Stars: AnnaLynne McCord, Judd Nelson, Ted Raimi, Tristan Riggs, Brent Bailey, Moon Bloodgood, Kevin Porter | Written by William C. Martell | Directed by Anthony C. Ferrante
If you thought supermarkets rushed the holidays on us, they’ve got nothing on Tubi. For the latest Tubi Original, they’ve skipped right past Christmas to give us Dante’s Hotel, a New Year’s Eve-themed horror film that begins on New Year’s Eve 1975 in the Dontene Hotel. A young Daniel Brayer axe in hand, stands over twelve dead bodies including those of his parents.
Twelve years later it happens again and Daniel is there again. Both times however the bodies vanish before they can be taken to the morgue leaving Daniel a free, if very troubled man who has taken up permanent residence in Room 1224.
For 2023 the hotel has hired Goldie to run their New Year’s Eve bash. It’s an anniversary for her,...
If you thought supermarkets rushed the holidays on us, they’ve got nothing on Tubi. For the latest Tubi Original, they’ve skipped right past Christmas to give us Dante’s Hotel, a New Year’s Eve-themed horror film that begins on New Year’s Eve 1975 in the Dontene Hotel. A young Daniel Brayer axe in hand, stands over twelve dead bodies including those of his parents.
Twelve years later it happens again and Daniel is there again. Both times however the bodies vanish before they can be taken to the morgue leaving Daniel a free, if very troubled man who has taken up permanent residence in Room 1224.
For 2023 the hotel has hired Goldie to run their New Year’s Eve bash. It’s an anniversary for her,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Sharknado has been back in the news this year, since 2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the goofball shark movie’s initial release – so it’s fitting that Sharknado director Anthony C. Ferrante also has multiple new movies making their way out into the world this year. The latest Ferrante joint is the horror film Dante’s Hotel, which is set to be released through the Tubi streaming service this Friday, October 13th. With its premiere just three days off, a trailer for Dante’s Hotel has arrived online and can be seen in the embed above.
Scripted by Ferrante and William C. Martell, Dante’s Hotel has the following synopsis: When an unknown assailant preys on the patrons of a haunted hotel, an event planner teams up with a mysterious tenant whose dark past is the key to freeing the cursed hotel.
AnnaLynne McCord (Excision), Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club), Moon Bloodgood (Falling Skies...
Scripted by Ferrante and William C. Martell, Dante’s Hotel has the following synopsis: When an unknown assailant preys on the patrons of a haunted hotel, an event planner teams up with a mysterious tenant whose dark past is the key to freeing the cursed hotel.
AnnaLynne McCord (Excision), Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club), Moon Bloodgood (Falling Skies...
- 10/10/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Tubi is celebrating New Year’s Eve a little bit early this year with their latest Tubi Original horror movie. It’s titled Dante’s Hotel, and it’s streaming only on Tubi beginning October 13.
In the film from The Asylum and Tubi…
“When an unknown assailant preys on the patrons of a haunted hotel, an event planner teams up with a mysterious tenant whose dark past is the key to freeing the cursed hotel.”
Anthony C. Ferrante directed Dante’s Hotel, which stars AnnaLynne McCord, Judd Nelson, Moon Bloodgood, Ted Raimi, Emilio Rivera and Kevin Porter.
Anthony C. Ferrante and William C. Martell wrote the screenplay.
Open up the doors to Dante’s Hotel and watch the official trailer below.
The post ‘Dante’s Hotel’ Trailer – Judd Nelson, Ted Raimi and AnnaLynne McCord Star in Tubi Original Horror Movie appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
In the film from The Asylum and Tubi…
“When an unknown assailant preys on the patrons of a haunted hotel, an event planner teams up with a mysterious tenant whose dark past is the key to freeing the cursed hotel.”
Anthony C. Ferrante directed Dante’s Hotel, which stars AnnaLynne McCord, Judd Nelson, Moon Bloodgood, Ted Raimi, Emilio Rivera and Kevin Porter.
Anthony C. Ferrante and William C. Martell wrote the screenplay.
Open up the doors to Dante’s Hotel and watch the official trailer below.
The post ‘Dante’s Hotel’ Trailer – Judd Nelson, Ted Raimi and AnnaLynne McCord Star in Tubi Original Horror Movie appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
- 10/10/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. has been accused of assaulting his girlfriend, a former WNBA player, inside a hotel in Manhattan. The victim is said to have suffered a fractured bone in her neck while Porter was choking her.
According to the NYPD and other police sources quoted in the media, the police received a 911 call for an assault at the hotel, after which they reached the hotel and arrested the 23-year-old pro baller. The incident took place at the four-star Millennium Hilton New York Hotel.
The police said they found Porter’s girlfriend, Kysre Gondrezick, with a cut on her face. She was also complaining of neck pain, according to the police. Porter is said to have beaten Gondrezick many times, placing his hands around her neck.
Reports indicate Gondrezick was sleeping and woke up when Porter began to beat her up. She was taken to a hospital...
According to the NYPD and other police sources quoted in the media, the police received a 911 call for an assault at the hotel, after which they reached the hotel and arrested the 23-year-old pro baller. The incident took place at the four-star Millennium Hilton New York Hotel.
The police said they found Porter’s girlfriend, Kysre Gondrezick, with a cut on her face. She was also complaining of neck pain, according to the police. Porter is said to have beaten Gondrezick many times, placing his hands around her neck.
Reports indicate Gondrezick was sleeping and woke up when Porter began to beat her up. She was taken to a hospital...
- 9/15/2023
- by News Desk
- Uinterview
Exclusive: Bat in the Sun Productions and Bascule Productions Ltd. have set a North American theatrical release for the late Power Rangers star Jason David Frank’s final film, Legend of the White Dragon.
Pic’s release will coincide with what would have been the 50th birthday of the actor and martial artist, who tragically died of suicide in November 2022, aged 49. Scott Kennedy’s Falling Forward Films will release it exclusively in theaters across the top 25 markets this fall.
The fantastical actioner directed by Aaron Schoenke and Sean Schoenke follows Erik Reed aka the White Dragon (Frank), who after being a fugitive on the run for three years, has returned to the city he fought to protect. He must now clear his name and save the family he keeps in secret before the mysterious Dragon Prime (Aaron Schoenke) unleashes his own revenge.
Schoenke and Alex Kellerman wrote the script. Frank...
