Twisted Twins in Rue Morgue Censorship Piece

Rue Morgue is a name that is synonymous with horror. It is a publication exclusively devoted to horror in culture and entertainment and also features cinema, store, archives, events and general information.


We were given the esteemed pleasure recently of speaking with their Aaron Berman in regards to an ugly trend of horror films and the artists behind them being targeted by censors. In 2010, Sitges Film Festival director Ángel Sala was charged with exhibiting child pornography when he showed A SERBIAN FILM at an Adults Only screening. In 2009, Remy Couture, a Montreal based makeup effects artist, was charged with “corruption of morals” after a complaint was made about images found on Couture’s website “Inner Depravity”. Recently THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE 2 has been banned in the United Kingdom by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

This past April, us Twisted Twins and our DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK ran into a little trouble when our film was banned at the Roxy Theatre in Saskatoon (catch up here). It was meant to be our Canadian premiere outside of our hometown of Vancouver, but we came under the attack of censors because of the title of our film alone. The following week, they also banned Canadian Jason Eisener's HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN. The outstanding horror community banded together behind our films and we cannot thank them enough. The Broadway Theatre welcomed both films in and the screenings went off with much enthusiasm. At that time we had spoke with wonderful Rue Morgue writer April Snellings about the controversy (get that one here).

We both have very strong feelings about censorship. This month we were given the supreme honor of appearing in Rue Morgue Magazine in an outstanding article about this trend by Aaron Berman.

To appear in a magazine that we have long time adored leaves us speechless. A very special thank you to Aaron Berman, April Snellings, and Rue Morgue Magazine.

It's truly an incredible piece and you can check out the new issue on their site here or at a news stand near you.

Bloody Best!
Jen and Sylv

Not Just Another Pissed Off Geek reviews Dead Hooker In A Trunk

"I like movies that are totally crazy, that are totally out there and don’t hide the fact. Put it this way, I love movies that are totally bat shit crazy. I think that’s the reason I may have just fell in love with Dead Hooker in a Trunk." ~ Pissed Off Geek

We love the UK.

From the very beginning, the UK has supported us and our DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. Nia Edwards-Behi was the first person to ever show DHIAT at a festival in 2010's Women In Horror month, February, at her Ghouls on Film Festival. It was a supreme honor and we are forever grateful to everyone in the UK who has believed in this film. We can't begin to tell you how much your support has meant to us.

Now, at long last, the release of DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK is almost on us. On May 23rd, everyone in the UK will be able to have their very own Dead Hooker. If that isn't a "happily ever after", I don't know what is.

With the release coming up fast, we were so happy to have Pissed Off Geek review the film.

"When you have a chance to see this movie should you? Hell yes you should. When it’s released I will be buying it and it will have pride of place next to Natural Born Killers, a Clockwork Orange and all my other crazy movies that I love." ~ Pissed Off Geek

Check out the FULL REVIEW (including what Pissed off Geek had to say about the DHIAT Saskatoon Controversy) HERE.

And a very special thanks to Pissed Off Geek for giving our Hooker such a warm welcome.

XO,
Jen

The Broadway Theatre Welcomes in Dead Hooker In A Trunk Despite the Controversy

Some of you may have noticed that we just changed the venue to The Broadway Theatre. We will now be screening both of these two movies at the original stated time and date (April 22 at 11:30pm). Even though we ran into a snag we still love the Roxy Theatre as much as we did before but we are extremely happy that The Broadway is willing to support us.

- Dark Bridges Film Festival

The level of class and dignity that John Allison and The Dark Bridges Film Festival have shown in the face of such ignorance in the banning of their films from the Roxy Theater - courtesy of Tom Hutchinson - is inspirational. The fact that the film was banned on title alone without anyone naysayer even bothering to watch the film or look into the background of the incredible team that made it still sickens me. I feel very sorry for those too close-minded to see their own levels of misinformation, but today is a new day and 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk' shall play.



Let there be Canadian-made indie horror for everyone to enjoy and have a good time - because that is what we are here for and why the film was made!

Now if you are even close to the area, I implore you in light of recent events, please come and see the film. Anonymous callers, you too, are more than welcome. Once you actually see the film - you will see why so many have stood by it to have it screened. This is a case of a book being judged wrongly by its cover. Huge thanks to those who used their joined voices to stand beside our film and freedom of expression through the arts --

Jennifer Cooper's petition to get the banning overturned.

Heidi Honeycutt of FanGirlTastic who wrote a brutally honest and perfectly crass (why do women always have to apologize for language? I applaud hers, because she always knows how to get people talking) piece about the real dead hookers and ours.

Spooky Sean's open letter to the Roxy Theater and their stance on the film. Awesome as fuck.

Joel 'Ratman' Wells' piece on the banning on the film and the sheer lunacy of this censorship.

