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David Midell’s The Ritual, which is based on the true story of Emma Schmidt’s 1928 exorcism in Earling, Iowa, stresses in a text coda before the end credits that its central event is the most documented of its kind. But with the film playing out in such mind-numbingly derivative fashion, it seems less like Midell and co-writer Enrico Natale studied the documents of this case than they did the hoary tropes of this specific subgenre of horror film. Regardless of its historical point of origin, the film simply ends up joining the ranks of countless, tedious Exorcist wannabes before it, a robust trend that’s become its own special kind of hell.

After an unintentionally funny “so you’re wondering how I got here” mid-exorcism cold open, The Ritual properly introduces Father Joseph Steiger (Dan Stevens), who’s struggling with his faith and with leading his parish in the...

Exclusive:Highland Film Group has locked key international deals in all media for crime thriller The Deputy starring Duke Nicholson, William H. Macy, Tiffany Haddish, Stephen Dorff, and Julia Fox as it continues sales in Cannes.

Director Matt Sukkar is preparing to go into production in Mississippi this week on his feature directorial debut about part-time Deputy Toby Sawyer (Nicholson) who is tasked by his boss with (Macy) with guarding a corpse until the coroner arrives. When the body goes missing, he unwittingly uncovers decades of wrongdoing and risks his life to unravel the town’s deep web of corruption.

Billie Lourd,...

Al Pacino and Dan Stevens star in The Ritual, an upcoming theatrical release from XYZ Films, directed by David Midell and scheduled to open in theaters on June 6. The film brings together a cast that also features Ashley Greene, Patricia Heaton, Abigail Cowen, and Ritchie Montgomery.

Set against the backdrop of a remote community plagued by spiritual crisis, the story follows two Roman Catholic priests sent to investigate a young woman believed to be possessed. Pacino plays Father Theophilus Riesinger, a veteran cleric with an unwavering belief in the presence of evil. Stevens takes on the role of Father Joseph Steiger, a younger priest more inclined toward medical and psychological explanations.

The film presents the two clergymen with conflicting worldviews as they attempt to determine the nature of the woman’s condition. In the trailer, Pacino’s character warns of divine warfare. “We are the Lord’s army in this battle,...

Al Pacino and Dan Stevens have differing methods of spreading their faith in the trailer for The Ritual.

Director David Midell’s feature is set to hit theaters June 6 from XYZ Films. Ashley Greene, Patricia Heaton, Abigail Cowen and Ritchie Montgomery round out the cast.

The Ritual focuses on Father Theophilus Riesinger (Pacino) and Father Joseph Steiger (Stevens) as they aim to assist a young woman who appears to be possessed by demons.

“We are the Lord’s army in this battle,” Pacino says in the trailer. “She is touched by something otherworldly.”

Later, Stevens asks, “What if what she really needs is a doctor?” This leads Pacino to respond, “We are paying a price for your lack of faith.”

The Ritual is inspired by the 1935 book Begone Satan!, which has been at the center of faith-based debate for nearly a century. Midell helmed the movie from a script he co-wrote with Enrico Natale.

Al Pacino has played the Devil before (in the 1997 film The Devil’s Advocate), and earlier this year we learned that he would be playing an enemy of the Devil in the exorcism horror film The Ritual. Taking on the role of a troubled priest, Pacino stars in the film alongside Dan Stevens of Abigail and Godzilla x Kong, who also plays a troubled priest. We’ll get to see how well this troubled duo fares against Satan when XYZ Films gives The Ritual a North American theatrical release on June 6th, with Altitude giving audiences in UK and Irish cinemas the chance to see the movie a week earlier, on May 30th. With those dates swiftly approaching, a new trailer for the film has dropped online and you can check it out in the embed above.

Based on a true story, The Ritual will center on two priests — one questioning...

Al Pacino has played the Devil before (in the 1997 film The Devil’s Advocate), and earlier this year we learned that he would be playing an enemy of the Devil in the exorcism horror film The Ritual. Taking on the role of a troubled priest, Pacino stars in the film alongside Dan Stevens of Abigail and Godzilla x Kong, who also plays a troubled priest. We’ll get to see how well this troubled duo fares against Satan when XYZ Films gives The Ritual a North American theatrical release on June 6th, with Altitude giving audiences in UK and Irish cinemas the chance to see the movie a week earlier, on May 30th. With those dates swiftly approaching, a trailer for The Ritual has dropped online, and you can check it out in the embed above.

Based on a true story, The Ritual will center on two priests — one questioning his...

Al Pacino has played the Devil before (in the 1997 film The Devil’s Advocate), and earlier this year we learned that he would be playing an enemy of the Devil in the exorcism horror film The Ritual. Taking on the role of a troubled priest, Pacino stars in the film alongside Dan Stevens of Abigail and Godzilla x Kong, who also plays a troubled priest. We’ll get to see how well this troubled duo fares against Satan when XYZ Films gives The Ritual a theatrical release on June 6th (it moved back from its previously announced April release date) – and with the release swiftly approaching a pair of promotional videos have dropped online, along with a new poster. One of the videos embedded above, the other can be found at the bottom of this article, along with the new poster.

