You’re Next

FANTASTIC FEST 2011 Recap and Awards Roundup

by Scott Wampler    Posted: September 30th, 2011 at 2:42 am

Well, folks, it’s over:  another year, another week-long cavalcade of awesome at Fantastic Fest.  This year’s lineup included some big name movies (Melancholia, Take Shelter), some smaller ones (You’re Next, Extraterrestrial), and some complete unknowns (Zombie Ass, A Boy and His Samurai), as well as some truly amazing, non-screening events.  Who won awards at this year’s Fantastic Fest, and what were the highlights of the week?  Find out after the jump, folks.

Lionsgate Picks up Adam Wingard’s TIFF Horror Hit YOU’RE NEXT

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 21st, 2011 at 10:31 am

I am in no way surprised that Adam Wingard’s home-invasion horror flick You’re Next found a distributor.  Everyone I spoke to at TIFF dug the flick and I agreed with them.  The story is about a family reunion that turns deadly when the family becomes targeted by masked murderers.  Their only hope is Erin (Sharni Vinson), a girlfriend of one of the family membes and the best home defender since Kevin McCallister.  You’re Next is set to play at Fantastic Fest and I have a feeling it will go over huge.  But if you weren’t at TIFF and won’t be at Fantastic Fest, you’ll still have a chance to see the flick in the not-too-distant future.  Heat Vision reports that Lionsgate has acquired the film for $1 to $2 million after a bidding war with Summit, Dimension, CBS Films, and FilmDistrict.  That’s impressive considering that the film reportedly cost less than $1 million to make.

Now the challenge is selling it.  The movie has no stars and it’s to replicate a midnight movie vibe with the general public.  Hopefully Lionsgate can seize on a smart marketing campaign because this is a flick that deserves to be seen in a theater with a crowd.  If you want to check out some images from the film (they’re not too spoiler-y), hit the jump.

TIFF 2011 Award Winners and Film Sales Announced

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 18th, 2011 at 9:29 pm

The 2011 Toronto International Film Festival has come to a close.  We covered the hell out of it and we’ve got loads of interviews still to post.  Today, TIFF announced the winners in three award categories for Canadian films and the winners of the Cadillac People’s Choice Awards.  Nathan Morlando’s crime drama Edwin Boyd (pictured above) won Best Canadian First Feature Film, Philippe Falardeau’s Monsieur Lazhar picked up the award for Best Canadian Feature Film, and Ian Harnarine’ Doubles With Slight Pepper was awarded Best Canadian Short Film.  As for the Cadillac People’s Choice Awards, Nadine Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now? won the top prize, Jon Shenk’s The Island President won in the documentary category, and Gareth Evans’ The Raid picked up the award for The Cadillac People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award.

Hit the jump for the full press release along with a list of all the films that were sold to distributors.  Keep in mind that just because a film didn’t sell during the festival, that doesn’t mean it won’t be picked up for distribution in the near future.

TIFF 2011: YOU’RE NEXT Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 17th, 2011 at 10:27 am

Adam Wingard’s You’re Next is the home invasion horror sub-genre played to near-perfection.  Through a terrific blend of setting, characters, pacing, and creative kills, Wingard delivers a horror film that even non-horror fans can enjoy.  The film falters slightly when it offers more information than necessary, but you’ll suspend your disbelief for the fun, thrills, and excitement you’ll get in return.

Fantastic Fest 2011 Announces Its Second Wave of Programming; Includes MELANCHOLIA and Adam Wingard’s YOU’RE NEXT

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 18th, 2011 at 9:34 am

While most fall film festivals have high profile titles that offer attendees a chance to get out ahead of award season flicks, the Alamo Drafthouse’s Fantastic Fest provides an exciting grab bag of genre movies.  Most don’t have A-list stars or big-name directors, but you’re still going to find a lot of fun movies and instead of a major publicity campaign, the Fantastic Fest audience member gets to champion the programming they enjoy.  Last month the first wave of programming was announced and today we now have the second wave.  The newly announced films include Lars Von Trier’s Melancholia, Ti West’s The Inkeepers, and You’re Next, the new film from A Horrible Way to Die director Adam Wingard.

Hit the jump to check out the full announcement of second wave films.  Fantastic Fest 2011 runs from September 22 – 29th in Austin, Texas.

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