News

In recent years, Jake Johnsons distinctive comedic talents and innate likability have established him as one of Hollywood's most hilarious comedy actors. While Johnson is best known for his role as Nick Miller on the Fox sitcom New Girl, hes also carved out an impressive career in movies, as his laid-back, self-deprecating, dry delivery brought an infectious charm to his performances that are unlike any other actor working today. Just as comfortable in acclaimed animated movies as in live-action comedy, Johnson boasts an impressive filmography.

Much like Johnsons New Girl character Nick Miller, Johnsons acting style blended over-the-top antics, witty comebacks, and a sense of vulnerability that led to fantastic performances in some of the best comedies of the 2010s. Through his fruitful collaborations with director Joe Swanberg, Johnson often co-writes his own material where he originates unique and compelling characters tailored to his personality. With an astounding career that includes quirky indies,...

The Fields

Stars: Joshua Ormond, Cloris Leachman, Tara Reid, Brian Anthony Wilson, Karen Ludwig, Faust Checho, Miles Williams | Written by Harrison Smith | Directed by Tom Mattera, David Mazzoni

At the end of the sixties America was rocked by the Tate-labianca murders and the resulting trials of the Manson Family. It was an attack from the younger generation on the establishment, those evil “hippies” had attacked America where it thought it was safe and people looked on in fear as Manson enjoyed the television time he got and the “Manson Girls” smiled and laughed at the crowds, almost believing they were invincible, it shocked many and scared them. The Fields is a film that uses this as the background for events that affect a small boy and his grandparents in a farmhouse surrounded by fields of corn.

When Steven is left with his grandparents due to problems that his parents are...

Tom Mattera and David Mazzoni’s film about dark things happening to a young boy and his older relatives living on a farm never really manages to spook its audience beyond its creation of an eerie atmosphere, but it does succeed tremendously on one front. Much like television’s comedy Raising Hope, The Fields reminds us exactly why Cloris Leachman has won an Oscar, numerous Emmy Awards, and many others: she gets lost in her characters so effortlessly that she can make everyone else in a production look like chumps. Along with child star Joshua Ormond, Leachman does her best to fill out the moody dramatic horror, and they do well enough to keep things interesting, but the plot retreads horror elements that have been overused as of late without adding anything new.

Read more...

I live about 45 minutes away from the Pennsylvania border. Across that border sits Easton, a town where I once lived and a town that has undoubtedly seen better days. It’s a college town and a slum. It is considered to be somewhat urban for that part of Pa since the surrounding areas are nothing but farm land at a wide enough radius, Amish country. When I read the premise of The Fields I was surprised to learn that it was based on a true story, but even more surprised to find out that location at which this film is supposed to take place is so near my home. After watching the movie I can assure you that our filmmakers have captured the very essence of Pennsylvania. It is a Pennsylvanian horror film.

Synopsis:

A young boy and his family find the safety and solitude of their small farm shattered...

Psychological thriller “The Fields” had its world premiere April 17 at Laemmle Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills, and Academy Award winner and Hollywood legend Cloris Leachman joined her cast members on the red carpet. Attendees included “The Fields” co-star Joshua Ormond, writer/producer B. Harrison Smith, producer Faust Checho and stars such as Valerie Harper, Adria Tennor, Leilani Sarelle, Michael Papajohn, Barbara Alyn Woods and more. “The Fields” will run from April 20-26 at 1Pm at the Laemmle NoHo 7, 5240 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. The film will be released on DVD and Blu-ray April 24. The official synopsis of “The Fields” is: The Fields, also starring Tara Reid, [ Read More ]...

In the upcoming thriller The Fields, award-winning actress and comedienne Cloris Leachman portrays Gladys, a protective grandmother whose family is being harassed and threatened by a group of transients passing through her small town.