Based on a true story, The Ritual will center on...

https://youtu.be/fMcw02hWdbc?si=xnFsKTNcH2CuIGzu Written and Directed by David Midell Story by David Midell, Enrico Natale Starring Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Ashley Greene, Abigail Cowen, Maria Camila Giraldo, Meadow Williams, Patrick Fabian, Patricia Heaton Produced by Enrico Natale, Ross Marks, Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch Executive Produced by Nick Spicer, Aram Tertzakian, Nate Bolotin, Alex Williams, Maxime Cottray, Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, …

The post In Theaters June 6th! The Ritual, Starring Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Ashley Greene, & Abigail Cowen, Directed by David Midell appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Stepping into the world of exorcisms, Al Pacino and Dan Stevens star in The Ritual, a film that isn’t just terrifying, it’s based on spine-chilling true events. Inspired by the infamous exorcism of Emma Schmidt, one of the most documented possession cases in American history, the movie brings a chilling battle between faith and pure evil to the big screen.

Al Pacino in The Ritual || Credits: Andrew Stevens Entertainment

Directed by David Midell and co-written with Enrico Natale, the movie will leave audiences questioning what’s real and what’s beyond explanation.

The chilling true story behind Al Pacino’s The Ritual!

The Ritual is more than just a horror movie as it’s based on one of the most chilling and well-documented exorcisms in American history (via The Ritual Movie).

RelatedOnly Adam Sandler Could Bring Johnny Depp and Al Pacino Together in a Justin Bieber T Shirt...

XYZ Films has released the trailer for the horror film The Ritual, which is scheduled to open in theaters on June 6, 2025. The movie was written and directed by David Midell.

As the priest at Saint Joseph’s in Earling, Iowa, Father Joseph Steiger (Dan Stevens) lived a quiet, dutiful life, tending to his flock. In the fall of 1928, Father Steiger was approached with an urgent concern…

For years, 46-year-old Emma Schmidt (Abigail Cowen) had experienced frightening blackouts, aversion to holy objects, and other unspeakable afflictions. Her suffering was documented in medical evaluations, mental hygiene reports, and personal diaries.

After extensive psychiatric treatment provided no relief, Emma’s priest recommended a more spiritual remedy: a solemn exorcism. A secluded convent in Father Steiger’s parish was chosen as the site for the ritual.

Despite significant reservations, Father Steiger agreed to oversee the exorcism. Theophilus Riesinger (Al Pacino), a mysterious Capuchin friar...

When it comes to champions of forgotten sex symbols, you can’t do much better than Quentin Tarantino.

Snubs from the annual Oscars in memoriam segment are always uncomfortable, but 2023 was an especially awkward year for the Academy. Leslie Jordan, Anne Heche, Tom Sizemore, Paul Sorvino, and more celebrities who had recently passed were excluded from the ceremony. For the late Stella Stevens — a blonde bombshell known for decades of TV and film, and who at 83 had died just one month earlier from advanced Alzheimer’s disease — facing disrespect from the industry was always routine.

“I wrote letters to the Motion Picture Academy,” said filmmaker Andrew Stevens, Stella’s only son. With hundreds of credits to his name, the director, producer, and actor makes himself as busy as his late mother but is best known for appearing in 1978’s “The Boys in Company C.” Speaking with IndieWire earlier this January,...

Deadline reports that filming has wrapped on a serial killer action thriller called The Neglected, which was shot in Mississippi and stars Josh Duhamel (Shotgun Wedding). Duhamel’s co-stars include Dylan Sprouse (The Duel), Til Schweiger (Inglourious Basterds), Jeremy London (Mallrats), Jason London (Dazed and Confused), and Elena Sanchez (Devil’s Peak).

Directed and produced by David Lipper, who also crafted the script with Adam G. Levine, The Neglected tells the story of Detective Shaw (Josh Duhamel), who is about to retire when he finds out on his last day of work that a serial killer has buried his son alive. He then races against the clock to solve three murders and find his son’s location before he runs out of air.

BondIt Media Capital provided the financing. Lipper is producing the film alongside Robert A. Daly Jr. of Latigo, Mark Canton, Dorothy Canton, Denise Loren, Mark Fasano, and Ryan Winterstern.

The 1980s are remembered for their long-running soaps like Dallas, Dynasty, Knots Landing, and Falcon Crest, all of which are now available to stream on Amazon Prime. But those require a long-term commitment.

But what if you haven’t got that kind of time? What if you want to one and done it? In that case, we’ve got three 1980s soaps that deserved longer runs….but never them, which is good news for you now!

