Paranormal Profits: Interview with producer of ‘Paranormal Activity’ plus ‘The House of the Devil’ now available on video on demand
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Hollywood has learned NOTHING from the incredible success of “Paranormal Activity” and the buzz for “Trick r Treat” on DVD (they would’ve made a bundle had they released that film theatrically). Reminder to Hollywood: Paranormal Activity $16,387,327 (10/20-11/1) $84.63 (million to date)
I say this because despite the 60 million 80 MILLION plus profit made on the national release of the 15k film Paranormal Activity, (something ORIGINAL SHOCKAH!)!, they are STILL refusing to put ORIGINAL SUSPENSEFUL HORROR into release, witness ‘The House of the Devil which is currently available on Amazon Video on Demand Theatrical Rental here (48 hours $6.99), and which now looks like it may be dropped from national release.It got a great review from Todd Gilchrist:
In an era where horror movies are mostly comprised of telegraphed scares and severed body parts, atmosphere is often one of the first casualties in their cacophony of violence. Filmmakers have been increasingly (if not always uniquely) successful in recent years creating scenarios where victims are decapitated, dismembered and generally dispatched, but that momentary shock or surprise seldom gives way to (or even pays off) prolonged suspense, and almost never leaves audiences with a feeling of fear lingering for more than seconds after the film is finished.
Writer-director Ti West, it seems, is singlehandedly waging a war against such reductive satisfaction: His movies languish in mundane details, deliberate pacing and producing expectations that something—anything—could happen at any time, creating a sense that it will, even after they’re over, the lights have been turned back on and you’ve returned to normalcy.
And his latest, The House of the Devil, is a masterwork of suspense, a virtual refutation of all of the conventions of contemporary horror that manages to be terrifying precisely because it refuses to give you that gratification until you’ve almost given up wanting it….
Our previous post on ‘House of the Devil’ here and our numerous posts on’ Paranormal Activity’ here
Why isn’t “House of the Devil” getting theatrical release? So there is room for more YARM? For a stoopid SAW 27??! WAKE UP HOLLYWOOD! Gen X grew up on weird 70s suspense horror flicks on the movie of the week,. WE LOVE SUSPENSEFUL HORROR and guess what? WE BUY MOVIE TIX!!! Want to make a profit? Stop the endless YARM and gore and release ORIGINAL horror films! If you make it we will come! Hell if you would release those ‘Movie of the Week’ movies in a boxed set we would buy them all too!
To date, limited theatrical showings listed as follows:
On ScreenAustin, TX: Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
West Hollywood, CA: Sunset 5
New York, NY: Angelika Film Center (6)
Opening
11/13/2009
San Francisco, CA: Lumiere Theatre 3
Chicago, IL: Music Box
Providence, RI: Cable Car Cinema
Seattle, WA: Varsity Theatre11/25/2009
Denver, CO: Starz Filmcenter11/27/2009
Albuquerque, NM: Guild
Moderate in the Middle 