Directed by Tom Mattera and David Mazzoni, The Fields also stars Tara Reid, Joshua Ormond, Bev Appleton and Brian Anthony Wilson. On April 24th, the indie thriller comes home on DVD and in honor of its release, Dread Central had the opportunity to briefly chat with Leachman about her role in the project as well as more on her experiences working on the indie thriller and what other films the actress has coming up.

Dread Central: So how did you get involved with The Fields then?

Cloris Leachman: Well, I got involved the usual way- my manager brought me the script and since I’m originally from Iowa, the rural aspects of this story really interested me.

Academy Award winner Cloris Leachman has been making people laugh with her hilarious turn as the 84-year-old grandmother with Alzheimer's, Maw Maw, on the Fox sitcom Raising Hope for the past few years. Before that, however, Leachman had already amassed a great resume of work including performances in films like Kiss Me Deadly, The Last Picture Show, Young Frankenstein, and The Iron Giant. Leachman's latest project is one that genre fans should really enjoy. She plays Gladys in Tom Mattera and Dave Mazzoni's indie psychological thriller based on true events, The Fields, which tells the story of a young boy (Joshua Ormond) and his family as they're terrorized by a mysterious presence emerging from the cornfields...

Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: April 24, 2012

Price: DVD $24.99, Blu-ray $29.99

Studio: Breaking Glass

Cloris Leachman feels the chill in The Fields.

The acclaimed 2011 independent mystery-thriller film The Fields stars Cloris Leachman (Kiss Me Deadly), Tara Reid (American Reunion), Bev Appleton (The New World), Faust Checho and young newcomer Joshua Ormond

Based on true events, The Fields follows a young boy named Steven (Ormond) during the summer of 1973, when he is sent to live in the Pennsylvania countryside with his grandparents (Leachman and Appleton) while his parent (Reid and Checho) work through their marital troubles. Though his grandparents are happy to host him, they warn Steven not to enter the cornfields next to their house. But when Steven hears news of the notorious Manson Family and their gruesome killing spree, he develops a morbid fascination with the murderous cult and at the same time can’t help but be drawn into the fields,...

Each and every night for as long as I can remember, I have asked God and the little baby Jesus to craft a motion picture experience that combines the talents of award-winning actress Cloris Leachman with the empty-headedness of Tara Reid. My prayers, it would seem, have finally been answered. Below you’ll find a trailer for the upcoming supernatural thriller “The Fields”, a film which, according to directors Tom Mattera and Dave Mazzoni, is based on actual events. Yeah, right. I wouldn’t put too much stock into that claim if I were you. Here’s what they’re claiming is the real deal: The film takes place in a small Pennsylvania town in 1973, and tells the story of a young boy (Joshua Ormond) and his family (Tara Reid, Faust Checho, Cloris Leachman) as they are terrorized by an unseen presence in the surrounding fields. As a young boy,...

*full disclosure: a screener of this film was provided by Breaking Glass Pictures.

Directors: Tom Mattera, and David Mazzoni.

Writer: Harrison Smith.

Cast: Tara Reid, Cloris Leachman and Brian Anthony Wilson.

Horror films and films in general have been set in cornfields for generations. From the original Children of the Corn (1984) to Jeepers Creepers II (2003) and more recently in The Maze (2011), cornfields can fill the viewer with dread. There is just no way to find your way out once in head height stalks. In The Fields, the cornfields host a supernatural force whose purpose is both malicious and purposeful. The one chosen to resolve this tension is Steven (Joshua Ormond) and with a 10 year old character leading the charge, you just never know what is real and what is imagination.

The story begins with the protagonist Steven and his bickering parents. There are stresses involving infidelity and violence with Steven...