Paper Dolls

Just check out the cast on this 1984 sudser, Paper Dolls! The one and only Morgan Fairchild, the one and only Lloyd Bridges, Roscoe Born hot off Ryan’s Hope, Dack Rambo hot off All My Children, Jonathan Frakes pre-Star Trek, and two fresh faces, Nicollette Sheridan pre-Knots Landing, Desperate Housewives, and the Dynasty reboot, and Terry Farrell, pre-Deep Space 9 and Becker.

The story takes place in the world of high-stakes, high-fashion modeling,...

Al Pacino has played the Devil before (in the 1997 film The Devil’s Advocate), and earlier this year we learned that he would be playing an enemy of the Devil in the exorcism horror film The Ritual. Taking on the role of a troubled priest, Pacino stars in the film alongside Dan Stevens of Abigail and Godzilla x Kong, who also plays a troubled priest. We’ll get to see how well this troubled duo fares against Satan when XYZ Films gives The Ritual a theatrical release on April 18th, 2025 – and with that date just four months away, a teaser poster for The Ritual has been unveiled. You can check it out at the bottom of this article.

Based on a true story, The Ritual will center on two priests — one questioning his faith (Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Pacino) — who must put aside their differences to save...

Severin Launches New Seasonal Ghost Story Series On Shudder This December: "From boutique label Severin Films and renowned author, producer and filmmaker Kier-La Janisse comes new annual series The Haunted Season.

Created by Janisse and executive produced by Severin Films, new episodes of The Haunted Season will arrive on Shudder each December with chilling short form horror tales in the tradition of telling ghost stories for Christmas. Future episodes will be announced each year as the holiday season approaches.

The first of these original commissioned productions comes from director Sean Hogan, called To Fire You Come at Last.

In 17th century England, near a rural village where unquiet spirits gather, a grieving Squire hires three local men to help carry his son’s coffin to a graveyard across the countryside. But as darkness descends upon their journey, disturbing secrets will be revealed. Violence will rise to the surface. And as...

XYZ Films has announced the U.S. theatrical release of The Ritual for Easter weekend, April 18, 2025. The exorcism horror film stars Al Pacino (The Godfather trilogy) and Dan Stevens (Abigail) and is directed by David Midell.

Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen also feature in the cast. The film, acquired by XYZ earlier this year ahead of Cannes, has been sold in several major international markets.

The Ritual is based on true events and tells the story of two priests—one struggling with his faith (Stevens) and the other haunted by his past (Pacino)—who must work together to perform exorcisms on a possessed young woman.

The film explores the life of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose exorcism remains one of the most documented in U.S. history.

Written by Midell and Enrico Natale, the film was produced by Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch, and Natale.

“David Midell’s realistic approach is chilling and unsettling,...

XYZ Films has set Easter weekend April 18th, 2025 for the US theatrical release of the exorcism horror film The Ritual, starring Academy Award-winner Al Pacino (The Godfather trilogy) and Dan Stevens (Abigail), and directed by David Midell. Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen round out the cast. The film was acquired by XYZ earlier this year just prior to Cannes, and has also sold out multiple, major international territories.

Based on true events, The Ritual follows two priests – one questioning his faith (Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Pacino) – who must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms.

The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession culminated in harrowing exorcisms. Her case remains the most thoroughly documented exorcism in American history.

The film was written by Midell and Enrico Natale, and produced by Andrew Stevens,...

Andrew Stevens pays loving but not hagiographic tribute to his late mother, famed actress Stella Stevens, in his documentary recently showcased at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. The film convincingly makes the case that its subject, best known for her performances in such pictures as The Poseidon Adventure and The Nutty Professor, is severely underrated, both as an actress and social activist. Stella Stevens: The Last Starlet aims to rectify that perception and, thanks to numerous clips of her work and effusive commentary by the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Vivica A. Fox, it succeeds beautifully.

The filmmaker (who appears frequently) admits that his relationship with his mother was rocky, to say the least, in the early years. Born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Stevens got married at age 16 and had Andrew, her first and only child, six months later. The marriage soon dissolved, and when she moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career,...

Variety is reporting that The Ritual — a new horror film starring Al Pacino and Dan Stevens — has been sold to numerous outlets in the international market by XYZ Films. Both Pacino and Stevens will be portraying priests in the exorcism movie, while Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen join them in the cast. David Midell is helming the film. Midell directs from a script written by himself and is co-written by Enrico Natale. The film is produced by Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch and Natale. The Ritual plans for release sometime in 2025.

The plot synopsis, according to Variety, says the movie is based on a true story and “follows two priests — one questioning his faith (Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Pacino) — who must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms. The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt,...

“The Ritual,” the upcoming exorcism horror in which Al Pacino and Dan Stevens play troubled priests, has sold out for most international territories by XYZ Films.

From director David Midell, the film was written by Midell and Enrico Natale, and produced by Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch and Natale. Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen round out the cast.

