News

We’re back with the latest edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes release details for The Black Dahlia Haunting, information on a new episode of Ghost Trek, a review of Vamp U, and much more:

Release and Distribution Details for The Black Dahlia Haunting: “Zeroinside Films and Pinnovating Productions are proud to announce that their paranormal thriller “The Black Dahlia Haunting”, written and directed by Brandon Slagle and starring Devanny Pinn (Hold Your Breath), Britt Griffith (SyFy’s Ghosthunters), Noah Dahl (Bad Teacher), Alexis Iacono, Cleve A. Hall (SyFy’s Monster Man, Troll), Jessica Cameron (Silent Night), and Sarah Nicklin (Alice D, The Disco Exorcist) has signed distribution agreements with Jy Entertainment (China) and the newly-formed Origin Releasing (United States and Canada). The film is also represented internationally by Phoenix Group Releasing.

Additionally, the film was recently selected...

Title: Rabies (Kalevet) Directed by: Ahron Keshales and Navot Papushado Starring: Lior Ashkenazi, Danny Geva, Ania Bukstein, Menashe Noy, and Yael Grobglas Running time: 94/minutes, Unrated Two couples driving to a tennis match stop on the side of a wooded road when one of the girls to pee, and they accidentally hit a guy who has already been injured and is looking for his sister who has fallen into a trap. Meanwhile a park ranger and his dog happen upon a woman who is almost murdered by a knife wielding maniac. The two men from the car leave their girls behind to help the man find his sister, when two  [ Read More ]...

Israeli horror flick 'Rabies' (Aka 'Kalevet') will be spreading onto DVD next week when it arrives on shelves across the Us thanks to Image Entertainment. It screened here in the UK late last August at London's Film 4 FrightFest as well as at the UK Jewish Film Festival held last November. The movie comes from writer/directing team Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado and it's unleashed on DVD from 28 February. 'Rabies' stars Lior Ashkenazi, Danny Geva, Ania Bukstein, Menashe Noy, Ran Danker, Henry David, Ofer Shechter, Liat Harlev, Yael Grobglas and Efrat Boimold. Check out the DVD artwork along with the trailer for the flick below....

*here be some spoilers.

**full disclosure: a DVD screener of this film was provided by Image Entertainment.

Directors/writers: Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado.

Cast: Lior Ashkenazi, Danny Geva and Ania Bukstein.

Kalevet or Rabies is setting a precedent here on 28Dla. This is the first Israeli shot horror film or film of any kind to be reviewed on this site. And this is a great introduction to Israel's burgeoning film market. Rabies is classified as a serial killer film; however, the killer does not directly take anyone's life. The murder is left up to the incompetence of the cast. Much like William Shakespeare's "A Comedy of Errors," miscommunication and identity swaps create much of confusion and some of the enjoyment.

The film's story is quite complex because the plot will zig when you expect it to zag. Essentially, four young friends hook up and set out to a tennis tournament.

Israel's first ever horror flick 'Rabies' (Aka 'Kalevet') is getting a second wind here in the UK. After it's positive reviews following its first UK screening at the Film 4 FrightFest in London at the end of August it seems that 'Rabies' will be spreading itself onto the big screen at next month's UK Jewish Film Festival. The work of writer/director team Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado the horror flick will be showing at both the The Coronet Cinema (Notting Hill Gate, London) on 12 November at 10pm and also at the Peckham Plex (Peckham, London) on 17 November at 8.30pm. So if you're in the vacinity why not pick up some tickets. Image Entertainment have already picked up the Us rights for distribution stateside. Lior Ashkenazi, Danny Geva, Ania Bukstein, Menashe Noy, Ran Danker, Henry David, Ofer Shechter, Liat Harlev, Yael Grobglas and Efrat Boimold all star.

Chicago International Film Festival 2011

Rabies

Directed by: Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado

Cast: Lior Ashkenazi, Danny Geva and Ania Bukstein

Running Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Rating: Nr

Release Date: Tbd

Click Here for complete coverage of the Chicago International Film Festival (Ciff 2011)

Plot: A group of strangers are brought together through terrifying circumstances in a remote, isolated area in this interweaving horror story from Israel.

Who’S It For? Horror fans will really appreciate this import, but fans of dark comedies like Severance or The Tripper.

Overall

Rabies bears the unfortunate burden of being a movie that is, somehow, beyond description. When I first heard about it, it was described as an Israeli slasher film. While Rabies is certainly Israeli, to call it a slasher is to set one’s self up for disappointment.

The other distinct disadvantage that Rabies must make up for is its unusual title. The name conjures...

Rabies (Kalavet) Written and Directed by: Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado Starring: Lior Ashkenazi, Danny Geva, Ania Bukstein, Menashe Noy, Ran Danker, Henry David, Ofer Shechter, and Liat Harlev Take a dash of Very Bad Things and cross it with Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, and you might get something like Rabies. Ironically, the story has nothing to do with Rabies, and I have no idea why that is the English title. The film has the distinction of being the first horror export out of Israel, and it is a nice surprise. The story begins with a brother and sister seeking refuge in the woods because their, um, relationship is frowned upon. Unfortunately for the sister, a lunatic has dotted the woods with archaic (yet effective) booby traps, and she finds herself at the bottom of one of the traps. Simultaneously, a foursome of coeds takes a wrong turn on...

It’s not every day you take your seat in anticipation of an Israeli slasher movie, billed in fact as the country’s first, and with such limited experience in this death-defying genre you could be forgiven for having expectations that are anything but stellar.

Given the misnomer name (rabies are never mentioned) and over-familiar woodland setting, you may even think all signs point to disaster. Good thing, then, that writer-directors Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado are masters of misdirection.

Opening with a scene indicative of your average torture-porn – a bloodied woman trapped and later drugged by a deranged cat-person – the rug is quickly pulled from beneath your feet as the filmmakers take an inspired wrong turn into largely unexplored territory. We meet the usual hapless teens, the obligatory bumbling police officers and a forest ranger husband and wife, yet not once do your undoubtedly informed predictions come to pass.

Israeli horror flick 'Rabies' recently had it's Us rights picked over at Cannes by Image Entertainment. This being Navot Papushado and Aharon Keshales' feature debut it's a huge deal especially by getting to run this theatrically so kudos to them both. A new Us one-sheet has been released which you can check out below. 'Rabies' stars Lior Ashkenazi, Danny Geva, Ania Bukstein, Menashe Noy, Ran Danker, Henry David, Ofer Shechter, Liat Harlev, Yael Grobglas and Efrat Boimold. Mongrel Media managed to score the Canadian rights....