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Welcome to the latest installment in our regular Movies You May Have Missed series here on Nerdly, in which I highlight some of, what I think, are the best movies that have flown under the radar of many or have been “forgotten” in the intervening years since its release. This time round its the horror film Midnight Movie, in particular the “Killer Cut” which was released years after the films original debut, fixing some of the issues the director had with them film.

Stars: Rebekah Brandes, Daniel Bonjour, Greg Cirulnick, Brea Grant, Mandell Maughan, Stan Ellsworth, Jon Briddell, Michael Swan, Michael Schwartz | Written by Jack Messitt, Mark Garbett | Directed by Jack Messitt

Official Synopsis:

A midnight showing of an early 1970′s horror movie turns to chaos when the Killer from the movie comes out of the film to attack those in the theater.

My Thoughts:

Originally released back in 2009, Midnight Movie...

Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut

Stars: Rebekah Brandes, Daniel Bonjour, Greg Cirulnick, Brea Grant, Mandell Maughan, Stan Ellsworth, Jon Briddell, Michael Swan, Michael Schwartz | Written by Jack Messitt, Mark Garbett | Directed by Jack Messitt

Originally released back in 2009, Midnight Movie was a cult hit amongst horror fans, gaining praise for its cool killer and 80s slasher stylings. Jump forward to 2011 and Bigfoot Entertainment gave director Jack Messitt a chance to go back and revisit the film, producing the flick he originally wanted, with newly shot scenes, restored footage from the original shoot, new VFX and new score composed just for this iteration of the movie which was dubbed Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut.

Jump forward again to the beginning of this year and director Messitt dropped me an email asking if I’d like to take a look at the new cut of the film, and being a fan of...

Chicago – Did you miss the DVD Round-Up? Well, it’s back with as diverse a selection as we’ve seen in some time. The purpose of the DVD Round-Up is to catch the titles that might otherwise fall through the cracks. With everything going on this crazy summer, we may not have time to devote full-length reviews to these five possible gems but we wanted to make sure you knew they were out there, waiting for your hard-earned dollar.

Just a reminder, the DVD Round-Up is designed for information purposes, not for review. Having said that, “36th Precinct” is well-worth a look and “Medium” was always an underrated show. Finally, “Midnight Movie” has some hardcore fans. Check it out and see if you’re one.

“36th Precinct,” “Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut,” and “Norm Macdonald: Me Doing Standup” were released on June 14th, 2011.

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2:...

Here at Dread Central we pride ourselves on nailing down the coolest things imaginable to give away to you guys. Next up on the "you really need to own this" list - We're giving away five (5) copies of the Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut DVD signed by director Jack Messitt.

Jack Messitt's award winning horror film can finally be seen as it was intended. With new and enhanced visual effects, never before seen footage and extended scenes, what Movieweb.com called a true modern day horror classic just got better. With an atmosphere that oozes dread (Blu-Ray.com), Midnight Movie is a gory and fast paced good time (DreadCentral.com).

It was just another rundown movie house in a small suburban town -- what better place for a midnight screening of a true cult classic? But this isn't your typical horror film, because five years earlier, the director and...

One of the coolest and most badass things about Jack Messitt's Midnight Movie is the film within the film, The Dark Beneath. Now, In celebration of the release of Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut, we've nailed down the exclusive lost trailer for the faux film.

Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut stars Rebekah Brandes, who can also be seen in the upcoming flick Bellflower, which gained lots of buzz at this year's Sundance Film Festival and is being released on August 5th.

Check out the trailer for The Dark Beneath below, but first, a word from Jack Messitt ...

"As the movie in the movie, The Dark Beneath was crucial to the structure of Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut. To make the overall movie work, it needed to be a film with its own history - it’s own mythology."

Messitt continues, "We started this mythology in Midnight Movie, but added...

by Tim Mathis, MoreHorror.com

The underground horror film Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut by Jack Messitt's has created quit a stir lately. Now that it's been released on DVD you can check out an exclusive clip thanks to the folks over at DreadCentral.com.