XYZ, which has been quietly growing its own releasing arm on top of its sales operations, is planning a U.S. theatrical release in 2025.

Based on a true story, “The Ritual” follows two priests — one questioning his faith (Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Pacino) — who must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms. The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession culminated in harrowing exorcisms. Her case remains the most thoroughly documented exorcism in American history.

Al Pacino and Dan Stevens are set to team up as priests in the forthcoming exorcism horror ‘The Ritual’.

Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen will also join Pacino and Stevens on the cast list.

Based on a true story, the movie will follow two priests — one questioning his faith (Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Pacino) — who must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms.

Also in news – Lakeith Stanfield eyed for neo-noir game adaptation ‘El Paso, Elsewhere’

The film provides an accurate portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman who was believed to be possessed by demonic spirits, which led to several harrowing exorcisms. This case is considered to be the most extensively documented exorcism in American history.

David Midell will direct from a script he co-wrote alongside Enrico Natale. Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch and Natale will produce.

Al Pacino has played the Devil before (in the 1997 film The Devil’s Advocate), now he’s set to play an enemy of the Devil, as he has signed on to play a troubled priest in the exorcism horror film The Ritual. Pacino will star in the film alongside Dan Stevens of Abigail and Godzilla x Kong, who will also be playing a troubled priest.

Variety reports that XYZ Films has acquired the worldwide rights to The Ritual and are planning to give the movie a theatrical release sometime in 2025. They’ll be setting up international distribution deals at the upcoming Cannes Film Market. David Midell will be directing the film from a screenplay he wrote with Enrico Natale. He previously directed the 2014 drama NightLights and the 2019 thriller The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain.

Based on a true story, The Ritual will center on two priests — one questioning his faith (Stevens) and...

Al Pacino and Dan Stevens have teamed up for exorcism horror film “The Ritual” from director David Midell.

XYZ Films has acquired worldwide rights to the feature, with plans to release it theatrically in 2025 and arrange international distribution at the upcoming Cannes market.

“The Ritual” was written by Midell and Enrico Natale and produced by Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch and Natale. Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen round out the cast.

Based on a true story, “The Ritual” follows two priests — one questioning his faith (Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Pacino) — who must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms. The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession culminated in harrowing exorcisms. Her case remains the most thoroughly documented exorcism in American history.

BondIt Media Capital provided financing for the project,...

For the first time since beginning this editorial series, we’re discussing a documentary rather than a fiction film. That’s because Yellow Veil just released a supersized documentary about the history of the Erotic Thriller called We Kill For Love: The Lost World of the Erotic Thriller (2023).

Clocking in at 163 minutes, this is a thorough, occasionally indulgent documentary written and directed by Anthony Penta. The doc uses a framing device featuring an archivist character, played by Michael Reed, cataloguing countless VHS tapes and watching “Suspect Interviews” (aka talking head interviews) in his dimly lit office. These segments recur throughout We Kill For Love, and also feature voice-over narration from Penta that are partially purple prose, partially quotations from academic articles and books on the genre.

The vast majority of the documentary, however, is taken up by clips and talking head interviews. There’s a good variety of interviewees, including scholars such Linda Ruth Williams,...

Stars: Emile Hirsch, Jake Manley, Alexandria DeBerry, John Cusack, Andrew Stevens, William Katt, Elizabeth Faith Ludlow | Written by Brian Skiba, Ben Fiore, Dawn Bursteen | Directed by Brian Skiba

It took about ten minutes for me to realize that Pursuit was going to be an epic shitshow. That’s how long it takes to get to the first shootout. Between the overuse of slow motion, blood that looks like red paint and a pile of cash that explodes into the air for no apparent reason it’s more laughable than funny.

As it turns out Rick Calloway has just shot up an undercover police operation. Why? Because the same dealers the police were targeting apparently were involved in the disappearance of his wife. So, being an expert hacker he disabled the police cameras and went in shooting. After a chase through Little Rock pretending to be the Big Apple in which...

Erotic thriller documentary We Kill For Love recently had its world premiere at the Overlook Film Festival. Written, produced, and directed by Anthony Penta, the documentary dives into lost and misunderstood world of the direct-to-video erotic thriller, and Penta talks about the research, interview subjects, and surprises of making We Kill For Love in our latest Q&a:

Dtv erotic thrillers were a huge part of 80s / 90s late night TV programming and video store offerings. Why was this an area of genre filmmaking you wanted to shine a light on in your new documentary?

During my search for the erotic thriller, I discovered it is miraculously the same size and shape as another much more reputable American film movement – film noir. Unlike film noir, however, the depth and breadth of the erotic thriller as a film subgenre is largely unknown and therefore unacknowledged. Film noir is celebrated for its stylistic eccentricities,...

Erotic thriller documentary We Kill For Love recently had its world premiere at the Overlook Film Festival and we have the first clip and poster!

