FRIGHT ON DEMAND: FANGORIA Enters DVD, VOD, & Digital Download Market.

http://latinhorror.com/frightfest/

Long-time horror staple FANGORIA announced today that it has teamed up with multi-faceted distributor Lightning Media to launch a new film distribution entity named "FANGORIA FrightFest," and plans to release eight horror feature films under the banner via a wide-ranging DVD, VOD and digital download deal, with fans additionally choosing one of the selected films for a theatrical distribution run.

Listed among the eight releases are two Latin horror titles: FRAGILE (finally!) from REC and REC 2 helmer Jaume Balagueró (word is there will be a third in that series - 'Rec Apocalypse,' but I digress), and 'THE HAUNTING,' which is fronted by Elio Quiroga. Both directors hail from Spain, a treasure trove of great horror films the last decade.

A similar deal was announced recently between After Dark Films, Lionsgate, and Syfy under the 'After Dark Originals' moniker (read 'ADF Ties Not With Lionsgate & Syfy'). Unfortunately, After Dark Films has yet to include a Latin director and/or film among its '8 Films To Die For' anthologies (out of 32 films over 4 years). In the case of both these offerings, however, many of the films picked up have been twisting in the wind for some time. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing for us horror fans - just ask the filmmakers whose films have been chosen:

“Having a contest to win a theatrical release is a great idea. Not only will it create some buzz around the sweepstakes, but it will support a film that might not otherwise receive a theatrical release during a time where very few independent films are getting a shot at one. Unless you have tons of money to throw at marketing these days--which nobody does--it’s important to think outside the box when trying to get a film in theaters, and that’s what Lightning Media and FANGORIA are doing.” —Jim Isaac, director, PIG HUNT

The website officially launched today - www.fangoriafrightfest.com

At the time of this posting only a static splash page was still in place.

Jaume Balagueró's FRAGILE. Photo courtesy of FANGORIA.

Starting on June 22nd, and continuing through July 19th, horror fans will be able to vote and ultimately have a say in which film will get a theatrical release in late July. According to Fangoria's release, voting participants will automatically be entered into a sweepstakes and stand a chance of winning a free trip to Las Vegas, as well as other goodies. The site also plans to preview film trailers and other special features.

Aside from its magazine and website to fuel buzz for the project, Fangoria is planning a free "On Demand" broadcast entitled 8 FANGORIA FRIGHTS on several major cable networks, including Time Warner, Comcast, Cablevision, Verizon FIOS to preview exclusive clips, featurettes, and director profiles. The half-hour program will be hosted by the stunning Cerina Vincent (Cabin Fever).

Quotes from the announcement (source: Fangoria, via website):

"FANGORIA, both the magazine and on the web, is the leading resource for fans looking for a range of horror film styles. We are excited to be able to team with Lightning Media to bring to the marketplace more of what we hear an array of fans--people from diverse demographics with divergent tastes--are asking to see. And that’s top-quality production values, outstanding star power and variety of choice." —Thomas DeFeo, president , FANGORIA Entertainment

"The FANGORIA FrightFest lineup represents a diversified lineup of quality genre entertainment, ranging from supernatural chillers to psychological horror and slasher flicks. We want to embrace horror fans of every demographic. And Lightning Media wants to offer producers an alternative, multi-platform delivery system that provides greater awareness and accessibility to reach their audiences.” —Rich Goldberg, co-president, Lightning Entertainment Group

Among the films whose 'theatrcial' fate will rest in your hands are:

PIG HUNT, FRAGILE, GRIMM LOVE, DARK HOUSE, HUNGER, ROAD KILL, THE HAUNTING and THE TOMB.

Fangoria notes that a comprehensive announcement outlining their DVD, VOD and digital download release strategy will be made public shortly. LATIN HORROR will bring you that info as soon as it's available.

For more info, visit the project's official website:

http://www.FangoriaFrightFest.com/

Steve Villeneuve's UNDER THE SCARES

FRIGHT IS RIGHT: Doc Disects the Industry's Scare Factor.

This documentary primarily aims at understanding the process involved in the making of an independent horror film and this odd industry. Many aspects are discussed by the numerous horror personalities interviewed: new video technologies and the impact it has on the marketplace; how inexperience often results in a loss of 90% of the funds invested; the need for discoverying a good story; the actor's point of view, among others.

