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Ralph Brown's characters in "Withnail & I" and "Wayne's World 2" are practically identical, from dress sense to accent. Dana Carvey was inspired by Brown's character in "Withnail & I" to create Del Preston in "Wayne's World 2". Ralph Brown's diverse roles, from a pirate radio DJ to a criminal associate, showcase his range as an actor.

Star Wars actor Ralph Brown played identical characters in both Wayne's World 2 and a completely unconnected movie from five years earlier. British actor Ralph Brown started out working in London's legendary Scala cinema before he landed a career making role as Danny the drug dealer in 1987's Withnail & I. The classic comedy starred Saltburn's Richard E. Grant as Withnail, and Doctor Who's Paul McGann as "I", and is still a beloved cult classic to this day. Five years later, Ralph Brown was cast in Mike Myers and Dana Carvey's...

"We are in the middle of a genuine mystery here!" The Orchard has released an official trailer for a strange holiday existential comedy titled Holly Star, the latest from filmmaker Michael A. Nickles. The film is about a broke puppeteer who returns home for the holidays and gets caught up in a treasure hunt with her paintball-obsessed best friend, her tango-dancing grandmother, and a childhood sweetheart. Yeah, that's the premise though the footage is a bit more odd than that. Holly Star stars Katlyn Carlson as Sloan, along with Brian Muller, Teya Patt, Gary Galone, Elaine Adam, and Erik Van Wyck. The comedy is so dry and awkward, and the plot is a mix of 10 ideas. Check it out below. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Michael A. Nickles' Holly Star, direct from YouTube: Sloan (Katlyn Carlson) returns home for the holidays and gets caught up in a...

"See the shot in your head, take a deep breath, and swing away..." Freestyle Media has revealed the new trailer for indie comedy Swing Away, about a professional golfer who decides to go home to Greece to get away from all the public attention. Shannon Elizabeth stars as Zoe Papadopoulos, who heads back to her grandparents' village in Greece where she ends up mentoring a 10-year-old girl who wants to be the next golf sensation. Also starring John O'Hurley, Karl Theobald, Manos Gavras, Renos Haralambidis, Alexandros Mylonas, and Viktoria Miller as Stella. This looks like one of those super-duper-charming, uplifting films in a "foreign country" where you get a taste of life abroad. It looks fun, and also very cheesy. Here's the new official trailer (+ poster) for Michael A. Nickles' Swing Away, direct from YouTube: Following a meltdown that leads to a suspension, professional golfer Zoe Papadopoulos travels to...

With 2013 just around the corner, folks have been busy wrapping up their lists of both the best and worst of the year in film. But what about the movies no one cared about? Each week sees the release of more movies than anyone can care to catch up with, and inevitablysome fall through the cracks or are simply swept under the rug by their distributor. And in 2012, the dubious distinction of being the movie that audiences cared about the least falls on "Playback." Starring Christian Slater, the very low rent movie is basically a ripoff of "The Ring" about a videotape of some brutal murders that is causing some supernatural trouble years later. Perhaps it's the best we can expect from director Michael A. Nickles, whose previous claim to "fame," is "Just Peck," some family comedy starring Keir Gilchrist and Brie Larson that went straight to video earlier this year.

The end of calendar year is always the start of the awards season for movie fans, with critics' top 10 lists rolling out and award nominations being handed out. However, there are a few distinct honors that no film wants to receive. Today, Project X was named as the most downloaded movie of 2012, while the Christian Slater flop Playback was named the lowest grossing movie of the year, earning just $264 at the box office. Yes, just two hundred sixty-four dollars.

Playback was released in just one theater back in March, earning a paltry $252, adding another $12 the following week for a total domestic tally of $264. Oddly enough, though, The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure fared even worse, in terms of per-screen average. Opening in 2,160 theaters this August, The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure earned an abysmal $443,901, for a per-screen average of $206. In case both Playback and The Oogieloves in the...

Outside of the highly anticipated Rust & Bone from helmer Jacques Audiard, Celluloid Dreams is much more immersed in the market aspect of Cannes this year. Headed by Hengameh Panahi, Celluloid Dreams brings to some noteworthy Cannes this year, but outside of that doesn’t have anything to front. The Rambler, The Side Effect are noteworthy projects worth keeping tabs on, while Dormant Beauty starring the just Isabelle Huppert who is on some Cannes auteur bucket list drive and Dan Algrant’s debut Greetings from Tim Buckley (see pic above) should be top tier items drawing plenty of buyer interest.