"Written, produced, and directed by Anthony Penta, the doc goes in search of the lost and misunderstood world of the direct-to-video erotic thriller, an American film genre that once dominated late night cable television and the shelves of neighborhood video stores.

We Kill for Love stars filmmakers Andrew Stevens, Jim Wynorski, Fred Olen Ray; film stars Monique Parent, Amy Lindsay, Kira Reed Lorsch; film scholars Linda Ruth Williams, Abbey Bender and more.

Balancing film art with scholarship, We Kill For Love pulls back the curtain to reveal the heart and soul of a forgotten and often maligned film movement."

Director Anthony Penta shared, “We Kill for Love is part film essay, part documentary, and part casefile. It's a record of my prolonged investigation into a...

Yellow Veil Pictures has announced that they have acquired worldwide rights for the erotic thriller documentary We Kill For Love ahead of the world premiere at the Overlook Film Festival. The company is planning a domestic release later this year and will represent the film for international sales with a launch at the upcoming Marche Du Film this May. Written, produced, and directed by Anthony Penta, the doc goes in search of the lost and misunderstood world of the direct-to-video erotic thriller, an American film genre that once dominated late night cable television and the shelves of neighborhood video stores. Director Anthony Penta Courtesy of Anthony Penta Michael Reed in We Kill for Love Courtesy of Yellow Veil Pictures Balancing film art with scholarship, We Kill For Love pulls back the curtain to reveal the heart and soul of a forgotten and often maligned film movement. Joe Yanick Co-Founder of...

Rlje Films Nabs The Psychological Thriller “Sympathy For The Devil”: "Rlje Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, has acquired the North America, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand rights to the psychological thriller, Sympathy For The Devil from Christian Mercuri’s Capstone Global, which is handling worldwide sales for the film.

Directed by Yuval Adler, Sympathy For The Devil is the feature screenwriting debut of Luke Paradise. It stars Nicolas Cage and Joel Kinnaman. The film will be released on July 28, 2023.

“This is our eighth collaboration with Nicolas Cage, which includes Mandy - a critically-acclaimed film that has a huge cult following,” said Rlje Film Chief Acquisitions Officer Mark Ward. “Once again, he doesn’t disappoint. In this film, Cage and Joel Kinnaman bring to life a suspenseful tale on screen that will keep audiences guessing.”

In Sympathy For The Devil, after being forced to drive a mysterious passenger at gunpoint,...

Yellow Veil Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to the erotic thriller documentary “We Kill For Love” ahead of its world premiere at the Overlook Film Festival.

The company is planning a domestic release later this year and will represent the film for international sales with a launch at the upcoming Marche Du Film in Cannes.

Written, produced, and directed by Anthony Penta, “We Kill for Love” depicts the long-gone world of direct-to-video erotic thriller, an American film genre that once dominated late night cable television and the shelves of neighborhood video stores.

“‘We Kill For Love’ is a home run for erotic thriller fans,” said Joe Yanick, co-founder of Yellow Veil Pictures. “It’s one of the most in-depth looks at genre cinema and serves as more than just a love letter but pushes the conversation and spotlights films that have often often lost out to their more glamorous theatrical counterparts,...

John Jakes, the celebrated author known for his historical North and South trilogy that sold 10 million copies and became three ABC miniseries in the 1980s and ’90s, has died. He was 90.

Jakes died Saturday in Sarasota, Florida, his lawyer and literary agent Frank R. Curtis announced.

Jakes, who during his career wrote more than 80 books, which sold more than 120 million copies worldwide, earned $25 when his first short story was published by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction when he was 18.

He spent 17 years as an advertising copywriter and creative director before he broke through at age 42 with the 1974 publication of The Bastard, the first of eight paperbacks under the umbrella known as The Kent Family Chronicles. Those books, which depicted American history through the lives of a fictional clan, were written to capitalize on the U.S. bicentennial celebrations that peaked in 1976.

In 1975, with the publication of Vols. II,...

John Jakes, the bestselling author of historical novels whose books The Bastard and North And South were adapted into highly rated TV movies and miniseries in the 1970s and ’80s, died Saturday at a hospice facility in Sarasota, Florida. He was 90.

His death was announced by his lawyer and literary agent Frank R. Curtis.

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Born on March 31, 1932, in Chicago, Jakes published his first short story at 18, earning $25, and would go on to author more than 80 books in his lifetime that sold more than 120 million copies worldwide.

His breakthrough came in 1974 with the publication of The Bastard, the first in what would become an eight-volume series known as The Kent Family Chronicles. Roughly coinciding with America’s Bicentennial,...

Los Angeles – Stella Stevens had a prolific and adventurous career, especially considering all the famous co-stars and directors she encountered over her 60 year run. She began near end of the studio system in the late 1950s, and worked through the first decade of the post millennium. Stevens was 84 years old when she passed away February 17th, 2023, in her native Los Angeles.