Pic’s release will coincide with what would have been the 50th birthday of the actor and martial artist, who tragically died of suicide in November 2022, aged 49. Scott Kennedy’s Falling Forward Films will release it exclusively in theaters across the top 25 markets this fall.
The fantastical actioner directed by Aaron Schoenke and Sean Schoenke follows Erik Reed aka the White Dragon (Frank), who after being a fugitive on the run for three years, has returned to the city he fought to protect. He must now clear his name and save the family he keeps in secret before the mysterious Dragon Prime (Aaron Schoenke) unleashes his own revenge.
Schoenke and Alex Kellerman wrote the script. Frank...
- 3/16/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
"If you believe in a God, gentlemen, start praying to him." Mill Creek Ent. has revealed an official trailer for The Most Dangerous, which looks like a made-for-tv knock off remake of the classic short story of the same name. This story has been rebooted and updated and tweaked and revised so many times, including with the controversial The Hunt most recently, as well as the Quibi series no one watched. But this looks like the worst remake yet. A father and son are shipwrecked on an island where they are caught up in a trophy hunt held by its mysterious owner, a merciless man who uses the land as an elite hunting preserve for the most dangerous game of all: human. Starring Tom Berenger, Chris "Ct" Tamburello, Bruce Dern, Judd Nelson, Caspar Van Dien, Elissa Dowling, Kevin Porter, Eddie Finlay, & Randy Charach. The original The Most Dangerous film was...
- 6/27/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Here’s your first trailer for thriller The Most Dangerous Game, a remake of the 1930s classic.
Starring are Tom Berenger (Platoon), Chris “Ct” Tamburello (MTV’s The Challenge), two-time Oscar nominee Bruce Dern (Nebraska), Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club) and Caspar Van Dien (Starship Troopers).
North America home entertainment firm Mill Creek Entertainment is co-producer, marking their first co-pro on a scripted feature, and will release stateside in early August. The Koenig Pictures production was made in association with Charach Productions.
The original “man hunting man” story gets a twist as father and son are washed ashore after their steamership explodes. The men find refuge on a mysterious island where their nefarious host, Baron Von Wolf, reveals to them that the island is his game preserve where human beings serve as the ultimate hunt. Berenger plays a man who has been hiding on the island but whose sanity...
Starring are Tom Berenger (Platoon), Chris “Ct” Tamburello (MTV’s The Challenge), two-time Oscar nominee Bruce Dern (Nebraska), Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club) and Caspar Van Dien (Starship Troopers).
North America home entertainment firm Mill Creek Entertainment is co-producer, marking their first co-pro on a scripted feature, and will release stateside in early August. The Koenig Pictures production was made in association with Charach Productions.
The original “man hunting man” story gets a twist as father and son are washed ashore after their steamership explodes. The men find refuge on a mysterious island where their nefarious host, Baron Von Wolf, reveals to them that the island is his game preserve where human beings serve as the ultimate hunt. Berenger plays a man who has been hiding on the island but whose sanity...
- 6/27/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Demetrius Grosse (Cabinet of Curiosities) has signed on for a role in George Tillman Jr.’s untitled George Foreman biopic for Sony Pictures and Affirm Films.
He joins a cast that also includes Khris Davis, Sullivan Jones, Forest Whitaker, Jasmine Mathews, Sonja Sohn, John Magaro, Shein Mompremier, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Sam Trammell, Erica Tazel, Matthew Glave and Al Sapienza, as previously announced.
The film will follow the remarkable life and times of Foreman (Davis), from Olympic Gold medalist to World Heavyweight champion, the Rumble in the Jungle fight with Muhammad Ali in Zaire, to finding his faith, retiring, and becoming a preacher. When financial hardship hits his family and church, he steps back in the ring and regains the championship at age 45, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history.
Grosse is playing Foreman’s biological father, Leroy Moorehead. Though he’s proud that he’s never missed watching...
He joins a cast that also includes Khris Davis, Sullivan Jones, Forest Whitaker, Jasmine Mathews, Sonja Sohn, John Magaro, Shein Mompremier, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Sam Trammell, Erica Tazel, Matthew Glave and Al Sapienza, as previously announced.
The film will follow the remarkable life and times of Foreman (Davis), from Olympic Gold medalist to World Heavyweight champion, the Rumble in the Jungle fight with Muhammad Ali in Zaire, to finding his faith, retiring, and becoming a preacher. When financial hardship hits his family and church, he steps back in the ring and regains the championship at age 45, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history.
Grosse is playing Foreman’s biological father, Leroy Moorehead. Though he’s proud that he’s never missed watching...
- 3/10/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Riele Downs (“Henry Danger”), Auli’i’ Cravalho (“Moana”), Asher Angel (“Shazam”), Chosen Jacobs (“It”) and Derek Luke (“Captain America: The First Avenger”) have joined the cast of “Darby Harper Wants You to Know,” TheWrap has exclusively learned.
The project is a 20th Century Studios film for Hulu that just started production.
The story follows Darby Harper, who after suffering a near-death experience as a child is granted the ability to see ghosts. To combat the existential boredom of high school, she runs a side business counseling local spirits in her spare time. When an unexpected occurrence happens between Darby and Capri, the most popular girl at her high school, Darby reluctantly agrees to help her and in the process learns how to fit in with the living world again.
Riele Downs is playing the title role of Darby Harper, replacing Storm Reid who is no longer attached to the project due to a scheduling conflict.
The project is a 20th Century Studios film for Hulu that just started production.
The story follows Darby Harper, who after suffering a near-death experience as a child is granted the ability to see ghosts. To combat the existential boredom of high school, she runs a side business counseling local spirits in her spare time. When an unexpected occurrence happens between Darby and Capri, the most popular girl at her high school, Darby reluctantly agrees to help her and in the process learns how to fit in with the living world again.
Riele Downs is playing the title role of Darby Harper, replacing Storm Reid who is no longer attached to the project due to a scheduling conflict.
- 2/10/2022
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Two-time Oscar nominee Bruce Dern (Nebraska), Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club) and Caspar Van Dien (Starship Troopers) have joined Tom Berenger (Platoon) and Chris “Ct” Tamburello (MTV’s The Challenge) in thriller The Most Dangerous Game, a remake of the 1930s classic.
North America home ent firm Mill Creek Entertainment has joined the project as a co-producer, marking their first co-pro on a scripted feature. Mill Creek will oversee the North American release of the film.