Check out the clip below and cruz over the Dread Central to see some some extra images in celebration of this release. Enjoy under the synopsis.

"Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut features newly shot scenes, restored footage from the original shoot, new VFX, and new score composed just for this version of the film", says director Messitt.

"A movie of our size rarely gets a chance like this. But Bigfoot Entertainment was impressed with the performance of the original version and gave us the opportunity to revisit our work. It was a lot of fun to go in after two years and change some things around.

Jack Messitt's Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut is available right now for you to get your horror-loving hands on, and to celebrate the flick's arrival onto DVD, we have a veritable blood-soaked treasure trove of goodies for you to hack your way through.

"Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut features newly shot scenes, restored footage from the original shoot, new VFX, and new score composed just for this version of the film", says director Messitt.

"A movie of our size rarely gets a chance like this. But Bigfoot Entertainment was impressed with the performance of the original version and gave us the opportunity to revisit our work. It was a lot of fun to go in after two years and change some things around. Because the original version of the movie was well received," Messitt continues, "we didn’t try to create a different movie. But I think that the changes that were made,...

Sometimes things get a bit lost in the shuffle on this writer’s desk, although I’d be remiss to not finally deliver a bit of exclusive news, video, and photos from the premiere of director Jack Messitt’s Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut, which took place earlier this month in Westwood, California. Read on!

Originally released on January 6, 2009, the extended and VFX enhanced "The Killer Cut" version of Midnight Movie bows to DVD this coming June 14 via Bigfoot Entertainment, and on hand for the flick’s Bigfoot Crest Theatre red carpet premiere were cast members Brea Grant, Rebekah Brandes, Daniel Bonjour, Dinora Walcott, Ashley Black and Christopher Page, who started the night off with a pub crawl at Westwood Brew Co. Joining them in the festivities were writer and director Jack Messitt, Bigfoot Entertainment chairman Michael Gleissner, Bigfoot Entertainment's CEO Kacy Andrews (and producer of Midnight Movie) and many more.

We recently received a metric ton of updates about upcoming events at the Bigfoot Crest Theater in Los Angeles so strap in because there's a lot for you guys to check out - including what could be The Greatest Monster Of All Time!

The Bigfoot Crest is going to be putting on some very cool screenings over the next two months, including showings of Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster, The Thing, a new H.P. Lovecraft film (The Whisper in Darkness) and what wins the award of most unique looking new monster The God of Clay (see images below and know that somewhere The Foywonder is giving high fives to random strangers).

Check out all the details below, and see even more at the Bigfoot Crest website.

From the Press Release:

The historic Bigfoot Crest Theater in Westwood – recently hailed by Los Angeles Magazine as one of the best screens in...

Director Jack Messitt is re-releasing his film Midnight Movie, as Midnight Movie: Killer Cut. The original movie was reviewed here on 28Dla (Midnight Movie Review). Now, this latest version will host a series of extras, including: an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and a cast/crew featurette, in the DVD version. As well, Messitt will host special screenings of the film at the Majestic Crest Theater, in California (Fangoria), with the feature debuting extra scenes. The limited theatrical release begins May 5 and the special features on this latest DVD showing are below.

The short synopsis for Midnight Movie: Killer Cut is here:

"A midnight screening of a 1970s cult horror film becomes a bloodbath after the members of the audience see one of their friends butchered on the big screen, and quickly surmise that there's a madman in the theater who seeks to slaughter them all" (Fangoria).

Release Date:...

Here is a list of the latest horror films to go through the MPAA recently. Surprisingly none of them were rated PG-13. All of the films were rated R. So I take that this must mean an upswing in good ole' R rated horror films.