We’re back with our latest Indie Spotlight. This weekend’s coverage includes The Fields‘ Blu-ray/DVD release, a zombie-killing gorilla with a baseball bat, paranormal investigators, and much more…

The Fields Blu-ray/DVD Release: Academy Award winner Cloris Leachman’s (Fox’s “Raising Hope”) thriller The Fields is coming to Blu-Ray (Srp $29.99) and DVD (Srp 24.99) from Breaking Glass Pictures (5 Star Day, Cropsey, The Living Wake). Written by Harrison Smith (Six Degrees of Hell) and directed by Tom Mattera and David Mazzoni (cult favorite The 4th Dimension), the film also stars Tara Reid (American Reunion) and newcomer Joshua Ormond (Sundance hit Robot and Frank).

Based on actual events, The Fields follows a young boy named Steven during the summer of 1973. Steven (Ormond) is sent to live in the Pennsylvania countryside with his grandparents while his mother (Reid) and father (Faust Checho) work through their marital troubles. Though his grandmother (Leachman...

Academy Award winner Cloris Leachman’s thriller The Fields is coming to Blu-ray and DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures.

Written by Harrison Smith (Six Degrees of Hell) and directed by Tom Mattera and David Mazzoni (The 4th Dimension), the film also stars Tara Reid (American Reunion) and newcomer Joshua Ormond (Sundance hit Robot and Frank).

Based on actual events, The Fields follows a young boy named Steven during the summer of 1973. Steven (Ormond) is sent to live in the Pennsylvania countryside with his grandparents while his mother (Reid) and father (Faust Checho) work through their marital troubles. Though his grandmother (Leachman) and grandfather (Bev Appleton) are happy to host him, they warn Steven not to enter the cornfields next to their house.

Read more...

We've been talking about the indie flick The Fields for years now. Literally years. There's no doubt the road has been long, but the flick is finally hitting home video and we've got the details.

From the Press Release

Academy Award winner Cloris Leachman’s (Fox’s “Raising Hope”) thriller The Fields is coming to Blu-ray (Srp $29.99) and DVD (Srp $24.99) from Breaking Glass Pictures (5 Star Day, Cropsey, The Living Wake). Written by Harrison Smith (Six Degrees of Hell) and directed by Tom Mattera and David Mazzoni (cult favorite The 4th Dimension), the film also stars Tara Reid (American Reunion) and newcomer Joshua Ormond (Sundance hit Robot and Frank).

Based on actual events, The Fields follows a young boy named Steven during the summer of 1973. Steven (Ormond) is sent to live in the Pennsylvania countryside with his grandparents while his mother (Reid) and father (Faust Checho) work through their marital troubles.

I did not like The Fields. If you're doubting this you can check out my review. But someone liked it, as it has been picked up for distribution just in time to capitalize on Tara Reid's appearance inAmerican Reunion. I hope that's not the only thing they're banking on to sell the movie. Per the press release,"The award-winning and critically praised Cloris Leachman thriller The Fields has announced a big April 2012 release. Domestic distributor Breaking Glass (Five Star Day, Cropsey, The Living Wake) aggressively snapped up the indie thriller for domestic rights. Directed by Tom Mattera and David Mazzoni (The 4th Dimension), the film also stars Tara Reid (American Reunion) and newcomer Joshua Ormond (Scout Masters). It debuted to a strong reception and awards on the festival circuit as well as high critical praise...

Breaking Glass has picked up The Fields for distribution and is expected to hit DVD later this year.

If you feel like you've heard about this film before, you probably have.  It has been in the works since 2009 and has long since been completed.  Such is the nature of the indie film scene.  Directed by Tom Mattera and Dave Mazzoni, The Fields stars Cloris Leachman, Tara Reid (American Reunion) and Joshua Ormond.  Head inside for plot details.

Read more...

Man, if feels as if we've been talking about the indie horror flick The Fields like forever. It's been a couple of years at least, that's for sure. In any event, the little flick has scored itself some distro. Read on for the skinny!