The Koenig Pictures production, which is being made in association with Charach Productions, is currently in production and is aiming for a summer 2022 release. Today we can reveal some first look images for the film.
The original “man hunting man” story gets a twist as father and son are washed ashore after their steamership explodes. The men find refuge on a mysterious island where their nefarious host, Baron Von Wolf, reveals to them...
North America home ent firm Mill Creek Entertainment has joined the project as a co-producer, marking their first co-pro on a scripted feature. Mill Creek will oversee the North American release of the film.
The Koenig Pictures production, which is being made in association with Charach Productions, is currently in production and is aiming for a summer 2022 release. Today we can reveal some first look images for the film.
The original “man hunting man” story gets a twist as father and son are washed ashore after their steamership explodes. The men find refuge on a mysterious island where their nefarious host, Baron Von Wolf, reveals to them...
- 11/16/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Chris ‘Ct’ Tamburello (MTV’s The Challenge) and Oscar nominee Tom Berenger (Platoon) have been set to star in a remake of 1930s classic The Most Dangerous Game.
The original “man hunting man” story gets a twist as father and son are washed ashore after their steamership explodes. The men find refuge on a mysterious island where their nefarious host, Baron Von Wolf, reveals to them that the island is his game preserve where human beings serve as the ultimate hunt. Berenger plays a man who has been hiding on the island but who’s sanity is on the verge of collapse.
Writer-director Justin Lee (Final Kill) is currently in production on the project which is being filmed on the Koenig Pictures Backlot in the Pacific Northwest. Other cast members include Elissa Dowling, Kevin Porter, Eddie Finlay and Randy Charach.
Koenig Pictures is producing the picture alongside Quiet On Set,...
The original “man hunting man” story gets a twist as father and son are washed ashore after their steamership explodes. The men find refuge on a mysterious island where their nefarious host, Baron Von Wolf, reveals to them that the island is his game preserve where human beings serve as the ultimate hunt. Berenger plays a man who has been hiding on the island but who’s sanity is on the verge of collapse.
Writer-director Justin Lee (Final Kill) is currently in production on the project which is being filmed on the Koenig Pictures Backlot in the Pacific Northwest. Other cast members include Elissa Dowling, Kevin Porter, Eddie Finlay and Randy Charach.
Koenig Pictures is producing the picture alongside Quiet On Set,...
- 11/1/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
"I don't care about our legacy." We're still a few years away from seeing Matt Reeves' The Batman (due out in 2022), in the meantime this short will definitely scratch your itch for extra Batman content. Batman: Dying is Easy is an impressive new fan-film made by the brothers Aaron and Sean Schoenke. The short pitch for it is: "Fan created. Professionally made. A psychological film about the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince." The short film is a dark psychological thriller about Batman and Joker, similar to that iconic scene in The Dark Knight when he grabs him in the police station prison. Kevin Porter stars as Batman, Aaron Schoenke as Joker, with Michael Madsen as Bullock, plus appearances by a few other Arkham Asylum regulars. The quality of this fan film is through the roof, and it just makes me more excited for The Batman. Thanks to ScreenRant for the tip on this short.
- 3/12/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Image Source: Netflix
Bird Box is Netflix's current thriller du jour, which has fans of actress Parminder Nagra craving a rewatch of her iconic 2002 hit, Bend It Like Beckham.
In Bird Box, the 43-year-old British star plays Dr. Lapham, the ob-gyn of Malorie, played by Sandra Bullock. Although the role is relatively small, Dr. Lapham's character appears at two important milestones in Malorie's life: first when she's a reluctant mother and later when she finally embraces her maternal instincts. But this isn't the first time Nagra has popped up in a Netflix property this year.
Related: Will There Be a Bird Box Sequel? Here Are 4 Ways the Story Could Continue
When season two of the streaming giant's controversial teen drama 13 Reasons Why premiered in May, audiences realized that a new actress had been brought in to play Liberty High School's guidance counselor, replacing Derek Luke's Kevin Porter, who is...
Bird Box is Netflix's current thriller du jour, which has fans of actress Parminder Nagra craving a rewatch of her iconic 2002 hit, Bend It Like Beckham.
In Bird Box, the 43-year-old British star plays Dr. Lapham, the ob-gyn of Malorie, played by Sandra Bullock. Although the role is relatively small, Dr. Lapham's character appears at two important milestones in Malorie's life: first when she's a reluctant mother and later when she finally embraces her maternal instincts. But this isn't the first time Nagra has popped up in a Netflix property this year.
Related: Will There Be a Bird Box Sequel? Here Are 4 Ways the Story Could Continue
When season two of the streaming giant's controversial teen drama 13 Reasons Why premiered in May, audiences realized that a new actress had been brought in to play Liberty High School's guidance counselor, replacing Derek Luke's Kevin Porter, who is...
- 12/30/2018
- by Quinn Keaney
- Popsugar.com
In the first episode of season one of Netflix's 13 Reasons Why, we get the distinct feeling that the adults at Liberty High School are not to be trusted. Through Hannah Baker's tapes, we even learn exactly which adult (in her view) fails her the most in her time of need: Mr. Porter. He's struggling quite a bit in season two, so you may be wondering exactly how he interacts with Hannah before her death. Here's a quick reminder!
Kevin Porter is Liberty High School's counselor, and we continuously see him checking in with all the students after Hannah's death. He comes across as very perceptive about who everyone hangs out with and in which social circles everyone is included. This is actually amazing because he reveals to another teacher that he has over 600 students on his advisory list. But in episode three, we see him lie outright to the principal about meeting Hannah.
Kevin Porter is Liberty High School's counselor, and we continuously see him checking in with all the students after Hannah's death. He comes across as very perceptive about who everyone hangs out with and in which social circles everyone is included. This is actually amazing because he reveals to another teacher that he has over 600 students on his advisory list. But in episode three, we see him lie outright to the principal about meeting Hannah.