City State (Borgriki) by Olaf De Fleur Johannesson

Dead Mine by Steven Sheil

Rust & Bone (De Rouille Et D’Os) by Jacques Audiard

A Place On Earth by Fabienne Godet

Bald Mountain by Heitor Dhalia

City State 2: Brave Men’S Blood by Olaf De Fleur Johannesson

Detachment by Tony Kaye...

A visual theme that falls in with a film’s plot or pace can help to further immerse the audience in the story, like Paul Greengrass’s choice of “shakey cam” giving the sense of body movement in intense action sequences, but sometimes it can work against the Director. Michael A. Nickles’s Playback is a perfect example of a style that sabotages its story; constant artificial static and film distortions might seem like an appropriate flourish for a film about a demon using a video tech to do his evil bidding through cameras and possessions, but it ultimately detracts from the viewing experience. Even without that failed visual gimmick Playback doesn’t have what it takes to get off the ground as the characters are basic teenaged victims with no real personalities to speak of and the plot succeeds in neither thrills nor chills.

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Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: May 8, 2012

Price: DVD $26.98, Blu-ray $29.98

Studio: Magnolia

Christian Slater points out some evil-doings in Playback.

A group of high school students digging into their town’s infamous past unwittingly unlock a dark secret in the independent horror-thriller film Playback.

As a school project, Julian (Johnny Pacar, Love Hurts) enlists his friends to film a reenactment of a gruesome crime from their town’s past—the murder of the Diehl family. While examining of raw video footage of the Diehl family farm, an evil spirit with a menacing agenda is soon unleashed with a menacing agenda. As Julian’s friends start disappearing, a local police officer (Christian Slater, The River Murders) is ordered to investigate and he soon uncovers secrets of the past that form the basis for the evil entity that’s taking over the town.

Written and directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Michael A. Nickles, the R-rated Playback...

Arriving in our inbox today was an update regarding the Blu-ray and DVD release of the Michael A. Nickles horror/thriller Playback, which looks to be slightly interesting and maybe worth the gamble. Check out all the details below and then decide if this flick is for you. On May 8th get ready to venture to your voyeuristic side when Magnolia Home Entertainment releases Playback under the Magnet Label on Blu-ray and DVD. Based on the prequel n…...

The Michael A. Nickles spooker Playback is on its way to DVD and Blu-ray, and we've get all the details regarding whether you'll watch or just fast forward to the chills. Read on!

From the Press Release

On May 8th get ready to venture to your voyeuristic side when Magnolia Home Entertainment releases Playback under the Magnet Label on Blu-ray and DVD. Based on the prequel novella, “Playback: Light and Shadow,” the “original and entertaining piece” (Gashe.com) features Christian Slater (Bobby, Very Bad Things), Johnny Pacar (Wild Child, Discovery Kids’ “Flight 29 Down), Toby Hemingway (Black Swan, Feast of Love), and Amber Childers (“All My Children”).

The unnerving film follows a group of high school students who begin to dig into their town's infamous past and unwittingly unlock a dark secret that has been kept hidden for years. Now an evil spirit has awakened and will stop at...

By Jesse Miller, MoreHorror.com

Playback came to my attention one day with one hell of a Red Band trailer that showed off its impressive gore and good-looking cast, hinting at a fun slasher film with one of those supernatural twists.

So I decided to track it down – and does it deliver?

Writer-Director Michael A. Nickles’ feature does indeed have its unsettling moments and startling gore but what’s disappointing here is that Playback feels like it’s borrowed from several other horror films and offers little in the way of anything fresh.

Even the bunch of nameless teens – themselves making a horror film for their journalism elective at school – reference the horror films that "Playback" feels in the vein of.

The Ring and Scream are referenced at one point by the characters while another makes a cheeky jab at how the found footage genre – an element so crucial to...

Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, is gearing up for the theatrical release of Michael Nickles' Playback, a horror film featuring Christian Slater that's now available on-demand. The limited theatrical run starts March 9. "While digging into their town's infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims." In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers. I recently spoke with Nickels regarding the film's technological themes, gore content and its homage to The Ring. Hit the jump to check it out!