The award-winning and critically praised Cloris Leachman thriller The Fields has announced a big April 2012 release. Domestic distributor Breaking Glass (Five Star Day, Cropsey, The Living Wake) aggressively snapped up the indie thriller for domestic rights. Directed by Tom Mattera and David Mazzoni (The 4th Dimension), the film also stars Tara Reid (American Reunion) and newcomer Joshua Ormond (Scout Masters). It debuted to a strong reception and awards on the festival circuit as well as high critical praise. Writer and producer Harrison Smith went on to write and produce the upcoming Corey Feldman horror Six Degrees of Hell.

For more check out the official The Fields...

The Fields is a horror thriller that marks the return of Cloris Leachman and Tara Reid to the horror genre. Based on the true events that took place in a small Pennsylvania town in the fall of 1973. It tells the story of a young boy and his family who are terrorized by a mysterious presence in the endless fields of corn surrounding their old farm house.

The Fields stars: Cloris Leachman, Tara Reid, Joshua Ormond, Faust Checho, Bev Appleton, Louis Morabito and Karen Ludwig

Screenplay By: B. Harrison Smith

Directed By: Tom Mattera & Dave Mazzoni (The 4th Dimension)

Produced By: Faust Checho, Harrison Smith, George Englund, Jr., Tom Mattera & Dave Mazzoni

The film is produced by Faust Checho and Harrison Smith of Mr. Big Productions, George Englund Jr., and Tom Mattera and Dave Mazzoni of MazWa Productions. Hollywood veteran Tommy Lee Wallace is serving as an associate producer.

Production ran...

 The Fields is a suspense thriller based on the true events that took place in a small Pennsylvania town in the fall of 1973. It tells the story of a young boy and his family who are terrorized by a mysterious presence in the endless fields of corn surrounding their old farm house.

The Fields stars: Cloris Leachman, Tara Reid, Joshua Ormond, Faust Checho, Bev Appleton, Louis Morabito and Karen Ludwig

Screenplay By: B. Harrison Smith

Directed By: Tom Mattera & Dave Mazzoni (The 4th Dimension)

Produced By: Faust Checho, Harrison Smith, George Englund, Jr., Tom Mattera & Dave Mazzoni

The film is produced by Faust Checho and Harrison Smith of Mr. Big Productions, George Englund Jr., and Tom Mattera and Dave Mazzoni of MazWa Productions. Hollywood veteran Tommy Lee Wallace is serving as an associate producer.

Production ran September through October 2010. An anticipated release is expected in 2011.

Source: Facebook

 

Share...

The Fields BannerThe Pennsylvanian shot The Fields is now in post-production and the first teaser trailer is available for the show. The film has scheduled a 2011 release date, with Hollywood, former bad girl Tara Reid staring. Also participating is the iconic and prolific actress Cloris Leachman, who has starred in over a hundred productions of various formats. In the teaser below, an "unseen presence" makes itself know by playing with or threatening a young boy. Have a look at the trailer below as more details develop.

The synopsis for the film:

"A psychological thriller based on true events that took place in a small Pennsylvania town in 1973. It tells the story of a young boy and his family who are terrorized by an unseen presence" (Press Release).

Release Date: 2011.

Directors: Tom Mattera and David Mazzoni.

Writer: Harrison Smith.

Cast: Brian Anthony Wilson, Karen Ludwig, Kelly Natividade, Miles Williams, Joseph Clinton and Joshua Ormond.

Driving down a winding road in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania, the car rounds a turn, climbing higher into the mountains. Perched on the side of a steep hill is an old farmhouse with peeling gray paint and gaping windows, surrounded by fields of dry and rustling corn. The front lawn slopes dangerously down and then sprawls out into an honest-to-god pumpkin patch. This is where the cast and crew for upcoming indie thriller The Fields are shooting today.

When we arrive, they are filming a scene in the pumpkin patch with Bev Appleton and Joshua Ormond. It’s October, and in the mountains of Pennsylvania the air is beyond chilly. A Pa wraps Josh, who plays Steven, in a thick coat between takes to keep him warm. Josh jumps up and down as he and his co-star make faces at each other as they wait for directors Tom Mattera...