- 5/24/2018
- by Caitlin Bell
- Popsugar.com
NetflixThe absence of Hannah Baker is palpable, although the series is high on drama and loaded with relevant topics. But the real question is - Is it worth it?Hemanth Kumar C R*Spoilers ahead In 2017, when Brian Yorkey’s adaptation of Jay Asher’s bestselling novel Thirteen Reasons Why made its debut on Netflix, it was an instant hit across the world. The series delved into the life of Hannah Baker, a student at Liberty High School, and her struggle to find love and relationships, left a long-lasting impression. It wasn’t just yet another teenage drama about how hard life at high school is - 13 Reasons Why did not just underline the trials and tribulations of a young woman, grappling with loneliness and heartbreak, but was also a scathing commentary on the bullying and systematic lack of failure to address the issue that has taken a toll on thousands of students across the globe. The first season followed the journey of Hannah, as she explains several reasons and introduces people at her school who were either partially or directly responsible for her suicide. However, it never found its closure and towards the end of the series, we are left with quite a few questions - will Hannah’s parents sue the school for their negligence or will they reach a settlement? How will Clay Jensen, a friend of Hannah's, come to terms with everything that Hannah confessed in her tapes? Who’s responsible for Hannah’s suicide? The second season of the Netflix series delves into all these questions and tries to weave an elaborate story behind the toxic culture in Liberty High School. In the process, it veers far away from the original story to give a wholesome picture of the events that led to Hannah’s suicide. One of the reasons why 13 Reasons Why (Season 1) worked so well is that it made us sympathise instantly with Hannah Baker, played by Katherine Langford. Her loneliness in a world filled with people who are mean and opportunistic couldn’t be more stark, but more than that, it was about a young girl questioning her faith in people around her. Except for Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette), who loved her unconditionally, Hannah’s tryst with her fellow students almost always ended in a tragic way. After portraying Hannah Baker as a victim, the second season shifts its focus on the students on the tapes and slowly, we begin to realise that there was more to Hannah’s story than what she revealed in the tapes. We are told that she was still in touch with Justin Foley (Brandon Flynn), despite what he did to her in the beginning of her school life. And more surprising is the fact that Hannah and Bryce Walker were friends for a little while, long before she bears witness to his monstrous side. But all this pales in comparison when we hear the nature of relationship which Zach Dempsey (Ross Butler) has with Hannah Baker, which prompts Clay to ask, “Could it have been me, if I was around that summer?”. In its pursuit of truth and connecting the dots, 13 Reasons Why Season 2 distorts the image of Hannah Baker that we have formed so far, and there lies one of the biggest issues with this new season. It makes you wonder if it was really necessary to reveal all the details about her life that the first season never addressed. If the idea was to give a deeper understanding of the events that led to the tragedy, then this just doesn’t make any sense. Her absence from the series leaves a big void, but Brian Yorkey, who adapted the series, finds a clever way to keep us thinking about Hannah through Clay’s eyes. However, the void is too big to fill, even when you see bits and pieces of Hannah’s life coming together, and it makes you restless after a point. To be fair, the show runners also highlight Hannah’s flaws - that she herself was a bully in a previous school and she ended up doing things which one would come as a big shock. This new perspective on who Hannah Baker really was slowly degenerates the impact of the story itself, but in the process, the series also turns more dramatic especially in terms of how it treats the characters coming to terms with their shame and guilt. This is what salvages the show after the first few episodes which struggle to rise up to the occasion. Two episodes in particular, one which focusses on Zach Dempsey’s version of what happened to Hannah, and student counsellor Kevin Porter’s (Derek Luke) confession are thrilling after the initial lull in the series. To see a grown man breaking down into tears, in a courtroom, when he comes to terms with his guilt is easily one of the defining moments of the series. Since the narrative is flipped from how Hannah sees the world around her to how the world saw and treated Hannah Baker, the second season expands into the nature of relationships between various students in the school. For instance, Jessica Davis (Alisha Boe) learns from her new friend Nina Jones (Samantha Logan) that she can’t let her past define who she is; Justin’s newfound respect for Jensen’s family makes him yearn for a better life; Dempsey learns to speak up; and Marcus confesses what a monster Bryce Walker truly is in front of the entire school, after he’s forced to choose between his friend and his future. And then, there’s Tyler Down’s (Devin Druid) meltdown from being a misfit into a teenager who’s utterly confused about how to vent out his frustration. As unnecessary as the first few episodes of Season 2 might seem, 13 Reasons Why manages to tie its loose ends to give a clear picture that high school is a brutal place, which takes a major toll on the lives of students. Neither their parents nor the teachers themselves are aware of what happens in the alleys at school, and it brings up another important question - Who’s responsible when something goes terribly wrong? The series also does a fine job in breaking down the overwhelming support that athletes get from the school authorities and how it leads to some of them turning into bullies, since there’s no one around to question their authority. As it reaches its season finale, 13 Reasons Why makes its intentions clear that it’s not going to restrict its environment to addressing mental health issues and bullying in schools. And in doing so, it leaves us stranded in the middle of the road because it’s not the same anymore. It was always about Hannah’s life and the people who failed her, but the more we delve into Season 2, it shifts the narrative to Clay and Bryce and his acolytes and turns the series into a reflection of the harrowing gun culture and sexual assaults in schools and colleges in the Us. There’s one particular scene in the series which is bound to make you squirm and it’s an image so disturbing that nothing will prepare you to deal with it long after watching the show. The second season might have built upon the foundation which its predecessor had laid down, but the new structure and themes that it addresses take the series into a different direction altogether. And towards the end, when you see that it isn’t going to end soon, it makes you seriously question - is it even worth expanding the series long after Clay Jensen tells the whole world how much he loves Hannah Baker? For me, that’s where the series reaches its finish line. But then, the temptation to continue milking a popular series is hard to resist, I suppose.
- 5/22/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
The Season 2 premiere of Netflix’s buzzy teen drama “13 Reasons Why” is fast approaching, and the recently released trailer, featuring the returns of main cast members Katherine Langford, Dylan Minnette, Alisha Boe, and more as the Liberty High students grapple with Hannah’s death, has piqued anticipation for the series’ sophomore run.
The new season begins in the throes of a court case that forces its teen protagonists — and antagonists — to delve deeper into their inner struggles and actions that led up to Hannah’s suicide in the Season 1 finale. Here’s everything we know about “13 Reasons Why” Season 2, streaming Friday.
Seven New Actors Joined the Cast
The show’s ensemble cast expands in the second season to include seven new recurring characters played by Anne Winters, Bryce Cass, Chelsea Alden, Allison Miller, Samantha Logan, Kelli O’Hara, and Ben Lawson. Winters plays Liberty High’s newest head...
The new season begins in the throes of a court case that forces its teen protagonists — and antagonists — to delve deeper into their inner struggles and actions that led up to Hannah’s suicide in the Season 1 finale. Here’s everything we know about “13 Reasons Why” Season 2, streaming Friday.
