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Maximiliano Contenti’s horror flick attempts to unpick voyeurism but lacks the sophistication of others in the genre

Nostalgia for idiosyncratic analogue film style is the simplest explanation for the recent giallo revival – but maybe there’s more to it than that. This most stylised of horror modes is perfect for our over-aestheticised age, so the newcomers – such as Berberian Sound Studio, Censor and Sound of Violence – make artists and viewers accessories to violence, often unleashed through that giallo mainstay, the power of the gaze. Set almost entirely in a tatty Montevideo rep cinema, Uruguayan slasher The Last Matinee joins this voyeuristic club, even if it ends up more in the raw than the refined camp.

On a rainswept night in 1993, engineering student Ana (Luciana Grasso) insists on taking over projectionist duties for a screening of Frankenstein: Day of the Beast. She shuts herself in the booth, trying to ignore...

From Uruguayan filmmaker Maximiliano Contenti comes The Last Matinee, a blood-soaked love letter to the cinematic experience. Starring Luciana Grasso, Ricardo Islas, Julieta Spinelli, Franco Duran and Pedro Duarte, The Last Matinee follows a mysterious eye-nibbling killer who stalks a group of unsuspecting moviegoers and theater workers one rainy afternoon. The Last Matinee debuted in theaters earlier this month and is headed to VOD tomorrow, courtesy of Dark Star Pictures and Bloody Disgusting.

Daily Dead recently had the opportunity to speak with Contenti about his approach to The Last Matinee and during the interview, he discussed wanting to transport viewers back to a simpler time at the movies, the inspirations behind the film’s story and showcasing the directors and the movies that turned him into a film fan throughout his childhood as well.

Congratulations on the film, Maxi. It was so much fun. I would love to hear a...

People wondering whether it’s safe to go to the movie house again may be given pause by “The Last Matinee,” in which that activity proves gravely injurious to patrons’ health. Uruguayan director Maxi Contenti’s feature is a retro slasher whose aesthetics pay tribute to some illustrious forebears, especially of the Italian variety about 40 years ago. Horror fans will enjoy that referential air, even if despite all visual appeal and some gore, the movie proves disappointingly lax in terms of stoking atmosphere, suspense or jolts. Dark Star and Bloody Disgusting are opening the Argentinian co-production on six U.S. screens this Friday. Release to VOD, digital and DVD formats follows on Aug. 24.

In 1993 Montevideo, a hirsute man in trenchcoat and hood purchases a ticket at a cavernous old movie palace, entering just as the audience of parents and tots exits a prior kiddie feature. Despite the rainy weather, only...

Dark Star Pictures and Bloody Disgusting will release the Uruguay-Argentinian horror film The Last Matinee in theaters on August 6, 2021, and on VOD, Digital and DVD on August 24, 2021. Check out this scary trailer:

Directed by Maxi Contenti (Muñeco viviente V, Neptunia) from a script by Manuel Facal (High Five, Fiesta Nibiru) and Contenti, the film stars Luciana Grasso (El Secreto de Julia), Ricardo Islas (El Que No Corre Vuela, Bailiwick), Julieta Spinelli, Franco Duran and Pedro Duarte.

Synopsis: The audience attending the last showing of a horror film in a small downtown cinema are terrorized by a murderer who begins to pick them off, one by one. The only person to notice that something strange is going on is the projectionist’s daughter.

The post Check Out the Terrifying Trailer for The Last Matinee – In Theaters on August 6th appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.

The Last Matinee In Theaters August 6, 2021 On Demand, Digital and DVD August 24, 2021 Starring: Luciana Grasso, Ricardo Islas, Julieta Spinelli, Franco Duran, Pedro Duarte Directed and Written By: Maxi Contenti The audience attending the last showing of a horror film in a small downtown cinema are terrorized by a murderer who begins to pick …

The post Official Trailer & Poster!! -The Last Matinee by Maxi Contenti – In Theaters 8/6 and VOD/Digital/DVD 8/24 appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Dark Star Pictures and Blood Disgusting recently acquired distribution rights to The Last Matinee, from writer / director Maxi Contenti, and we have a look at the official trailer!