Her leading men were as diverse as Glenn Ford, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Elvis Presley, Jason Robards and Ernest Borgnine. The directors included Vincente Minnelli, Peter Bogdonovich, John Cassavetes, Sam Peckinpah and Jerry Lewis (he also directed “The Nutty Professor”).

Stella Stevens in Chicago circa 2011

Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Stella was born in Mississippi as Estelle Egglston, and her family moved to Memphis soon thereafter. After an early marriage and divorce, she became interested in acting and modeling while at Memphis State University.

Stella Stevens, who starred in such films as “The Nutty Professor”, “The Poseidon Adventure” and alongside Elvis Presley in “Girls! Girls! Girls!”, has died. She was 84.

According to multiple reports, Stevens died Friday in Los Angeles following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Before making a name for herself on the big and small screen, Stevens was a Playboy Playmate and appeared on its centerfold page in January 1960. She was modeling in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, when she was discovered, ultimately leading her to roles in the 1962 music comedy “Girls! Girls! Girls!” and then starring alongside comedy giant Jerry Lewis in the 1963 sci-fi comedy “The Nutty Professor”.

Read More: Raquel Welch, Actress and Legendary Bombshell, Dead at 82

In a New York Times review of the film (via Variety), Stevens’ performance as Stella Purdy (the student Lewis’ nutty professor character pursues) is singled out.

“It’s about a shy...

Stella Stevens is the actress known for playing Stella Purdy in The Nutty Professor (1963) and starring alongside Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls! Sadly, Ms. Steven passed away on Friday in Los Angeles after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Her death was confirmed by her son, actor-producer Andrew Stevens, and her long-time friend John O’Brien.

A former Playboy centerfold from January 1960, Stevens participated in a screen test by 20th Century Fox as a part of launching her Hollywood career. She signed on the dotted line with Paramount and Columbia through the ’60s, appearing opposite Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls!, a role that sent her star soaring. She played Stella Purdy opposite Jerry Lewis’ Prof. Julius Kelp in The Nutty Professor, then acted in such films as Advance to the Rear, Synanon, The Silencers, Rage, How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life, The Mad Room, and more.

Stella Stevens, who starred in the 1972 disaster film “Poseidon Adventure” and in films opposite Elvis Presley, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, died Friday in Los Angeles at the age of 84.

Her son, actor/producer Andrew Stevens, confirmed her passing to TheWrap via email. “I was notified early this morning,” Stevens said. “Stella had been in hospice for quite some time with stage seven Alzheimer’s.”

She is perhaps best known for her role as one of the victims of an ocean liner disaster in Irwin Allen’s epic “Poseidon Adventure.” She played a former prostitute married to Ernest Borgnine’s police detective, who, along with Gene Hackman and Shelley Winters, try to make it to the top of the overturned ship.

Stevens also starred with Elvis Presley in the 1962 musical “Girls! Girls! Girls!,” Jerry Lewis in 1963’s “The Nutty Professor,” and Dean Martin in the 1966 spy spoof “The Silencers.” In...

Stella Stevens, the screen siren of the 1960s who brought sweet sexiness to such films as The Nutty Professor, Too Late Blues and The Ballad of Cable Hogue, has died. She was 84.

Stevens died Friday in Los Angeles, her son, actor-producer-director Andrew Stevens, told The Hollywood Reporter. “She had been in hospice for quite some time with Stage 7 Alzheimer’s,” he said.

Shining brightest in light comedies, the blond, blue-eyed actress appeared as a shy beauty contestant from Montana in Vincente Minnelli’s The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1963), portrayed a headstrong nun in Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows! (1968) opposite Rosalind Russell and frolicked with the fun-loving Dean Martin in two films: the Matt Helm spy spoof The Silencers (1966) and How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life (1968).

Stevens also starred opposite Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962), a movie she said she detested.

Her signature role, however, came in The Nutty Professor (1963), produced,...

Stella Stevens, who starred with Elvis Presley in “Girls! Girls! Girls!” and with Jerry Lewis in “The Nutty Professor” as well as in disaster film “The Poseidon Adventure,” died Friday in Los Angeles. Her son, Andrew Stevens, said she had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. She was 84.

“Girls! Girls! Girls!” (1962) was one of the more generic Elvis films— there wasn’t all that much for Stevens to do — but Variety was keen on her performance in 1963’s “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father,” starring Glenn Ford and Shirley Jones in the story of a widower who’s romantically interested in one woman while his son wants him to marry another: “Stella Stevens comes on like gangbusters in her enactment of a brainy but inhibited doll from Montana. It’s a sizzling comedy performance of a kook.”

In “The Nutty Professor” (1963) or any other Jerry Lewis film, one might expect the...

Stella Stevens, the actress best known for her roles in The Nutty Professor and The Poseidon Adventure and starring opposite Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls!, died today in Los Angeles after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 84.