Seven New Actors Joined the Cast
The show’s ensemble cast expands in the second season to include seven new recurring characters played by Anne Winters, Bryce Cass, Chelsea Alden, Allison Miller, Samantha Logan, Kelli O’Hara, and Ben Lawson. Winters plays Liberty High’s newest head...
- 5/17/2018
- by Christi Carras
- Variety Film + TV
At Netflix’s annual Fysee Kick-Off event in Los Angeles, Calif., stars of two of the streaming site’s most talked about returning series, “Dear White People” and “13 Reasons Why”, discussed using their second seasons to address topical issues.
Following the recent release of volume two of “Dear White People,” some fans were surprised to see the season open with the all-black residential dorm Armstrong-Parker as an integrated space.
Creator and director Justin Simien explained that the decision was tied to the current political climate. “It sort of mirrored the feelings that a lot of us were feelings particularly in a post-Trump world,” he told Variety.
Simien continued, “When I say a lot of us, I think people from communities that have long-since been marginalized and feel particularly marginalized by his presidency and the rise of the alt-right. It just felt like everyone’s safe space had been invaded.
Following the recent release of volume two of “Dear White People,” some fans were surprised to see the season open with the all-black residential dorm Armstrong-Parker as an integrated space.
Creator and director Justin Simien explained that the decision was tied to the current political climate. “It sort of mirrored the feelings that a lot of us were feelings particularly in a post-Trump world,” he told Variety.
Simien continued, “When I say a lot of us, I think people from communities that have long-since been marginalized and feel particularly marginalized by his presidency and the rise of the alt-right. It just felt like everyone’s safe space had been invaded.
- 5/7/2018
- by Ariana Brockington
- Variety Film + TV
13 Reasons Why guidance counselor Derek Luke is about to find himself under Suspicion.
Luke has been cast in the NBC drama pilot’s lead role of Danny Goodman, our sister site Deadline reports. Danny is a widower with a daughter and a new fiancée who accepts a casual loan from a rich, new friend and winds up being forced to serve as an informant — sent into a world of corruption and danger — for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Path creator Jessica Goldberg will executive-produce alongside Universal TV and Keshet Studios.
Luke was a series regular in Season 1 of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why,...
Luke has been cast in the NBC drama pilot’s lead role of Danny Goodman, our sister site Deadline reports. Danny is a widower with a daughter and a new fiancée who accepts a casual loan from a rich, new friend and winds up being forced to serve as an informant — sent into a world of corruption and danger — for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Path creator Jessica Goldberg will executive-produce alongside Universal TV and Keshet Studios.
Luke was a series regular in Season 1 of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why,...
- 3/2/2018
- TVLine.com
Stars: Stefanie Estes, Zack Ward, Tom Green, Shannen Doherty, Anna Harr, Leon Russom, Kevin Porter, Keith Jardine, Kirsty Hill, Felissa Rose | Written by James Cullen Bressack, Zack Ward | Directed by James Cullen Bressack
Married couple Claire (Stefanie Estes) and her husband Aaron (Zack Ward) have left everything behind them and decided to move in to Claire’s childhood home. Things are looking great for the couple when Aaron finds much more lucrative work than he’s ever had before, but things start to take a turn for worse when Claire’s past – more specifically memories of her abusive and foreboding mother coming back to haunt her. This triggers Claire to start experiencing visions and hallucinations. From seeing shapes in the dark, to her body seemingly being mutilated before her very eyes. Could she be going over the deep end or is there something sinister happening in her childhood home? Whatever may be happening,...
Married couple Claire (Stefanie Estes) and her husband Aaron (Zack Ward) have left everything behind them and decided to move in to Claire’s childhood home. Things are looking great for the couple when Aaron finds much more lucrative work than he’s ever had before, but things start to take a turn for worse when Claire’s past – more specifically memories of her abusive and foreboding mother coming back to haunt her. This triggers Claire to start experiencing visions and hallucinations. From seeing shapes in the dark, to her body seemingly being mutilated before her very eyes. Could she be going over the deep end or is there something sinister happening in her childhood home? Whatever may be happening,...
- 3/14/2017
- by Mondo Squallido
- Nerdly
“Ninjak vs. the Valiant Universe” was officially announced during the Valiant New York Comic-Con panel and included a first look at the digital series. Directed by Aaron and Sean Schoenke (“Bat in the Sun”), the six-episode “Ninjak vs. the Valiant Universe” is the first project from Valiant Digital, which will produce original content in live-action and animation, as well as media created for the digital arena. The cast features Michael Rowe as Ninjak, Jason David Frank as Bloodshot, John Morrison as the Eternal Warrior, Chantelle Barry as Roku, Kevin Porter as Armstrong, Ciera Foster as Livewire and Derek Theler as X-o.
- 10/8/2016
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Here comes a new challenger to the live action super hero genre, and it’s got over 20 years of source material. Come in and check out the first trailer, fresh from Nycc.
Now Valiant comics was founded in 1989 by creator Jim Shooter. Through out the years they’ve produced such comics as Archer and Armstrong, Xo Manowar, Bloodshot, Magnus Robot Fighter, Solar, Turok, this list goes on and on and it’s full of great story telling. Well now they have teamed with one of my favorite creators Bat in the Sun who produce the very popular Super Power Beatdown series to bring you Ninjak vs. The Valiant Universe.
So the series stars some of my favorites. That’s Michael Rowe playing Ninjak who you should remember as Deadshot from Arrow. Also the duo of Archer and Armstrong are in there and I see one of my favorite actor Kevin Porter...
Now Valiant comics was founded in 1989 by creator Jim Shooter. Through out the years they’ve produced such comics as Archer and Armstrong, Xo Manowar, Bloodshot, Magnus Robot Fighter, Solar, Turok, this list goes on and on and it’s full of great story telling. Well now they have teamed with one of my favorite creators Bat in the Sun who produce the very popular Super Power Beatdown series to bring you Ninjak vs. The Valiant Universe.
So the series stars some of my favorites. That’s Michael Rowe playing Ninjak who you should remember as Deadshot from Arrow. Also the duo of Archer and Armstrong are in there and I see one of my favorite actor Kevin Porter...
- 10/8/2016
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Jason The X)
- Cinelinx
Take a look @ actor Michael Rowe ("Arrow") as 'Colin King' aka the masked vigilante 'Ninjak', from the first live-action, feature-length original digital series, from publisher Valiant Comics, that will also feature the company's roster of costumed superheroes:
Cast will also include Kevin Porter ("Dodgeball"), Ciera Foster ("Straight Outta Compton"), Jason David Frank ("Power Rangers"), John Morrison ("El Rey’s Lucha Underground"), Derek Theler ("Baby Daddy") and Chantelle Barry ("Entourage").