"The audience attending the last showing of a horror film in a small downtown cinema are terrorized by a murderer who begins to pick them off, one by one. The only person to notice that something strange is going on is the projectionist’s daughter."

The Last Matinee stars Luciana Grasso, Ricardo Islas, Julieta Spinelli, Franco Duran, and Pedro Duarte, and will be released in theaters on August 6th, with an on-demand, digital, and DVD release on August 24th.

The post Watch the Trailer for The Last Matinee appeared first on Daily Dead.

"Today, you may feel the Universe owes you. Nonetheless, someone else's sacrifice won't save you." Dark Star Pictures + Bloody Disgusting have revealed a new official US trailer for an Uruguayan horror film titled The Last Matinee. Not only is it a tribute to the spooky magic of watching horror movies in dingy, dark cinemas. But it's also a horror movie set inside an old cinema. This premiered at the Sitges Film Festival and at many other genre festivals last year, now opening in the US this August. The audience attending the last showing of a horror film in a small downtown cinema are terrorized by a murderer who begins to pick them off, one by one. The only person to notice that something strange is going on is the projectionist's daughter. The Last Matinee stars Luciana Grasso, Ricardo Islas, Julieta Spinelli, Franco Duran, and Pedro Duarte. This looks damn good,...

Having recently screened in the US as part of Panic Fest, we have word that Dark Star Pictures and Blood Disgusting have acquired distribution rights to The Last Matinee, from writer / director Maxi Contenti:

Los Angeles-based Dark Star Pictures has acquired the North American distribution rights to The Last Matinee as part of its ongoing and exciting collaboration with horror leader Bloody Disgusting. Dark Star and Bloody Disgusting plan a theatrical release for The Last Matinee early this summer with the on demand, digital and DVD release to follow in August.

Written and directed by Maxi Contenti (Muñeco viviente V, Neptunia), the film stars Luciana Grasso (El Secreto de Julia), Ricardo Islas (El Que No Corre Vuela, Bailiwick), Julieta Spinelli, Franco Duran and Pedro Duarte.

"I’m very happy to be part of the Dark Star Pictures roster, and super excited to present my movie to the North American audiences,...

Exclusive: Sean Kleier (Odd Mom Out) is set to star opposite Suraj Sharma (Life Of Pi) and Pallavi Sharda (Tom & Jerry) in the Netflix comedy Wedding Season. He joins the previously announced Rizwan Manji and Ari Afsar, as Deadline first revealed. Written by Shiwani Srivastava and directed by Tom Dey (Shanghai Noon), the film follows two Indian-Americans who pretend to date in order to survive a summer of weddings, but find themselves falling for each other as they struggle to balance who they are with who their parents want them to be. Kleier will play “Nick” who is Priya’s (Ari Afsar) fiancé and the newest family member who tries a little too hard to fit into the Indian culture. Shooting is scheduled to start later this month in Toronto. Swati Shetty is producing for her Samosa Stories banner with Brian Grazer and Ron Howard for Imagine Entertainment, alongside...

Exclusive: Paris-based sales co Reel Suspects has added Uruguay-Argentina horror Al Morir La Matinee (English title Tbd) to its line-up ahead of the Cannes Virtual Marche.

Directed by Maximiliano Contenti, the Spanish-language movie is set in a Montevideo movie theatre (remember those?), following events after a silent killer enters the venue’s final screening. The young girl in charge of the screening will have to face the threat to save her life and that of the present audience. Luciana Grasso and Ricardo Islas lead the cast.

Contenti has directed several shorts and docs, and has been running his Uruguay-based production outfit Yukoh Films since 2013. He is also currently in production on music documentary Hot Club Of Montevideo.

Retina was written by Manuel Facal and produced by Contenti with Lucia Gaviglio, Alina Kaplan, Daniel Pensa and Miguel Rocca.

Reel Suspects will also be continuing sales efforts on titles including My Name Is Baghdad,...

Starting off this morning's round-up is Frankenstein Day of the Beast release details for the U.S. and Canada. Also: a new variant for The Walking Dead #1, Kids of Horror photo gallery, Son of Frankenstein screening details, and photos from the 8 Films to Die For premiere.