While working on a research project, a group of high school students discover dark secrets behind a grisly set of murders in the town’s past. As the teens uncover details of the fateful account, they get caught deeper in an intricate web of paranormal happenings and pandemonium. The town’s violent past is catching up to the students. They will have to outsmart the malevolent forces at work if they intend to stand a chance against the demonic camera lenses in this bizarre horror thriller.

Written and directed by Michael A. Nickles, Playback is, overall, a disappointment. It’s well below average. Nothing about the film stands out. As a viewer, it’s quite difficult to figure out where the sizeable budget was actually allocated (an estimated $7.5 million). No aspect of the film stands out as well-funded or keenly-executed. With the exception of a relatively brief appearance from Christian Slater,...

Writer-director Michael A. Nickles brings us Playback, a horror film (‘based on true stories’, like many horror films) starring Christian Slater (True Romance), and distributed by Magnolia Pictures’ Magnet Releasing, who’ve also distributed the likes of The Troll Hunter, Hobo with a Shotgun, 13 Assassins, and Gareth Edwards’ brilliant feature debut, Monsters.

Magnet have put out a new red-band trailer for the film through Hulu, via BloodyDisgusting, that definitely earns its red-band rating, so if you’re reading this at work, be sure to come back later to watch it, because there’s blood and gore galore, as well as a little nudity, so you’ve been warned.

“While digging into their town’s infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims.”

Along with Slater, who plays the local town cop, the film also stars Johnny Pacar,...

Today we have a new redband trailer for Palyback. The film is currently available via VOD and will be in theaters on March 9, 2012. Playback stars Christian Slater, Ambyr Childers, Toby Hemingway, Jonathan Keltz, Jennifer Missoni, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, Johnny Pacar, and Alessandra Torresani. Playback is written and directed by Michael Nickles. Synopsis: While digging into their town’s infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock an even darker secret. Now, an evil spirit has been awakened and will stop at nothing to find his true heir.

Hulu is gaining more and more respect within the entertainment world. Case in point: The website is home to the red band trailer debut for Michael A. Nickles' Playback, which we have right here for your viewing pleasure!

Written and directed by Nickles (read our exclusive interview here), the new supernatural spooker Playback, starring Christian Slater, is currently available on VOD with a March 9th theatrical release to follow. In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar, and Ambyr Childers.

Synopsis:

While digging into their town’s infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims.

For more visit the official Playback website, "like" Playback on Facebook, and follow Playback on Twitter.

Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!

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Unlock dark secrets in our comments section below!

Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has released a red-band trailer for Michael Nickles' Playback, a said-to-be frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater that's now available on-demand with a limited theatrical run planned for March 9. You need to log in to watch the trailer at Hulu (I know, it's totally stupid). "While digging into their town's infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims." In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers. We'll have an exclusive interview with Nickles in the coming week.

Trailers have the ability to psyche us up, freak us out, turn us off, and lead us very, very astray, but the heightened anticipation (they don’t call them teasers for nothing) is part of the fun, regardless of how accurate a representation of the film that cleverly constructed little bugger ends up being in the end. Here’s a little commentary on a selection of recent genre trailers; let’s both judge a book by its cover and appraise the cover itself.

The Snowtown Murders (Justin Kurzel, in theaters March 2nd)

I always feel wary of trailers that start off with “true story” or facts and figures and location information, as if these are the film’s strongest selling point and said framing is required to appreciate it, but this trailer definitely evokes a grittily menacing Australian suburbs vibe pretty quickly. The tension between what initially appears to be...

Dread Central recently checked in with writer/director Michael Nickles in support of Playback, his latest directorial effort which hits theaters on March 9th and is currently available on VOD courtesy of Magnet Releasing.

We talked with Nickles about the inspiration behind Playback, whether or not his career as an actor has influenced his work at all, his experiences helming his latest project and if there are more horror films in his directing future.

Dread Central: Can you talk a bit about what inspired your script since there was a lot more going on in Playback than just a guy running around killing people; also, did your career as an actor inspire you to make a 'horror cinema' story at all?

Michael Nickles: You know, I’m usually not aware of what influenced me until much, much later, but I’ll give it a shot. I was brought aboard...

Shock Till You Drop caught up with Michael A. Nickles and got his insight on his inspiration for his latest film Playback.

Nickles talked with us about the true events that inspired some of the film’s script, his previous entry in the horror genre Xii, his biggest inspirations in the horror world, and his eventual plans to return to horror cinema.

