodthirsty, underwater predator. Stuck in a leaking boat with no oars, the teens face the ultimate tests of friendship and sacrifice during a terror-stricken fight for survival.
“Beneath” is written by Tony Daniel and Brian D. Smith, and directed by horror icon Larry Fessenden (“The Last Winter,” “Habit”). It’s produced by Fessenden and Peter Phok for Glass Eye Pix (“Stake Land,” “The Inkeepers”).
It stars Chris Conroy, Bonnie Dennison, Mark Margolis,...
This film is homage to “Jaws” and other seminal films. People just need to learn that it’s never safe to enter the waters.
Here’s the synopsis:
When a group of young friends commemorating their high school graduation take a trip to the remote Black Lake, their celebration turns into a nightmare with the sudden appearance of a bloodthirsty, underwater predator. Stuck in a leaking boat with no oars, the teens face the ultimate tests of friendship and sacrifice during a terror-stricken fight for survival.
“Beneath” is written by Tony Daniel and Brian D. Smith, and directed by horror icon Larry Fessenden (“The Last Winter,” “Habit”). It’s produced by Fessenden and Peter Phok for Glass Eye Pix (“Stake Land,” “The Inkeepers”).
It stars Chris Conroy, Bonnie Dennison, Mark Margolis,...
- 7/22/2013
- by Gig Patta
- LRMonline.com
In the new monster movie Beneath, a group of boat-trapped teens are menaced by a giant fish — although, as things go from bad to worse to whatever-comes-after-worse, it becomes clear the real monsters are the kids themselves rather than their piscine predator.
“That’s the point of the film!” laughs Beneath director Larry Fessenden, whose previous credits include 2001′s Wendigo and 2006′s The Last Winter. “That’s a little bit about my obsession that people have been parenting wrong. I tried to show some compassion for the characters, but they’re all just in for themselves and it leads to a bad end.
“That’s the point of the film!” laughs Beneath director Larry Fessenden, whose previous credits include 2001′s Wendigo and 2006′s The Last Winter. “That’s a little bit about my obsession that people have been parenting wrong. I tried to show some compassion for the characters, but they’re all just in for themselves and it leads to a bad end.
- 7/16/2013
- by Clark Collis
- EW - Inside Movies
Title: Beneath Director: Larry Fessenden Starring: Daniel Zovatto, Bonnie Dennison, Chris Conroy, Jonny Orsini, Mackenzie Rosman, Griffin Newman, Mark Margolis Nice ribbons of naturalism and even poetical idyll root “Beneath,” a sort of lake-set “Jaws” homage, before an unconvincing turn toward “Lord of the Flies” territory and even more unconvincing acting conspire to sink the low-budget indie horror offering. Director Larry Fessenden’s nice use of limited resources and superlative, artful evocation of mood are in the end no match for a screenplay that mistakes and substitutes volume for well staked-out, compelling interpersonal disagreement. The story’s familiar set-up finds a group of a half dozen teenage friends celebrating their recent high [ Read More ]
The post Beneath Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Beneath Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 7/16/2013
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
Look out below! A new trailer has been unfrozen for Larry Fessenden's (Vanishing on 7th Street) Hypothermia. In the clip, several ice fishermen are subjected to torture from a partially seen fish creature!?! The creature is only shown in a couple shots, but horror fans will notice something big and fishy lurking in and out of the frames.
This clip was recently released at Cannes '11 (Quiet Earth) and now, fans can take a peek, without having to fly hundreds of miles to the French coast! Enjoy the clip below, courtesy of Quiet Earth.
A synopsis for Hypothermia here:
"Imagine Jaws under the ice, imagine terror at 20 degrees below freezing... In a remote winter hideaway devoid of any sign of life, two unsuspecting families on an ice-fishing vacation discover something sinister lurking in the frozen lake. One thing is for certain - the creature is hungry, and the only prey left is human.
This clip was recently released at Cannes '11 (Quiet Earth) and now, fans can take a peek, without having to fly hundreds of miles to the French coast! Enjoy the clip below, courtesy of Quiet Earth.
A synopsis for Hypothermia here:
"Imagine Jaws under the ice, imagine terror at 20 degrees below freezing... In a remote winter hideaway devoid of any sign of life, two unsuspecting families on an ice-fishing vacation discover something sinister lurking in the frozen lake. One thing is for certain - the creature is hungry, and the only prey left is human.