Frankenstein Day of the Beast: Press Release: "Sgl Entertainment is pleased to announce that they just have signed a 6 picture movie deal with the Legendary Horror Filmmaker Ricardo Islas. As part of the Deal, the first release of many will be Frankenstein Day Of The Beast to be Unleashed on Blu-ray, DVD and VOD in the U.S. and Canada. The award-winning film had previously been released in Germany and Japan but will now be Available in North America via Sgl Entertainment along with their partners Mvd and Indie Rights.

In a foggy winter morning, a raft brings a priest to an isolated island.

Chicago – If your heart flutters when you think about the drive-in days of old, with a triple feature of B-movie horror films, then writer/director Ricardo Islas delivers a nostalgic kick with “Frankenstein: Day of the Beast.” The film has its world premiere in Chicago on Sunday, November 27th, at the Portage Theater on Milwaukee Avenue.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

It has all the familiar Frankenstein monster elements, but also delivers a certain style and authority that allows it to make its own mark. The acting, setting, costumes and dialogue screams drive-in movie fare, but the production gamely reaches out to retell the myth with a little sex, a lot of gore and an interesting take on the reanimation portion of the monster. There is a vague application as to the time and place of where the film is set, and the actors are very comfortable being their Midwestern selves, but this horror...

The story of the Frankenstein monster is one of the most enduring tales in the history of horror. From Mary Shelley's original telling through the classic 1931 film and the sequels that followed to the multiple new visions of the tale, it seems the possibilities for expanding on the experiments of Dr. Frankenstein are endless. And now we've got an upcoming film bringing an entirely new angle to the tale.

Frankenstein: Day of the Beast is an original take on the legend. As you'll see by the trailer below, the film contains aspects of Shelley's original story but adds a large amount of action to the mix. The film was written and directed by Ricardo Islas and stars Adam Stephenson and Michelle Shields with Tim Krueger in the role of the monster.

You can visit the Frankenstein: Day of the Beast website and Facebook pagefor additional details. And read on...

It's amazing how something so old can become new again. I guess it all boils down to how good the source material is, and as we all know, it doesn't get much better than the timeless tale of Frankensetin and his misunderstood creature.

Below you'll find the first stills and a trailer for Frankenstein: The Day of the Beast. Look for more on this one as soon as it comes. For more info hit up the official Frankenstein: The Day of the Beast website.

From the Press Release

Frankenstein: The Day of the Beast wraps up filming on schedule. After a long cold winter and a relentless struggle throughout the early spring, the cast and crew of Frankenstein persevered through the harsh weather conditions of Chicago and managed to bring Frankenstein the movie to a wrap on schedule. With the help of an amazingly talented cast who filmed in sub-freezing temperatures,...

Directed By: Ricardo Islas

Starring: Adriana Catano, Rosa Isela Frausto, Khotan, Nadia Rowinsky, Monika Munoz, Roberto Montesinos, Eduardo Ibarolla

When I watched The Return of the Living Dead for the first time, I was immediately struck by how cool the idea of a human cadaver farm was. Humans being cultivated in a farm and one day slaughtered--their skeletons harvested for use in Science classes around the world. I was enamored with the horror of the situation and believed that it would make a really intruguing plot for a horror movie. So when I saw the title Zombie Farm--I naturally assumed a similar kind of something. Alright fine, neither of things have anything to do with each other--but when the words "Zombie Farm" are spoken, you tend to dream up some pretty awesome and horrifically cool ideas. Unfortunately for Zombie Farm this isn't quite the outcome I was hoping for.

After a completely dry last week, we are treated to the release of "The Walking Dead" Season One Blu-ray/DVD set this week, and boy, does it kick a copious amount of ass. While it is no secret that we were ardent fans of the AMC series during its television run, having this epic Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman classic at our fingertips whenever we want it excites us to no end.

Much credit for the success of "The Walking Dead" should also go to the cast members: Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Norman Reedus, Emma Bell, IronE Singleton, Michael Rooker, and Noah Emmerich.

There are a few other choice releases on March 8th also; check 'em all out below.