You can check Playback out in theatres March 9th, or you can watch it now through its pre-release via VOD.

Read more...

Director: Michael Nickles.

Writers: Michael Nickles

Cast: Johnny Pacar, Ambyr Childers, Christian Slater, Jonathan Keltz, Alessandra Torresani, Toby Hemingway, and Jennifer Missoni.

Did you know that one of the actors who plays a highschooler in Playback is thirty-one years old? Some kids get held back for several years in Michael Nickles' (Xii) latest film, Playback. Other random trivia involving this film is the quality: it is poor. Poor transitions between scenes, a floating disjointed soundtrack, and some really dark night shoots put this film in very bad territory. A story of the devil possessing souls through videotape does not even help.

The story begins: several friends begin shooting a film project for a journalism class. Their material is taken from a murder case occurring in the '90s that left four people dead. After doing more and more research, Julian (Johnny Pacar) discovers something about himself and something about the devil.

Two new clips have been released for the horror movie Playback which is available now on VOD and will be in theaters on March 9, 2012 from Magnet Releasing. Playback is about a group of high school students who investigate their towns infamous past and unwittingly unlock an even darker secret. Now, an evil spirit has been awakened and will stop at nothing to find his true heir. Playback stars Christian Slater, Ambyr Childers, Toby Hemingway, Jonathan Keltz, Jennifer Missoni, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, Johnny Pacar, and Alessandra Torresani. Playback is written and directed by Michael Nickles.

Playback, a new supernatural thriller starring Christian Slater, is now available on VOD, courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

The film, directed by Michael A. Nickles, also stars Ambyr Childers, Toby Hemingway, Jonathan Keltz, Jennifer Missoni, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, Johnny Pacar and Alessandra Torresanias.

The synopsis breaks down like this: While digging into their town’s infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock an even darker secret. Now, an evil spirit has been awakened and will stop at nothing to find his true heir.

Read more...

Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has provided Bloody Disgusting with an exclusive clip from Michael Nickles' Playback, a said-to-be frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater available on-demand February 3 and in theaters on March 9. The footage adds a dead body to an already messy studio. "While digging into their town's infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims." In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers. " 'Playback' is very scary and a lot of fun," said Magnolia/Magnet President Eamonn Bowles after acquiring the film earlier last year. "We think it will be a hit with horror fans."...

With two huge horror releases heading to theatres, a new flick is also opening via VOD for you home bodies. See? There's something for everyone. Get ready to dig on an exclusive TV spot for Playback!

Written and directed by Michael A. Nickles, the new supernatural spooker Playback, starring Christian Slater, is available on VOD starting today, February 3rd, with a March 9th theatrical release to follow.

From the Press Release:

The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has announced its acquisition of Us rights to Playback, a frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater, directed by Michael Nickles. In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar, and Ambyr Childers.

While digging into their town’s infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims.

“Playback is very scary and a lot of fun,...

Playback

Directed by: Michael A. Nickles

Starring: Toby Hemingway, Alessandra Torresani, Christian Slater

Rating: R

Release Date: March 9, 2012

Trailer Score: 5/10

Thoughts by Tsr: I experienced a few ups and downs while watching this trailer for Playback. When it started I was instantly turned off, feeling like I’ve seen this type of schlock a hundred times before. In the middle I started to soften up, insofar as I began thinking it could be a decent bit of horror fun. Unfortunately, it all felt a bit tedious by the end. I can’t say this film will definitely be bad, but I’m not particularly compelled to watch it and find out.

Even if it feels awfully derivative, there are still ways to have fun with this type of story. I’m just not feeling it. The cast doesn’t do much to impress, and Christian Slater as the one “name...

Playback Trailer. Michael A. Nickles‘ Playback (2012) movie trailer stars Christian Slater, Ambyr Childers, Johnny Pacar, Jonathan Keltz, and Alessandra Torresani. Playback‘s plot synopsis: “A cop investigates the case of a missing local teen, though he discovers a dark secret that has been unleashed in his town, and an evil spirit that will stop at nothing to find its heir.”

The possession sequences and the way Julian (Johnny Pacar) starts going after people, building a small army of the possessed is pretty cool.

Playback also stars Toby Hemingway, Jennifer Missoni, Daryl Mitchell, Kenny Stevenson, Abe Larkin, Dorien Davies, and Luke Bonczyk.