51 from After Dark Films is Rated R for bloody violence. 51 starring Bruce Boxleitner, Jason London and Rachel Miner chronicles what happens after political pressure from the American public forces the Air Force to provide a few well-known reporters with limited access to the most secretive base on the planet: Area 51. When one of the base's hidden 'long term visitors' exploits this unprecedented visit as a chance to liberate himself and his fellow alien captives, Area 51 turns from a secure government base to a horrifying destination of terror.

Black Death is Rated R for strong brutal violence, and some language. Set during the time of the...

Pajiba, a site that's struggles with accuracy (so take this with a thick grain of salt), is reporting that Mandate Pictures (The Grudge, Drag Me to Hell, The Strangers) is developing Cineplex, a movie based on a pitch envisioning the horror movie as the next Scream. Its about a group of teens watching a horror movie who are taken by surprise when the villain of the film attacks them in real life. Sounds like the exact same plot as Jack Messitt's Midnight Movie, no? Either way, it's a fun premise I think I'd enjoy as a big budget fare.

Mandate Pictures is in development on a horror film being groomed as the "next Scream ." According to Pajiba, a site not necessarily renown for it's accuracy (so take this with a grain of salt), says the production outfit is at work on Cineplex . The film is "about a group of teens watching a horror movie who are taken by surprise when the villain of the film attacks them in real life." Sound familiar? That's the scenario of Jack Messitt's Midnight Movie . Mandate produced plenty of Sam Raimi fare including Ghost House's The Grudge , its sequel, and Drag Me to Hell as well as Rogue's The Strangers . More details on Cineplex , such as screenwriter credits, to come.

This past Sunday, October 24th, Jillian’s Hi-Life at Universal City was the place to be as the lovely Dread Central Horror Starlets, a fundraising team assembled by DC’s own Sean Decker, helped support women battling breast cancer who face financial hardships due to increasing medical expenses associated with their treatments through the Busted Foundation.

The Dread Central Horror Starlets bowling team featured some of horror’s newest scream queens, as well as a few more well-known ladies, including Sarah Butler (I Spit on Your Grave), Ashlynn Yennie (The Human Centipede), Carlee Baker (Wicked Lake), Tracy Coogan (Dark Woods), Gabby West (the upcoming Saw 3D), and Micheline Pitt (of Pin Up Girl Clothing).

The Horror Starlets team cheerleader Brooke Lewis (iMurders) came out for the big night to give the ladies some encouragement and writer/director Tim Sullivan (2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams) was on hand to chat with...

One above average slasher flick from a while back, Midnight Movie (review here), fared pretty well upon its release. So well in fact that the filmmakers have been allowed to go back and rework a few details.

Director Jack Messitt wrote in to us with all the details and even some artwork for Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut!

"Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut, slated for a limited theatrical release, will feature newly shot scenes, restored footage from the original shoot, new VFX, and new score composed just for this version of the film.

A movie of our size rarely gets a chance like this. But Bigfoot Entertainment was impressed with the performance of the original version and gave us the opportunity to revisit our work. It was a lot of fun to go in after two years and change some things around.

Because the original version of the movie was well received,...

Director Jack Messitt dropped us a line with an update on his film Midnight Movie , which has been released but is getting the "uncut" treatment. Here's what he had to say. "Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut, slated for a limited theatrical release, will feature newly shot scenes, restored footage from the original shoot, new VFX and new score composed just for this version of the film. A movie of our size rarely gets a chance like this. But Bigfoot Entertainment was impressed with the performance of the original version and gave us the opportunity to revisit our work. It was a lot of fun to go in after two years and change some things around. Because the original version of the movie was well received, we didn't try to create a different movie. But I think that...

This scribe and my bowling team - Dread Central’s ‘The Horror Starlets’ comprised of Carlee (Wicked Lake, the upcoming Alluvial) Baker, Heather (The Poughkeepsie Tapes, Alluvial) Snell, Brooke Lewis(iMurders), and Tracy (Dark Woods) Coogan - took part in Tuesday night’s fifth annual non-profit Bowling for Boobies Los Angeles breast cancer event, and we wish to thank those in the horror community who so generously donated to this wonderful cause (see the list below).