"The Walking Dead" Season One (Blu-ray Review)

Created by Frank Darabont

Starring Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden,...

"The Man From Nowhere" (2010)

Directed by Lee Jeong-beom

Released by Well Go USA

Matt Singer said there's a sequence in this Korean revenge thriller that has "already taken up permanent residence in the Movie Hall of Fame section of my brain," so what more do you need? "Mother" star Won Bin stars as the man who is framed by local gangsters and seeks to retrieve the young girl he lives next door to after she's been kidnapped.

"Abducted" (2011)

Directed by Jon Bonnell

Released by Brain Damage Films

Originally called "Match.Dead," this 2009 thriller details the perils of online dating when a teen girl (Kathleen Benner) arranges a date with a man she soon learns is a psychopath (James Ray). Alan Smithee is the credited screenwriter on IMDb, so one might not want to go in with high expectations.

"Babysitters Beware" (2011)

Directed by Douglas Horn

Released by Phase 4 Films

If you're the...

*A review copy of this film was provided by Maya Entertainment.

Director/writer: Ricardo Islas.

Zombie Farm is an upcoming dramatic thriller release from Maya Entertainment. This title is slated for a March 8th release, on DVD. Previously titled Macumba, this film is not to be confused with the 2007 Zombie Farm, from director Barsuglia. This Zombie Farm has a Latino vibe, with this title being filmed in both Spanish and English. Full of silly Latin jokes and dramatic social commentaries, this film is a light hearted, entertaining time, with zombies acting as a dumbed down version of immigrant labour.

The film begins with a young wife, named Ana Maria (Monika Munoz) searching for a solution to domestic abuse. She is physically abused by her alcoholic husband (Khotan Fernandez) and a snake oil salesman on television (Roberto Montesinos) promises a cure. However, Maria is disappointed to find out that Roque is just another charlatan.

Earlier this year we told you about Ricardo Islas’ The Zombie Farm, which is debuting on DVD March 8th, and now comes word of the director's newest project, Frankenstein: The Day of the Beast. Read on for the plot crunch, a teaser trailer, and a big batch of stills.

From the Press Release:

On a cold and snowy day, filmmaker Ricardo Islas and his crew ventured into the woods of Illinois to begin filming Frankenstein: The Day of the Beast. For several weeks the cast and crew would endure blizzards and freezing temperatures as Islas directed the cabin scenes. The only heat to be had was from the actual fireplace in an authentic historic cabin. The result was incredible. From there the cast and crew traveled to a very old abandoned church in Chicago to film the wedding scene. With the sunlight shooting rays of light through the stained glass...

Maya Entertainment has announced that it will release its' English and Spanish language undead horror flick 'Zombie Farm' onto DVD this coming March. Khotan, Adriana Catano, Roberto Montesinos, Monika Munoz and Nadia Rowinsky star in writer/director Ricardo Islas' ('Lockout', 'Night Fangs', 'Headcrusher') voodoo-esque tale of uprising zombies. Check out the DVD artwork and peek at the trailer below....

by Tim Mathis, MoreHorror.com

In a storyline that reflects the older tales of voodoo and spiritual aspects of Zombies, The Zombie Farm is set to hit DVD shelves on March 8th. In the film a mass of Zombies arise and attempts to overtake a town. Can they survive? Well, you'll have to watch the film to see for yourselves. Check out the synopsis and movie trailer below.

The Zombie Farm stars Khotan (El Cartel, Dame Chocolate), Adriana Catano (Cotorreando), Roberto Montesinos (Hawthorne, Gridiron Gang) and Monika Munoz (Rebelde) and is directed by Ricardo Islas’ (Lockout, Night Fangs, Headcrusher).

Movie Synopsis:

Part zombie, part voodoo! Desperate to end her husband’s domestic abuse, a young woman seeks asylum from a local voodoo priestess. When warned that her husband (Khotan) may “change” if given a special potion, the abused wife is relieved. But waking up in bed next to a zombie...