If you're an emerging horrorphile looking to gain added knowledge about how the horror filmmaking industry works - or if you're simply a maggoty fan of the genre - you don't want to miss this documentary! — LATIN HORROR

Watch the documentary's teaser trailer -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QQOph6ruXM

MIEDO Digest - May 8, 2010 | LATIN HORROR

LATIN HORROR's "MIEDO Digest" for May 8, 2010. A wealth of Horrific information - http://tinyurl.com/2dgjg68

LATIN HORROR's Website Goes DARK in Honor to RUE MORGUE

LATIN HORROR's website goes DARK in honor of the 100th edition of RUE MORGUE's magazine [BLACK 100]:

LATIN HORROR's home is intentionally black and white as a trbute of solidarity to our friends at RUE MORGUE Magazine, who have just reached the amazing milstone of publishing the 100th edition of their publication.

We will remain DARK from May 1st through May 8th.

Congratulations RUE MORGUE!

http://www.latinhorror.com/

MIEDO Digest - May 1, 2010 | LATIN HORROR

MIEDO Digest - May 1, 2010 | LATIN HORROR

MIEDO Digest - April 24, 2010 | LATIN HORROR

MIEDO Digest - April 24, 2010 | LATIN HORROR

LA CASA MUDA (The Silent House) Speaks Volumes to Horror Fans

http://latinhorror.com/onthehorrizon/lacasamuda

The stuff of horror and the conventions filmmakers use to frighten us are nothing new: science has not discovered any new human emotion to tamper with, and the filmmaker's toolbox has contained the same tricks or treats for over a 100 years now (more or less); it's all been done before. But an original story with an approach that speaks to the director's singular vision will always feel fresh and sincere.

First impressions are everything, and judging from the trailer of La Casa Muda (The Silent House), Uruguayan national Gustavo Hernández is set to put that South American region, mostly known for its agriculture, on the international map of horror, as well bring more exposure to the genre of Latin-based horror. Especially since it was announced just yesterday that La Casa Muda was selected to be among the 24 films that will showcase as part of this year's Directors’ Fortnight during the 63rd Cannes Film Festival. La Casa is Uruguay's official entry

(not to mention that sci-fi phenom Federico Alvárez will shoot part of the feature-length version of his extremely virulent short Panic Attack! in Uruguay later this year, too)

The story of La Casa Muda centers on a father and daughter team who settle into a dilapidated cottage to begin to make some much-needed repairs. And as an organically built-in metaphor to the director's land-locked country, that is surrounded on three sides by Brazil and Argentina, the protagonists soon find themselves with only one possible way out of their dire dilemma - directly through the unknown evil force that threatens their very existence. The story, we are told, is based on true events that took place in Uruguay in 1944. This detail makes the premise instantly all the more intriguing in The Blair Witch Project kind of way (but hopefully with a genuine payoff). And given what we've seen so far, we think there will be.



La Casa Muda is shot in a single, continuous 78-minute take using a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) Canon's D5—a still camera with the added capacity to shoot full 1080 HD video (part of that 'more or less' equation). The film's look is a marvel given the technology utilized (the D5s were first generation, buggy and tempermental units) and the credit goes to cinematographer Pedro Luque. Producer Gustavo Rojo also needs to be singled out for effectively managing such an enormouse orchastration and coming out the other side with a production as visually rich on only a shoe-string budget: around $6,000!

The film follows in the footsteps of other shake-and-brake films with its use of hand-held camera work (think Cloverfield and District 9). But unlike those nausea-inducing pills that ran amok in their sprawling environments, La Casa is more in line with its Spanish counterpart, REC (with whom it shares a few similarities), bound to close quarters with movement more an innate byproduct of the story than a forced joyride. Kudos go to DP Luque again for striking a visual balance (incidently, it should be noted here that Luque also shot the eye-catching Panic Attack!). Similarly like REC, it is also a first-person point-of-viewer.

But apart from all the semantics, the film's real power lies its ability to take away our safety net by focusing on the true and tried basics of fear without relying on ungrounded gimmicks or CGI. It's hard to do that when the camera doesn't stop rolling. The filmmaker's astutely bill this as "Real fear in real time." What lies in the shadows is as important as what we are allowed to see; the mind fills in the blanks. And we cannot pause, rewind, or make it stop until its final conclusion.

Making us feel powerless in the dark, now that's true horror.

Ladies and gentlemen, Gustavo Hernández has left the building...