Culminating at Jillian’s Hi-Life at Universal City Walk with a red carpet, a night of bowling, and the paparazzi snapping away (see our photo gallery below), the charity - run by founder Stephanie Lahart of the Busted Foundation - raised over $80,000, with our team (who received an award for ‘Best Look’) contributing $5,000 of that total. As they do each year, the proceeds will benefit local Los Angeles women battling breast cancer.

Thanks...

Jack Messitt's Midnight Movie is making it's debut on Blu-Ray today and to celebrate we've been provided with an exclusive clip from the movie. (One that the director cites as one of his favorite kills in the flick!) The Blu-Ray FX featurette shows this particular scene without the added electric bolts so you can really see the great make-up effects work executed by Lunar Effects. In Midnight Movie , a midnight showing of an early 1970's horror movie turns to chaos when the Killer from the movie comes out of the film to attack those in the theater. Directed by Messitt from a script co-written with Mark Garbett, Midnight Movie stars Daniel Bonjour, Michael Swan, Arthur Roberts, Dinora Walcott, Brea Grant, Rebekah Brandes, Ashley Black, Michael Schwartz, Kathryn Aagesen and...

The superior stalker picture Midnight Movie is coming to Blu-ray next Tuesday, October 13 from the new Phase 4 distribution company, and we got ahold of an exclusive clip and the trailer to whet your appetite. You can see them both below, along with the disc contents.

Midnight Movie, about a group of filmgoers terrorized by the creator/star of the horror film they’re viewing (who emerges from the screen to slaughter them) is presented on the Blu-ray in 16x9 widescreen with DTS-hd 5.1 audio, plus the following extras:

Filmmaker/crew interviews Cast interviews Storyboards/FX featurette Additional scenes featurette Storyboards/additional shooting featurette (Blu-ray exclusive) Deleted scenes Outtakes Trailers In addition, “Be sure to check out the French dub,” director Jack Messitt tells Fango. “Hearing the killer speaking in French with that crazy reverb is pretty cool!” See our review of Midnight Movie here. Also on Oct. 13, Phase 4 gives a Blu-ray debut to Killer Movie,...

Year: 2008

Directors: Jack Messitt

Writers: Jack Messitt & Mark Garbett

IMDb: link

Trailer: link

Review by: cyberhal

Rating: 7 out of 10

Nice one Jack, Midnight Movie was an unexpected treat and great entertainment. Part modern grindhouse and part supernatural deconstructionist tongue in cheek postmodernist thingy, think Arnie’s Last Action Hero but way more Slasher. I like films like this because in addition to being loads of fun, they also remind me how the media of film, television and internet have blurred fact and fiction to the point where many people can’t even tell the difference. These medias do that conjuring trick without even the help of the supernatural. Do we see our lives on screen or is it the other way around? But I digress.

Ted Radford, star of 1970s gore movies, has been locked up for murder in a psychiatric hospital for forty years. Rather unwisely, his psychiatrist decides...

A solid schedule of independent horror features will screen at the first annual Paranoia Horror Film Festival, running Friday-Sunday, March 13-15. Hosted by Miss Behavin’, the “Princess of Paranoia,” the event takes place aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA.

Among the films to be shown are such new and promising chillers as Michael Stokes’ The Beacon (pictured; see our last item here), Jason Stephens’ Necrosis (see item here), Robbie Bryan’s Imurders (see item here) and Joshua Butler’s Vlog. Also terrorizing the Paranoia Fest’s screens are recent releases like Jack Messitt’s superior Midnight Movie (see review here), Josh Eisenstadt’s Dark Reel, Harry Basil’s Fingerprints and Soul’S Midnight and David A. Prior’s Zombie Wars, along with midnight presentations of the original Friday The 13th and Evil Dead II. Christopher P. Garetano’s documentary Horror Business is also in the lineup, and scary...