The un-dead are reborn when voodoo awakens an uprising of zombies, who terrorize a small town in the (dare we say, soon-to-be cult classic) Spanish film The Zomibe Farm, debuting on DVD March 8th(in Spanish and English format) from Maya Entertainment. This isn't you're typical everyday zombie flick Bidites. Feast on the brand new one-sheet poster and trailer after the break...

The film stars Khotan (El Cartel, Dame Chocolate), Adriana Catano (Cotorreando), Roberto Montesinos (Hawthorne, Gridiron Gang) and Monika Munoz (Rebelde) star in director Ricardo Islas’ (Lockout, Night Fangs, Headcrusher) trip into the horrifying world of the un-dead where voodoo and zombies collide. The Zomibe Farm will be available on DVD's everywhere March 8th.

Plot Synopsis: Part zombie, part voodoo! Desperate to end her husband’s domestic abuse, a young woman seeks asylum from a local voodoo priestess. When warned that her husband (Khotan) may “change” if given a special potion,...

Last week we brought you the first artwork and DVD details for the newest undead flesh feast, The Zombie Farm, and now we have the trailer in all its shambling and corpse-filled glory. Dig it!

From the Press Release

The un-dead are reborn when voodoo awakens an uprising of zombies, who terrorize a small town in the soon-to-be cult classic The Zombie Farm, debuting on DVD March 8th from Maya Entertainment. Khotan (El Cartel, Dame Chocolate), Adriana Catano (Cotorreando), Roberto Montesinos (Hawthorne, Gridiron Gang) and Monika Munoz (Rebelde) star in director Ricardo Islas’ (Lockout, Night Fangs, Headcrusher) trip into the horrifying world of the un-dead where voodoo and zombies collide. The Zombie Farm will be available on DVD for $27.98 Srp.

Synopsis:

Part zombie, part voodoo! Desperate to end her husband’s domestic abuse, a young woman seeks asylum from a local voodoo priestess. When warned that her husband (Khotan) may...

Maya Entertainment has announced the March 8 unrated DVD release of The Zombie Farm from director Ricardo Islas. Khotan, Adriana Catano, Roberto Montesinos and Monika Munoz starr in the film. Synopsis: Part zombie, part voodoo! Desperate to end her husband.s domestic abuse, a young woman seeks asylum from a local voodoo priestess. When warned that her husband (Khotan) may .change. if given a special potion, the abused wife is relieved. But waking up in bed next to a zombie isn.t exactly the transformation she was hoping for. Her once violent husband becomes the leader of a zombie uprising, terrorizing, and then converting the townsfolk into un-dead assassins. Clearly, some things are far worse than death.

Filmed at the same time in both(!) English and Spanish, Ricardo Islas’ The Zombie Farm is getting ready to hit DVD, and we've got the first details and an exclusive look at the artwork for you!

From the Press Release

The un-dead are reborn when voodoo awakens an uprising of zombies, who terrorize a small town in the soon-to-be cult classic The Zombie Farm, debuting on DVD March 8th from Maya Entertainment. Khotan (El Cartel, Dame Chocolate), Adriana Catano (Cotorreando), Roberto Montesinos (Hawthorne, Gridiron Gang) and Monika Munoz (Rebelde) star in director Ricardo Islas’ (Lockout, Night Fangs, Headcrusher) trip into the horrifying world of the un-dead where voodoo and zombies collide. The Zombie Farm will be available on DVD for $27.98 Srp.

Synopsis:

Part zombie, part voodoo! Desperate to end her husband’s domestic abuse, a young woman seeks asylum from a local voodoo priestess. When warned that her husband (Khotan...

Independent Filmmaker Ricardo Islas and his production team are taking advantage of the current social networking generation by funding their remake of the classic horror film Frankenstein. The team has already raised several thousand dollars by utilizing the indie fundraising website IndieGoGo. It’s called crowd funding, and it allows the audience to fund films with small donations. For a donation of only $10 you can get a DVD copy of the movie with a special introduction: a video taped message by one of our stars thanking contributors. It would be a unique edition that nobody else would have. And for a donation of $500 or more you would have the opportunity to be killed on camera by the Lovely Elizabeth. The scene would be edited and then added to the DVD as a special bonus feature. So, for a very small amount of money you can be a part of [...]...