- 5/18/2011
- by Remove28DaysLaterAnalysisThis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
That's right folks, we've been keeping an eye on Jim Mickle's (the director of the excellent Mulberry Street) Stake Land (teaser) for some time now, and a full synopsis has come out today explaining that it is definitely a post apocalyptic vampire flick which we're very excited about. Here's the rundown:
A young boy is about to learn how cruel the world can become. Martin was a normal teenager before the country collapsed in an empty pit of disaster, and a vampire epidemic swept across the nation's abandoned towns and cities. It's up to Mister, a death dealing, rogue vampire hunter, to get Martin to safety. Armed with a trunk full of wooden stakes and a desperate will to stay alive, Mister and Martin make their way through locked down towns, recruiting fellow travelers along the way. A devout nun (Kelly McGillis as "Sister") joins the small team of survivors.
A young boy is about to learn how cruel the world can become. Martin was a normal teenager before the country collapsed in an empty pit of disaster, and a vampire epidemic swept across the nation's abandoned towns and cities. It's up to Mister, a death dealing, rogue vampire hunter, to get Martin to safety. Armed with a trunk full of wooden stakes and a desperate will to stay alive, Mister and Martin make their way through locked down towns, recruiting fellow travelers along the way. A devout nun (Kelly McGillis as "Sister") joins the small team of survivors.
- 10/20/2009
- QuietEarth.us
We told you about Larry Fessenden's latest production for Glass Eye Pix, James Felix McKenney's Hypothermia, a couple of weeks ago, but other than a quick teaser trailer, there really wasn't a whole lot of info available. Today, however, a little bit more light was shed on things in the form of a synopsis.
Imagine Jaws under the ice, imagine terror at 20 degrees below freezing... In a remote winter hideaway devoid of any sign of life, two unsuspecting families on an ice-fishing vacation discover something sinister lurking in the frozen lake. One thing is for certain - the creature is hungry, and the only prey left is human. Hypothermia is a classic monster movie in the tradition of The Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Those are some big titles to be throwing around comparisons to. Let's hope we end up with something more than a big plate of sushi.
Imagine Jaws under the ice, imagine terror at 20 degrees below freezing... In a remote winter hideaway devoid of any sign of life, two unsuspecting families on an ice-fishing vacation discover something sinister lurking in the frozen lake. One thing is for certain - the creature is hungry, and the only prey left is human. Hypothermia is a classic monster movie in the tradition of The Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Those are some big titles to be throwing around comparisons to. Let's hope we end up with something more than a big plate of sushi.
- 10/20/2009
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Very little has been said about James Felix McKenney's latest production Hypotermia . Dark Sky Films is shepherding this latest Glass Eye Pix production from the Automatons director. Larry Fessenden is producing and a teaser trailer , by McKenney, was created, but told us nothing. This morning, however, we happened upon the following synopsis: Imagine Jaws under the ice, imagine terror at 20 degrees below freezing... In a remote winter hideaway devoid of any sign of life, two unsuspecting families on an ice-fishing vacation discover something sinister lurking in the frozen lake. One thing is for certain - the creature is hungry and the only prey left is human. Hypothermia is a classic monster movie in the tradition of The Creature from the Black Lagoon . Jaws...
- 10/20/2009
- shocktillyoudrop.com
It was high fives and drool buckets all 'round when Quiet Earth discovered Larry Fessenden would be in Toronto for the final days of TAD08 to be in attendance at the World Premiere of I Sell The Dead. Would he do an interview? Yes? Bloody good. Dr Nathan strangled the opportunity to meet and share a couple pints of Guinness with Larry the day before the premiere (which explains the lack of questions), and we cheerfully babbled away until director Glenn McQuaid and some of the Glass EyePix posse showed and it was time to pull the coffin cover closed…
Qe: The guys at Quiet Earth consider The Last Winter to be your magnum opus. We are wondering what you think of the film two years later. Have you changed your mind or do you still like it?
Lf: I am very loyal to my films. You know what they...
Qe: The guys at Quiet Earth consider The Last Winter to be your magnum opus. We are wondering what you think of the film two years later. Have you changed your mind or do you still like it?
Lf: I am very loyal to my films. You know what they...
- 10/28/2008
- QuietEarth.us
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