Stevens’ passing was confirmed to Deadline by her son, actor-producer Andrew Stevens, and her longtime friend John O’Brien.

Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries Related Story How To Watch Lisa Marie Presley's Graceland Memorial Service Online Related Story Lisa Marie Presley Dies: Singer, Songwriter, Daughter Of Elvis Was 54 Elvis Presley and Stevens in ‘Girls! Girls! Girls!’, 1962

A former Playboy centerfold from January 1960, Stevens was modeling in her hometown of Memphis when she was discovered and given a screen test by 20th Century Fox. She wound up under contract with Paramount and then Columbia through the ’60s, starring opposite such big names as Presley in Girls!

Stars: David Wayman, Sian Altman, May Kelly, Ocean M Harris, Jack Edwards, Valis Volkova, Caidney Simone, Eva Rya, Felicia Westring, Fahad Salman, Richard Sandling, Jenny Miller, Robin Kirwan | Written and Directed by Andy Edwards

One of the earliest films featuring the name Scott Jeffrey, that we reviewed here on Nerdly, was Darker Shades of Elise, a film Jeffrey produced back in 2017 and a film that didn’t really reflect where the rest of the actor turned director/producer’s oeuvre would head. But now Proportion Productions are back, only this time not with a low-budget monster movie, terrifying slasher film or brilliant metaphorical horror. No, with Graphic Desires the company bring us back to another time, the 90s post-Basic Instinct, with another erotic thriller.

Graphic Desires tells the story of the reclusive Franklin (David Wayman), a designer who works from home doing freelance work, who cheats on his partner with...

The Minute You Wake Up Dead Trailer — Michael Mailer‘s The Minute You Wake Up Dead (2022) movie trailer has been released by Lionsgate. The The Minute You Wake Up Dead trailer stars Cole Hauser, Jaimie Alexander, Andrew Stevens, Darren Mann, Tony Demil, and Morgan Freeman. Crew Timothy Holland and Michael Mailer wrote the screenplay [...]

Continue reading: The Minute You Wake Up Dead (2022) Movie Trailer: Morgan Freeman stars in Michael Mailer’s Noir Thriller...

"If you had just been patient, none of this would've been necessary." Lionsgate has revealed a trailer for a noir thriller titled The Minute You Wake Up Dead, another of these mediocre crime films being sent direct-to-vod the same day it opens in theaters. Despite the impressive cast in here, this doesn't look like an interesting film. When a shady small-town stockbroker begins dating a shy waitress, a shocking murder takes place -- and one of them may be responsible. As word leaks out that there's money behind the killing, every criminal in town wants their share of the cash. According to the synopsis, "a bloody showdown leads to a mind-blowing finale." Wow, get ready. Starring Cole Hauser, Jaimie Alexander, Andrew Stevens, Darren Mann, Tony Demil, & Morgan Freeman. There's nothing much to see here, move along folks. ›››

View the Post: Thriller 'The Minute You Wake Up Dead' Trailer with Morgan...

Stars: Emily Eaton-Plowright, Daniel Godfrey, Ocean M Harris, Danielle Scott, Jacasta Townend, Mark Holder, Chrissie Wunna, Luke Maskell, Danielle Ronald, Coco Taylor | Written by Sophie Storm K. | Directed by Jack Ayers

The latest film from Proportion Productions, Dirty Games, aka Game of Love, is the latest erotic thriller from the company following the likes of Graphic Designs, Cam Girls and one of their earliest films, Darker Shades of Elise. And like the aforementioned Cam Girls, Dirty Games seems to be a part of a new wave of erotic movies released by UK distributor Left Films – who also recently released director Louisa Warren’s Dirty Work, a film I mentioned not just because of the similar title, but because of Warren’s association with Proportion Productions’s Scott Jeffrey… who also produced this erotic affair.

Dirty Games follows contestants in a new reality gameshow where the participants, including our protagonist Lucy,...

The tonal diversity within the science fiction genre is what has allowed it to stand the test of time. The term "sci-fi" is a broad one. You may first think of space adventures like the "Star Wars," "Star Trek," "Alien," or "Battlestar Galactica" franchises. However, there's also a subsection of sci-fi movies that are slower and more romantic such as "Her," "About Time," and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." You can find sci-fi fantasy films, sci-fi Westerns, sci-fi comedies, and even sci-fi musicals.

The genre itself encourages experimentation, particularly from actors who choose to add their own perspectives to a film. Not every sci-fi film has to be as grim and emotional as "Interstellar" or "2001: A Space Odyssey." It's always admirable when an actor in a science fiction film truly commits to the absurdity of the material.

Even if they're afraid that they might look silly, these actors...

Grindhouse Entertainment to distribute in North America.

Red Sea Media will handle international sales in Cannes on action thriller The Minute You Wake Up Dead starring Morgan Freeman, Cole Hauser and Jaimie Alexander.