"We've been quietly working behind the scenes on this series since 2015 and are incredibly excited to be debuting the first look at footage this year at New York Comic Con," said Valiant CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani.
"We've set out to make the best and most ambitious series ever produced in the digital space – one that will live up to the high standards we've set in publishing.
"As Valiant gears up for an upcoming slate of film,...
Cast will also include Kevin Porter ("Dodgeball"), Ciera Foster ("Straight Outta Compton"), Jason David Frank ("Power Rangers"), John Morrison ("El Rey’s Lucha Underground"), Derek Theler ("Baby Daddy") and Chantelle Barry ("Entourage").
"We've been quietly working behind the scenes on this series since 2015 and are incredibly excited to be debuting the first look at footage this year at New York Comic Con," said Valiant CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani.
"We've set out to make the best and most ambitious series ever produced in the digital space – one that will live up to the high standards we've set in publishing.
"As Valiant gears up for an upcoming slate of film,...
- 9/29/2016
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Darth Vader fighting Batman is one of the coolest, most epic match-ups of all time, or so Machinima thought. The multi-channel network’s latest installment of its popular Super Power Beat Down series pits the iconic Star Wars villain against DC Comics’ Dark Knight. In the “Batman vs. Darth Vader” episode, Gotham’s superhero flies all the way to the Death Star to save his colleague Superman, who’s been taken captive by Darth Vader. With the victor determined by over 250,000 fans on Spbd’s home page, the showdown of a lifetime ends in tragedy for one of the caped men in black: The “Batman vs. Darth Vader” episode was directed by filmmaker Aaron Shoenke, who’s already well-known for his Batman fan films. Kevin Porter reprised his role as the Dark Knight, having already played Batman in a number of shorts (as well the Punisher in a previous Spbd...
- 11/26/2014
- by Bree Brouwer
- Tubefilter.com
"I underestimate... nothing"
A new episode of Machinima's Super Power Beat Down has been released, and this one pits Batman against Darth Vader! This is an exciting episode that I think fans are really going to love. The quality of this web-series is always impressive, but this is definitely one of the best ones that they've unleashed.
The 14th episode of Super Power Beat Down is also far and away the best-looking and most epic episode ever - Batman vs. Darth Vader. This will be Batman's third appearance and Darth Vadar's second appearance in the beloved live-action series that pits two super powered legends in a winner-take-all battle - with the victor determined by more than a 1/4 million fans who cast their votes on the Spbd home page. The Caped Crusader is currently 1-1 on Spbd, with a decisive victory over Deadpool and a crushing defeat at the hands of Wolverine.
A new episode of Machinima's Super Power Beat Down has been released, and this one pits Batman against Darth Vader! This is an exciting episode that I think fans are really going to love. The quality of this web-series is always impressive, but this is definitely one of the best ones that they've unleashed.
The 14th episode of Super Power Beat Down is also far and away the best-looking and most epic episode ever - Batman vs. Darth Vader. This will be Batman's third appearance and Darth Vadar's second appearance in the beloved live-action series that pits two super powered legends in a winner-take-all battle - with the victor determined by more than a 1/4 million fans who cast their votes on the Spbd home page. The Caped Crusader is currently 1-1 on Spbd, with a decisive victory over Deadpool and a crushing defeat at the hands of Wolverine.
- 11/25/2014
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
In four Marvel vs DC clashes on Super Power Beat Down, DC currently holds a 3 to 1 advantage. Superman took down Thor, Nightwing got the best of Gambit and Batman triumphed over Deadpool. Marvel's lone win was Wolverine's lethal victory over Batman. Can Frank Castle secure one more Marvel victory over former Robin, Jason Todd? Spbd is directed by filmmaker Aaron Shoenke, who is best known for his independent Batman-genre fan films. The episode stars Kevin Porter (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, The Chronicles of Curtis Tucker) as Punisher and Rich Manly as Red Hood. Next up for Bat in the Sun's Spbd is Kick-Ass vs Tmnt's Casey Jones and then Green Ranger vs Street Fighter's Ryu. Original Green Ranger Jason David Frank returns to play the former evil Power Ranger turned good guy.
- 7/14/2014
- ComicBookMovie.com
Here is an awesome short film called Seeds of Arkham. It was directed by Aaron Schoenke and is from Bat in the Sun Productions. This is a sequel to City of Scars, which we shared last year. This is simply awesome and any Batman fan shoud stop what they doing and watch this now.
Here is a description of the short:
The film follows the chaos that breaks out in Gotham City after the Clown Prince of Crime dies. Seeds of Arkham features Kevin Porter, reprising his role as Batman, Xango Henry as Killer Croc, Alexa Mey as Poison Ivy and Aaron Schoenke as Nightwing.The action short film ends with a cliffhanger, hopefully leaving fans cheering for more.
Seeds of Arkham by Batinthesun
Bat in the Sun Productions has set up a Kickstarter account giving fans the chance to help make this happen. Please visit http://www.kickstarter.com...
Here is a description of the short:
The film follows the chaos that breaks out in Gotham City after the Clown Prince of Crime dies. Seeds of Arkham features Kevin Porter, reprising his role as Batman, Xango Henry as Killer Croc, Alexa Mey as Poison Ivy and Aaron Schoenke as Nightwing.The action short film ends with a cliffhanger, hopefully leaving fans cheering for more.
Seeds of Arkham by Batinthesun
Bat in the Sun Productions has set up a Kickstarter account giving fans the chance to help make this happen. Please visit http://www.kickstarter.com...
- 10/11/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
Last summer, we brought you a Batman fan-film from Bat in the Sun Productions titled, City of Scars, written and directed by Aaron Schoenke. Thankfully, Mr. Schoenke hasn’t rested on his laurels and has created yet another Bat-film called Seeds of Arkham, which brings in some new villains and a cliffhanger ending.
Check out Seeds of Arkham below, along with details on how you can help out with this Bat-Fan project continue where it leaves off.