Watch the Playback movie trailer below and leave your thoughts on it in the comments section. For more Playback photos, videos, and information, visit our Playback Page. Playback will be released in Us theaters through Magnet Releasing on March 9, 2012 and On-Demand February 3, 2012.

Source: Bloody-disgusting...

Back in 2002, American audiences were introduced to The Ring. The movie was about a cursed videotape, and if you watched it you would die in seven days. It was a simple concept executed well and has since become a modern pop culture staple. Now we have Playback, a new thriller from director Michael Nickles that seems to try and match some of what The Ring had going for it, but in a much more convoluted way. The film stars Christian Slater, Ambyr Childers, Toby Hemingway, and Alessandra Torresani, and now the first trailer has arrived online. Check it out below and in HD over on Apple. The trailer starts off well, with the classic "murder in the past" setup, but I honestly have no idea what's going on past that point. My best guess is that a teen watches the murders videotapes and then somehow becomes possessed, gets magic powers...

layback will will be available on-demand February 3, 2012 and in theaters on March 9, 2012 from Magnet Releasing. Playback is about a group of high school students who investigate their towns infamous past and unwittingly unlock an even darker secret. Now, an evil spirit has been awakened and will stop at nothing to find his true heir. Playback stars Christian Slater, Ambyr Childers, Toby Hemingway, Jonathan Keltz, Jennifer Missoni, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, Johnny Pacar, and Alessandra Torresani. Playback is written and directed by Michael Nickles.

We're just weeks away from the February 3rd VOD release of the new supernatural spooker starring Christian Slater, Playback (with a March 9 theatrical release to follow), written and directed by Michael A. Nickles and based on true events (of course); and to celebrate, we've got a brand new trailer for you! Dig it!

From the Press Release:

The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has announced its acquisition of Us rights to Playback, a frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater, directed by Michael Nickles.

Magnet will release Playback through its Ultra VOD program in February, launching the film on all digital VOD platforms prior to its theatrical release in March.

While digging into their town’s infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims. In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway,...

Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, revealed to Bloody Disgusting that Michael Nickles' Playback, a frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater, will be available on-demand February 3 and in theaters on March 9. "While digging into their town's infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims." In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers. " 'Playback' is very scary and a lot of fun," said Magnolia/Magnet President Eamonn Bowles after acquiring the film earlier last year. "We think it will be a hit with horror fans."...

Saints preserve us! Another new domestic one-sheet that doesn't suck? We're either hallucinating or America's graphic designers have stopped being lazy. Behold the latest sliver of goodness from the new supernatural spooker starring Christian Slater, Playback, written and directed by Michael A. Nickles and based on true events (of course).

From the Press Release:

The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has announced its acquisition of Us rights to Playback, a frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater, directed by Michael Nickles.

Magnet will release Playback through its Ultra VOD program in February, launching the film on all digital VOD platforms prior to its theatrical release in March.

While digging into their town’s infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims. In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway,...

Christian Slater (Interview with the Vampire) will star in a new horror movie from Michael Nickles called playback. The film will be distributed by Magnet Releasing a division of Magnolia Pictures. “Playback is very scary and a lot of fun,” said Magnolia/Magnet President Eamonn Bowles. “We think it will be a hit with horror fans.” You can pick an e-book that is a prequel to to the film called Playback Light and Shadow to get yourself geared up for the film. The e-book is available anywhere e-books are sold for $ .99.

Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, revealed to Bloody Disgusting that Michael Nickles's Playback, a frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater, will be available on-demand February 3 and in theaters on March 9. In addition, we've landed the exclusive one-sheet premiere that asks you to "Picture Evil." You can also become a fan on Facebook. "While digging into their town's infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims." In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers. " 'Playback' is very scary and a lot of fun," said Magnolia/Magnet President Eamonn Bowles. "We think it will be a hit with horror fans."...

The re-release of director Greg Beeman's "License to Drive", the 1988 teen adventure film starring 'the two Coreys', Corey Haim and Corey Feldman, written by Neil Tolkin, will be available on DVD/Blu-ray, from Anchor Bay, November 22, 2011 :

"...'Les Anderson' (Haim), a 16-year-old who is trying to get his driver's license, has a crush on one of the more popular and attractive girls in school, 'Mercedes Lane' (Heather Graham). After failing his driver's exam, Les takes the road test (and passes), following a computer surge that he inadvertently caused.