Grindhouse Entertainment is the North American distributor on the project about a stockbroker in a small town who gets embroiled in an insurance scam with a pretty next door neighbour that leads to multiple murders when a host of other people want in on the scheme.

Michael Mailer (Heart Of Champions) directed and Andrew Stevens served as producer.

“Michael’s previous work speaks for itself,” said Red Sea’s Roman Kopelevich.

Stars: David Wayman, Sian Altman, May Kelly, Ocean M Harris, Jack Edwards, Valis Volkova, Caidney Simone, Eva Rya, Felicia Westring, Fahad Salman, Richard Sandling, Jenny Miller, Robin Kirwan | Written and Directed by Andy Edwards

One of the earliest films featuring the name Scott Jeffrey, that we reviewed here on Nerdly, was Darker Shades of Elise, a film Jeffrey produced back in 2017 and a film that didn’t really reflect where the rest of the actor turned director/producer’s oeuvre would head. But now Proportion Productions are back, only this time not with a low budget monster movie, terrifying slasher film or brilliant metaphorical horror. No, with Graphic Designs the company bring us back to another time, the 90s post-Basic Instinct, with another erotic thriller.

Graphic Designs tells the story of the reclusive Franklin (David Wayman), a designer who works from home doing freelance work, who cheats on his partner...

(Welcome to SlashClips, a series where we bring you exclusive clips from hot new Digital, Blu-ray and theatrical releases you won't see anywhere else!)In this edition:

Pursuit  A Week in Paradise The Desperate Hour A Peloton of One

Our first exclusive clip of the week features movie star John Cusack in Lionsgate's action-thriller "Pursuit," which also stars Emile Hirsch ("Into the Wild"), Jake Manley ("Midway"), and Elizabeth Ludlow ("Godzilla: King of Monsters"). It was co-written by Brian Skiba ("The 2nd"), Andrew Stevens ("Night Eyes"), Dawn Bursteen, and Ben Fiore and directed by Skiba. The film is scheduled to hit select theaters and on demand on February 18,...

The post Clips Round-Up: John Cusack In Pursuit, Malin Akerman Has A Week In Paradise, & More! [Exclusive] appeared first on /Film.

Exclusive: Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby), Yellowstone star Cole Hauser and Blindspot and Thor actress Jaimie Alexander have been set to star in under-the-radar thriller The Minute You Wake Up Dead, which is now underway in Mississippi.

Milestone Studios is producing the film, which follows a stockbroker (Hauser) in a small southern town who gets embroiled in an insurance scam with a next-door neighbor (Alexander) that leads to multiple murders when a host of other people want in on the plot. Sheriff Thurmond Fowler (Freeman), the by-the-book town sheriff for over four decades, works earnestly to try and unravel the town’s mystery and winds up getting more than he bargained for.

Pic is an original screenplay by Timothy Holland, directed by Michael Mailer (Heart Of Champions) and produced by Hollywood vet Andrew Stevens (The Whole Nine Yards). Dawn Bursteen and Alan B. Bursteen of Milestone Studios are executive producers.

Director Ron Underwood discusses a few of his favorite westerns with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Pearl Harbor (2001)

Mighty Joe Young (1998)

Speechless (1994)

Heart and Souls (1993)

Stealing Sinatra (2003)

City Slickers (1991)

Tremors (1990) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Tourist Trap (1979) – David DeCoteau’s trailer commentary

The Seduction (1982)

Puppet Master (1989)

The Boondock Saints (1999)

Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd (1952)

Capricorn One (1977) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

Panic In The Streets (1950) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing

Back When We Were Grownups (2004)

Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell (2018)

Tremors: Shrieker Island (2020)

The Howling (1981) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing

Red River (1948) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary

Johnny Guitar (1954) – Michael Lehmann’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

The Searchers (1956)

Seven Samurai (1954) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary

The Magnificent Seven (1960) – Jesus Treviño’s trailer commentary

The Magnificent Seven (2016)

Westworld...

"Keep me alive and I will give you names." Lionsgate has revealed an official trailer for an action film titled Pursuit, a new film from genre filmmaker Brian Skiba. Another of these forgettable direct-to-video looking action movies? Unfortunately. John Cusack and Emile Hirsch star in this action thriller about a troubled cop's hunt for a ruthless hacker, who’s committing savage violence as he searches for his kidnapped wife. But is Calloway's crime-boss father somehow involved in this explosive situation? Starring Jake Manley, Elizabeth Ludlow, William Katt, Andrew Stevens, and Graham Patrick Martin. This guy isn't the best director, he often makes action schlock, but these movies still do look fun in a beer & pizza movie night kind of way. I am also amazed they still totally overdo the hacker character in movies like this. Check it out. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Brian Skiba's Pursuit, direct from Lionsgate's...