Zach Schildwachter and the most gracious team at the Bloodsprayer who have been there to get the word out about the film, now they're here to make sure people know the real facts behind the film and this censorship.

Alyse Wax of Feardotnet, What The Fear and her excellent piece articulating the pure ridiculousness of the accusations against the film and the reason behind the ban.

Dr. Gore of the Horror Society and Chad Clinton Freeman where they discuss the banning in details with an alternative - the Pollygrind would love to have us back.


I would like to thank Nia Edwards-Behi and Adam Williams of the Abertoir Film Fest, Andrew Rose of DOA Bloodbath Entertainment, everyone who signed the petition, wrote their own letters, and used education in hopes of clearing up an emotionally charged situation.

No one likes to hear someone else dictate what they can and can not see. At the same time, when there are real life homicides that are going unresolved with the problem not showing any signs of remedy - I'm not surprised that people are frustrated. What they should be is frustrated with their own municipalities for not taking this issue seriously, rather than directing that anger at a film that - believe it or not - actually gives dignity and humanity to the title character.

I will leave you with a clever quote posted by Simon Nisbet on the petition wall -

"What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist."

- Salman Rushdie

For more information on this screening please click here. Again, because the drama that has arisen in the community about this screening, please do try to make it out. We would love to have you all there to properly represent the film and film goers.


I'd like to end with this, the grace and the class that you have handled yourselves with is beyond commendable. The general public has a very misguided view on horror, hence, a 'horror film' often loses merit before any further investigation into the project is done. I have seen countless treads and posts where people have stood by the film using logical conversation to try to educate about this field and this particular film. I can't thank you enough for your noble efforts.

People assume the horror community is made up of stupid, vile people - it's very nice to have this opportunity to show them just how wrong they have been.

~Jen and Sylv

Controversy Strikes in Saskatoon over Dead Hooker In A Trunk Screening

The Dark Bridges Film Festival is pretty damn incredible. Dark Bridges Film Festival is Saskatchewan's premiere showcase of cool independent and foreign genre films. In 2009 Dark Bridges celebrated its launch with the Saskatchewan Premiere of Grace and the Canadian Premiere of Ink along with four short films. In 2010 the first full festival was held which showcased 12 Feature films: Centurion, Dawning, El Monstro Del Mar!, Werewolf Fever, High School, Death of the Dead, [REC], [REC 2], Long Pigs, A Film With Me In It, Black Field as well as the The Good, The Bad, The Weird. In addition, 7 Saskatchewan short films and 20 World short films received their Saskatchewan Premiere at the festival.

The Second Annual Dark Bridges Film Festival runs October 13th through 16th, 2011. Plans for this year's festival include an extra night of films as well as an afternoon discussion session.

It is an incredible honor that our film, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, will be playing this month, courtesy of Dark Bridges Film Festival, at the beautiful Roxy Theatre as a Double Feature with the TAINT on April 22nd at 11:30pm. We have been so happy to have the film appear at film festivals across the world, but it fills us with special pride to show the film in our beautiful Canada.

But not all is well in Saskatoon. The Roxy Theatre received an anonymous phone call a few days prior where an unidentified woman stated she was embarrassed for Saskatoon and couldn't believe that they would show a movie with that title after all stuff that went on in Vancouver with missing Prostitutes. She didn't leave her name or a number for call back. To be honest, it isn't the first or I imagine the last time that we will receive this kind of a call.

But what has happened now disgusts me. Someone took it upon themselves to rip down the festival posters from the main drag in town.

Officially, I have this to say:

"I am shocked and saddened that someone in this day and age could be so closed minded about the mere title of a film. Without attempting to research the film in the slightest, they rushed to judgment and condemned something that in fact should be something that Canadians should be very proud of. 'Dead Hooker In A Trunk' is a little independent film made by a couple of Canadians that has, despite all odds and challenges, been seen world wide in a multitude of film festivals, won critically praise, honors, and awards, and has shown the world that Canadians are big time contenders in the film industry and their work deserves to be paid attention to."

Additionally, I have this to say. This is a disgusting display of ignorance. Canada is the land known as the strong and the free. I feel that censorship is bullshit and breeds ignorance. We've worked so hard to bring the film to where it is and to have someone in our own country vandalize our posters is an act of absolute cowardice.
If this upsets you as much as it upsets us, help us out and spread the word. This kind of behavior is intolerable, absolutely shameful, and, dammit, so very not Canadian. If you're in Saskatoon, please come out and show your support for DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. Say it loud and say it proud.

And please help spread the word. I will keep you posted on how things unfold. It now looks likely that the event will be canceled. I think this is unacceptable. How about you guys? You can call the Roxy theatre at (306) 955-8642 and tell them that you support DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK.

Yes, we can, boys and grrls. Thank you for supporting independent film and freedom of speech.

~Jen