"Les then lies to his parents and friends, convincing them that he passed the test. Unfortunately, his parents find out the truth and as a result, Les is grounded. That night, having already made plans to use his new license, he sneaks out of the house with his grandfather's prized 1972 Cadillac for a night on the town with Mercedes.

"The dream...

Magnet have just picked up the rights to the Michael Nickle’s directed Playback. The movie stars Christian Slater as well as Toby Hemmingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers and is set for a release through Magnet’s Ultra VOD in February of 2012. It will hit other VOD channels in March. I had a look at the trailer earlier, and have to say it looks quite promising. I’m just hoping Slater can keep his over-acting in check.

While digging into their town’s infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims. In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers.

Full Press Release

Magnet Releasing takes Us Rights to Playback From Celluloid Nightmares

New York, NY – Monday, October 10, 2011 – The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures,...

The Wagner/Cuban Company.s Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today they have acquired Us rights to Playback, a frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater, directed by Michael Nickles.

Magnet will release Playback through its Ultra VOD program in February, launching the film on all digital VOD platforms prior to its theatrical release in March.

While digging into their town.s infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims. In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers.

.Playback is very scary and a lot of fun,. said Magnolia/Magnet President Eamonn Bowles. .We think it will be a hit with horror fans..

The deal was negotiated for Magnet by Svp of Acquisitions Dori Begley, Director of Acquisitions Peter Van Steemberg, and Head of Legal and Business...

Playback stars Christian Slater, Ambyr Childers, Toby Hemingway, Jonathan Keltz, Jennifer Missoni, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, Johnny Pacar, and Alessandra Torresani. Playback is written and directed by Michael Nickles. Magnolia Pictures announced today that they have acquired Us rights to Playback, a horror film featuring Christian Slater, and directed by Michael Nickles. Magnet will release Playback through its Ultra VOD program in February, launching the film on all digital VOD platforms prior to its theatrical release in March.

Magnet is proving to be a savior of small genre releases. Without them, we might not have been able to see "Hobo With A Shotgun," "13 Assassins," "I Saw the Devil," "Black Death," "Centurion" and "Bronson." So many delights! Dig through the Magnet and Magnolia catalog and you'll find a million things you should have watched already.So, the announcement they've aquired "Playback" for distribution is good news all around. I haven't seen the film, but I'd like to, and that's the whole point. The best part is that it will get a VOD release before it hits theaters in March, which means it will be waiting for you on some cold Saturday night when you need a horror flick to drink with.Because it would be silly for me to retype the synopsis, here's the official press release from Magnet, with all the dates and details you'll need to know:...

[1] Though Christian Slater's IMDb resume shows that he's been keeping himself busy over the past few years, it's been a while since he's released a high-profile film project. (I definitely did not remember that Without Men was ever a thing until I looked over Slater's filmography.) His upcoming horror flick Playback probably won't be the one to change that trend, but if you miss seeing the True Romance star on the big screen, you'll want to keep an eye for it out during the first quarter of next year. Magnet Releasing has just picked up the U.S. rights to the thriller, which was directed by Michael Nickles and also stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar, and rising star [2] Ambyr Childers. The story revolves around high school students who discover a disturbing secret in their hometown's history, awakening an evil spirit. Not the most inspired of concepts, but maybe it'll be fun.

Sony's been doing some big promo stuff for David Fincher's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" over the past few days including some new stills and a new viral site.

Set photos of Arnold Schwarzenegger prepped to shoot The Expendables 2, plus some new shots from One for the Money.

Posters for Shame, J. Edgar, The Divide, A Dangerous Method, a motion poster for Melancholia and a quite controversial one-sheet for The Human Centipede II: Full Sequence.

"Abandoning a break-up plan it announced last month, Netflix said Monday morning that it had decided to keep its DVD-by-mail and online streaming services together under one name and one Web site rather than spinning off the new company Qwikster…" (full details)

"Magnet Releasing have acquired U.S. rights to Michael Nickles' horror thriller "Playback" starring Christian Slater. Magnet will release the film through its Ultra VOD program in February, launching...

Some distro news has made its way across our desks for a flick we're really interested in taking a look at - the new supernatural spooker starring Christian Slater, Playback, written and directed by Michael A. Nickles and based on true events (of course).