Seeds of Arkham
Bat in the Sun Productions is proud to present it’s newest film, Seeds of Arkham, directed by Aaron Schoenke. It is a sequel to their other popular web film “City of Scars”. The film follows the chaos that breaks out in Gotham City after the Clown Prince of Crime dies. Seeds of Arkham features Kevin Porter, reprising his role as Batman, Xango Henry as Killer Croc, Alexa Mey as...
Check out Seeds of Arkham below, along with details on how you can help out with this Bat-Fan project continue where it leaves off.
Seeds of Arkham
Bat in the Sun Productions is proud to present it’s newest film, Seeds of Arkham, directed by Aaron Schoenke. It is a sequel to their other popular web film “City of Scars”. The film follows the chaos that breaks out in Gotham City after the Clown Prince of Crime dies. Seeds of Arkham features Kevin Porter, reprising his role as Batman, Xango Henry as Killer Croc, Alexa Mey as...
- 10/10/2011
- by Jason Moore
- ScifiMafia
HollywoodNews.com: The Cast of David Fincher’s “The Social Network,” which include Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Josh Pence, Brenda Song, Rashida Jones, Douglas Urbanski and Rooney Mara, were recognized at the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony with the “Hollywood Ensemble Acting Award.”
About Jesse Eisenberg
Trained in theater and film, Jesse Eisenberg (Mark Zuckerberg) made his feature film debut in the 2002 independent film “Rodger Dodger,” in which he starred opposite Campbell Scott and for which he was nominated for a Gotham Award.
For his performance in “The Squid and the Whale” opposite Laura Linney and Jeff Daniels, Eisenberg received nominations for an Independent Spirit Award and a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor.
In 2009, he starred in “Adventureland” for director Greg Mottola and in “Zombieland” for director Ruben Fleischer. For these films, he was nominated for a BAFTA Award. Eisenberg has...
About Jesse Eisenberg
Trained in theater and film, Jesse Eisenberg (Mark Zuckerberg) made his feature film debut in the 2002 independent film “Rodger Dodger,” in which he starred opposite Campbell Scott and for which he was nominated for a Gotham Award.
For his performance in “The Squid and the Whale” opposite Laura Linney and Jeff Daniels, Eisenberg received nominations for an Independent Spirit Award and a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor.
In 2009, he starred in “Adventureland” for director Greg Mottola and in “Zombieland” for director Ruben Fleischer. For these films, he was nominated for a BAFTA Award. Eisenberg has...
- 11/4/2010
- by Linny Lum
- Hollywoodnews.com
HollywoodNews.com: The 14th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Awards, presented by Starz, are pleased to announce that the Cast of David Fincher’s “The Social Network,” Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Josh Pence, Brenda Song, Rashida Jones, Douglas Urbanski and Rooney Mara, will be recognized at the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony with the “Hollywood Ensemble Acting Award.”
Previously announced honorees for this year’s Hollywood Awards Gala include: Sean Penn for the “Humanitarian Award”; Sylvester Stallone for the “Career Achievement Award”; Annette Bening for the “Actress Award”; Robert Duvall for the “Actor Award”; Helena Bonham Carter for the “Supporting Actress Award”; Sam Rockwell for the “Supporting Actor Award”; Zach Galifianakis for the “Comedy Actor Award”; Andrew Garfield for the “Breakthrough Actor Award”; Mia Wasikowska for the “Breakthrough Actress Award”; Jennifer Lawrence for the “New Hollywood Award”; Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary for the...
Previously announced honorees for this year’s Hollywood Awards Gala include: Sean Penn for the “Humanitarian Award”; Sylvester Stallone for the “Career Achievement Award”; Annette Bening for the “Actress Award”; Robert Duvall for the “Actor Award”; Helena Bonham Carter for the “Supporting Actress Award”; Sam Rockwell for the “Supporting Actor Award”; Zach Galifianakis for the “Comedy Actor Award”; Andrew Garfield for the “Breakthrough Actor Award”; Mia Wasikowska for the “Breakthrough Actress Award”; Jennifer Lawrence for the “New Hollywood Award”; Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary for the...
- 10/19/2010
- by Linny Lum
- Hollywoodnews.com
Ah, fan films. How can you ever get enough of them? At their best, they remind us why we love the character in the first place, and make us wonder why the studio can’t get anywhere close to their quality. At their worst, they feature bad actors reciting bad dialogue. Most fan films fall somewhere in-between — a combination of wonderful visuals mixed in with community theater-level scripting and acting. “Batman: City of Scars” is one of those. I would recommend watching it with the sound turned off, because the running voiceover is insufferably tedious. MTV says the fan film is from Aaron Schoenke and his father Sean, and took 21 days to shoot, the production spaced out over 16 months. The whole thing cost $27,000 to make, and runs a whopping 30 minutes, an eternity in terms of fan films. Batman is played by Kevin Porter, a working actor in Hollywood (he had...
- 6/22/2010
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
The Joker has escaped from Arkham Asylum and kidnapped a young boy and his parents. Batman immediately goes to work on the case leaving no stone unturned, questioning fellow inmates and informants on the street. Will Batman find the family in time or will the boy wind up an orphan like Batman himself?
Sounds like the beginnings of a great plot for the next Christopher Nolan Batman film, right? Actually, it’s the premise of a new fan-film released over the weekend called “City of Scars.”
Fan-films have never been easier to create now that everyone has access to some type of video camera (even if it’s their cell phone) and a place to upload it. Shot with high-definition cameras and a budget of just over $27,000, “City of Scars” is obviously not your average fan-film. In fact, you could say it’s something Robin would have made with his weekly allowance.
Sounds like the beginnings of a great plot for the next Christopher Nolan Batman film, right? Actually, it’s the premise of a new fan-film released over the weekend called “City of Scars.”
Fan-films have never been easier to create now that everyone has access to some type of video camera (even if it’s their cell phone) and a place to upload it. Shot with high-definition cameras and a budget of just over $27,000, “City of Scars” is obviously not your average fan-film. In fact, you could say it’s something Robin would have made with his weekly allowance.
- 6/21/2010
- by Jill Pantozzi
- MTV Splash Page
Here's one for Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival. Ishai Setton's witty comic drama, The Big Bad Swim, navigated many successful laps through the festival circuit last year from Tribeca to Avignon, collecting four fest honors and critical acclaim in its wake. But the harsh reality of the film distribution business has set in: The film is now in a very small regional release throughout the nation before its DVD release next month.
