SeanEllis Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Public Service Announcement: Check Out 'The Broken' at the After Dark Horrorfest
Filed under: Horror », New Releases »
There are a few positive reviews of The Broken floating around from Sundance 2007 and elsewhere, but I wanted to add an endorsement tied to its berth in this year's installment of the fledgling After Dark Horrorfest, which runs this week. In past years I've been generally disinterested in the Horrorfest programming, which has seemed heavy on schlock, but The Broken seemed intriguing, so I ventured out and saw it on Saturday.You know the cliche that something or other "sent a chill down my spine"? People who use that phrase -- including me -- usually do so metaphorically. This time I mean it literally. There are moments in The Broken that sent a physical chill running through my body. I'm not ready to call Sean Ellis's sophomore feature a great film; after one viewing, I'm not sure it makes total sense. But it is genuinely, supremely creepy. Fans of the genre should give the After Dark folks some of their hard-earned cash this week.
I should say that this is decidedly my kind of horror film: slow, moody, with little gore, few jolt scares, minimum exposition, and a maximum of atmosphere. (It also does another thing that I love, which is have events unfold on a small, personal scale while suggesting that something far larger in scope is happening.) In other words, it may not be for all tastes. It's original enough not to have a direct analogue, but in terms of mood and the types of scares it offers, think a quieter version of last year's The Strangers, with supernatural elements. And scarier.
Horrorfest's website, including participating theaters and a trailer for The Broken (that I wouldn't recommend watching, as it gives away too much without giving you a sense of the film) is here.
Lena Headey Stars In The Broken
Filed under: Drama », Horror », Thrillers », Casting »
It looks like Lena Headey isn't resting on the inevitable buzz from her work as Queen Gorgo in the highly anticipated 300 to make her a familiar face to moviegoers. Not only does Headey have a part in the upcoming Spartan green-screen epic, but she also has four other films on their way to the big screen. Another high profile project for Headey will be her turn as Sarah Connor in the TV series The Sarah Connor Chronicles, based on The Terminator films. Variety reports that Headey will star in the new psychological thriller from Sean Ellis, The Broken. Ellis is a relative newcomer, but has already received an Oscar nomination last year for his short film Cashback. The Broken is Ellis' second full-length feature, and considering that Ellis is only 36, I think he still has some time to beef up his resume. The film is about a woman (Headey) who is involved in a horrible car crash, and while that alone isn't enough to invoke the willies; the hook is that the other driver in the accident appears to be her double. Headey leads an international cast that includes Richard Jenkins, Michelle Duncan and Asier Newman. The Broken is being produced by French production heavy Gaumont and is currently shooting in London for a 2008 release.
[via Empire Online]
Indie Roundup: 'Sweetgrass,' 'Clarkworld,' 'Broken Embraces'
Shelf Life: Fight Club_thumbnail.jpg)
Watch: Famous 'Matrix' Scene Re-Created with LEGOs
Peter Jackson Says Spielberg's 'Tintin' is Done Filming, but...
Interracial Harmony: 'Ninja Assassin' vs. 'Blind Side'
_thumbnail.jpg)