From the Press Release:

The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today they have acquired Us rights to Playback, a frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater, directed by Michael Nickles.

Magnet will release Playback through its Ultra VOD program in February, launching the film on all digital VOD platforms prior to its theatrical release in March.

While digging into their town’s infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims. In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers.

“Playback...

Magnet Releasing has announced it will distribute the horror-thriller Playback. The studio has also released the first photo from the thriller, which you can take a look at below. You can read the full press release below this new photo of Christian Slater from Playback.

The Wagner/Cuban Company's Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today they have acquired Us rights to Playback, a frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater, directed by Michael A. Nickles.

Magnet will release Playback through its Ultra VOD program in February, launching the film on all digital VOD platforms prior to its theatrical release in March.

While digging into their town's infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims. In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers.

"Playback is very scary and a lot of fun,...

Magnet Releasing has taken Us rights to Playback from Celluloid Nightmares.

The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today they have acquired Us rights to Playback, a frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater, directed by Michael Nickles.

Magnet will release Playback through its Ultra VOD program in February, launching the film on all digital VOD platforms prior to its theatrical release in March.

While digging into their town’s infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims. In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers.

“Playback is very scary and a lot of fun,” said Magnolia/Magnet President Eamonn Bowles. “We think it will be a hit with horror fans.”

The deal was negotiated for Magnet by Svp of Acquisitions Dori Begley, Director of Acquisitions Peter Van Steemberg,...

Magnet Releasing takes Us Rights to Playback From Celluloid Nightmares

The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today they have acquired Us rights to Playback, a frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater, directed by Michael Nickles. Magnet will release Playback through its Ultra VOD program in February, launching the film on all digital VOD platforms prior to its theatrical release in March.

The deal was negotiated for Magnet by Svp of Acquisitions Dori Begley, Director of Acquisitions Peter Van Steemberg, and Head of Legal and Business Affairs Chris Matson with Nate Bolotin from Celluloid Nightmares.

While… More...

The Wagner/Cuban Companys Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today they have acquired Us rights to Playback, a frightening horror film featuring Christian Slater, directed by Michael Nickles. Magnet will release Playback through its Ultra VOD program in February, launching the film on all digital VOD platforms prior to its theatrical release in March. While digging into their towns infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims. In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers. Playback is very scary and a lot of fun, said Magnolia/Magnet President Eamonn Bowles. We think it will be a hit with horror fans.

Magnet Releasing has acquired U.S. rights to the horror film "Playback," starring Christian Slater and directed by Michael A. Nickles. The company plans to release it on VOD in February, followed by a theatrical release in March. Here's the plot per Magnet: While digging into their town’s infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims. ...

Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today they have acquired the U.S. rights to Playback , a new horror film featuring Christian Slater, directed by Michael Nickles. You can watch the trailer below. Magnet will release Plaback through its Ultra VOD program in February, launching the film on all digital VOD platforms prior to its theatrical release in March 2012. While digging into their town's infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims. In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers.

The Wagner/Cuban Company's Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today they have acquired Us rights to horror film Playback , directed by Michael Nickles and starring Christian Slater. Magnet will release Playback through its Ultra VOD program in February, launching the film on all digital VOD platforms prior to its theatrical release in March. The movie is described as follows: While digging into their town's infamous past, a group of high school students unwittingly unlock a dark secret, unleashing an evil spirit that takes possession of its victims. In addition to Slater, the film stars Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar and Ambyr Childers. "'Playback' is very scary and a lot of fun," said Magnolia/Magnet President Eamonn Bowles....

Tons of updates today. Let's start with Bear McCreary.

GameMusic.net posted an interview they did with him in April. It's mostly about the Socom 4 score, but Caprica and BSG also get a mention, as well as the other shows he is/was scoring. Here is a snippet:

Matt: To switch a bit, in addition to video games, you scored three television series over the past season: Eureka, The Walking Dead, and The Cape. How were you able to fit in composing and recording for so many projects?

Bear McCreary: I don't sleep a lot (laughs). The schedules are tough, but thankfully, of the three shows that you cited, two of them are on cable and cable has a very different schedule than network television. Generally I'm able to weave my way through the schedules and I usually don't have to work on more than one show at any given time.