To be sure, the film lacks star names, but then so does Knocked Up. "Swim's" two female leads, Paget Brewster and Jess Weixler, are bright, attractive, sexy actresses whose performances certainly appeal to men and women. In fact, Weixler made a considerable impression this year at Sundance in Teeth, causing the jury to create a special prize for her. But that film hasn't been released yet, so Swim can't build on any growing fan base for the actress.
None of which explains why such a sharp comedy didn't gain an enthusiastic distributor. There aren't that many solid comedies, whether aiming for mainstream audiences or sophisticated adults as Swim does, that they should fall by the wayside.
Setton and his writer, Daniel Schechter, cleverly situate their multicharacter story in and around a local gym's swimming pool, where terrified, water-phobic adults gingerly approach an adult-ed swim class much as the vacationers in Jaws eyed the bloody water. Among them are a cop terrified of the water, a young woman looking for a guy and a wealthy couple learning to swim so they can use their new pool.
The two main characters are the least frightened of the bunch. Amy Brewster), a high school calculus teacher, takes the class to escape the strain of a crumbling marriage to a fellow teacher. Jordan (Weixler), who somehow never got around to learning how to swim, uses the class to relax between her two high-stress jobs -- blackjack and roulette dealer at an Indian casino and dancer at a strip club.
The hunky instructor has his own issues. Noah (Jeff Branson) has undergone years of therapy, both physical and psychological, because of an athletic injury. Coming out of his shell now, he is thinking of making two major moves: getting off his meds and acquiring a dog.
Amy and Jordan wind up fast friends, exchanging confidences even as Amy experiments with a romance with a much younger gambler (Michael Mosley) she meets at the casino. Meanwhile, Noah gets a dog. Then one night he wanders into Jordan's strip club, unaware that his student works there.
Jordan's young brother and aspiring documentary filmmaker David (Avi Setton), who is enrolled in a class taught by Amy's husband, wants to make a docu about his sister's life -- and lifestyle. His partner in crime, Hunter (Ricky Ullman), has a major obsession with his big sis.
With each clever plot twist, the film maintains focus on its characters, digging out emotional truths from their interplay and behavior. Brewster, Weixler and Branson spark to the main action as believably troubled yet determined people. And the metaphors about taking the plunge and confronting your own worst fears work out neatly as the interlocking story lines unfold.
Tech credits are fine, both in and out of the water, in this Connecticut-based production.
THE BIG BAD SWIM
Argot Pictures/Setton Sun Prods.
Four Act Films
Credits:
Director: Ishai Setton
Screenwriter/Executive producer: Daniel Schechter
Producers: Ishai Setton, Chandra Simon
Executive producers: Sandy Garvin, David Raymond
Director of photography: Josh Silfen
Production designer: Valerie Green
Music: Chad Kelly, Julian Velard
Co-producers: Ryan Kampe, Elana Pianko, Sylvain Tron
Costume designer: Cara Liedlich
Editor: Ian B. Wile
Cast:
Amy Pierson: Paget Brewster
Noah Owens: Jeff Branson
Jordan Gallagher: Jess Weixler
Hunter McCarthy: Ricky Ullman
David Gallagher: Avi Setton
Martin: Todd Susman
Joanna: Darla Hill
Carl: Kevin Porter Young
Running time -- 96 minutes
No MPAA rating...
To be sure, the film lacks star names, but then so does Knocked Up. "Swim's" two female leads, Paget Brewster and Jess Weixler, are bright, attractive, sexy actresses whose performances certainly appeal to men and women. In fact, Weixler made a considerable impression this year at Sundance in Teeth, causing the jury to create a special prize for her. But that film hasn't been released yet, so Swim can't build on any growing fan base for the actress.
None of which explains why such a sharp comedy didn't gain an enthusiastic distributor. There aren't that many solid comedies, whether aiming for mainstream audiences or sophisticated adults as Swim does, that they should fall by the wayside.
Setton and his writer, Daniel Schechter, cleverly situate their multicharacter story in and around a local gym's swimming pool, where terrified, water-phobic adults gingerly approach an adult-ed swim class much as the vacationers in Jaws eyed the bloody water. Among them are a cop terrified of the water, a young woman looking for a guy and a wealthy couple learning to swim so they can use their new pool.
The two main characters are the least frightened of the bunch. Amy Brewster), a high school calculus teacher, takes the class to escape the strain of a crumbling marriage to a fellow teacher. Jordan (Weixler), who somehow never got around to learning how to swim, uses the class to relax between her two high-stress jobs -- blackjack and roulette dealer at an Indian casino and dancer at a strip club.
The hunky instructor has his own issues. Noah (Jeff Branson) has undergone years of therapy, both physical and psychological, because of an athletic injury. Coming out of his shell now, he is thinking of making two major moves: getting off his meds and acquiring a dog.
Amy and Jordan wind up fast friends, exchanging confidences even as Amy experiments with a romance with a much younger gambler (Michael Mosley) she meets at the casino. Meanwhile, Noah gets a dog. Then one night he wanders into Jordan's strip club, unaware that his student works there.
Jordan's young brother and aspiring documentary filmmaker David (Avi Setton), who is enrolled in a class taught by Amy's husband, wants to make a docu about his sister's life -- and lifestyle. His partner in crime, Hunter (Ricky Ullman), has a major obsession with his big sis.
With each clever plot twist, the film maintains focus on its characters, digging out emotional truths from their interplay and behavior. Brewster, Weixler and Branson spark to the main action as believably troubled yet determined people. And the metaphors about taking the plunge and confronting your own worst fears work out neatly as the interlocking story lines unfold.
Tech credits are fine, both in and out of the water, in this Connecticut-based production.
THE BIG BAD SWIM
Argot Pictures/Setton Sun Prods.
Four Act Films
Credits:
Director: Ishai Setton
Screenwriter/Executive producer: Daniel Schechter
Producers: Ishai Setton, Chandra Simon
Executive producers: Sandy Garvin, David Raymond
Director of photography: Josh Silfen
Production designer: Valerie Green
Music: Chad Kelly, Julian Velard
Co-producers: Ryan Kampe, Elana Pianko, Sylvain Tron
Costume designer: Cara Liedlich
Editor: Ian B. Wile
Cast:
Amy Pierson: Paget Brewster
Noah Owens: Jeff Branson
Jordan Gallagher: Jess Weixler
Hunter McCarthy: Ricky Ullman
David Gallagher: Avi Setton
Martin: Todd Susman
Joanna: Darla Hill
Carl: Kevin Porter Young
Running time -- 96 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 6/29/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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